@Elk - it’s all @RonP fault, he made me put the sugar daddy in Beth’s hair…
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This one for $359? https://youtu.be/eFEC-uQhAAA
UNCLE KEVVY!.. yes, that is the Sbooster - open kimono - they are an Sbooster distributor… adding the Ultra gets the noise floor a lot lower and better regulation.
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So the Sbooster MK 2 smokes the LPS 1.2 and you don’t have too spend money on a fancy dc power cable in addition to the Sbooster?
@aangen - why is it that humans always discuss differences in such absolute abstracts… what does that even mean…? They are both good supplies. Different topologies and both capable… this is not auto-racing and winner takes all… it is about system synergy, configuration management…
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The Matrix is 6-9 volts. So which SBooster is correct? The 5-6 or the 9-10?
@dancingsea - so here is the rub, not part of the hive so I just do stuff… been running the Matrix ext PS input @ 5.15V for 2 months and it runs perfect. Crap, I should have asked the collective… sorry… I like to run my PS as low as possible, tested, not speculated…
I set Sbooster switch @ 6V; output is 6.15V; @ Ultra, output is @5.15V. The Ultra has a 1.0V Vd
The 5V Sbooster switch: 5.0V/6.0V/6.5V - you can run the Sbooster output at 6.5V all day long… the highest V out w/ Ultra is 6.5V = 6.65V - 1.0V = 5.65V
Before I added the Ultra, I was running the Sbooster at 5.0V to make sure it would run good… Then, up to 6.0V and added the Ultra… just like that… that’s my story and I’m sticking to it…
@Cardi
The reason I asked the question is because of a recent post in this thread where you stated you were not a fan of Uptone power supplies. To me that suggested that they were not useful to you. Absolute abstract perhaps. So if you have tried and dismissed what I currently enjoy I am very curious as to what passed the test in your humble opinion.
I am not interested in proving absolutes. I was encouraged to try the Uptone and I quite like it. I am in the mood to try another supply so perhaps for the fun of the hobby I will try an Sbooster.
I will not blame you if I have a different opinion.
Gosh.
@aangen - sorry, I should have asked you about which way to go on the supply… my bust… supplies are funny, people like different things components for various reasons… I thought going to Sbooster, the hive would appreciate my uniqueness… in all serious… OK - this is not a race, there is no first place and people select different components based on topology. I chose the Sbooster based on topology… I like a supply with custom magnetics, full wave… what is great about doing this hobby is you make a decision based on certain criteria you have and buy it. For some, the criteria is theoretical, then actual testing (SQ). For others it is about what others have used… No right or wrong. I chose that supply based on both criteria… topology and reviews (long before Upscale was selling them). Then you hear there is something better and you try it… that is what is so cool about doing this…
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I admit I’ve never heard either the Uptone or the Sbooster, but the upscale audio video I posted is quite convincing regarding the topography of the SBooster. If nothing else, it looks more impressive than the Uptone. Whether or not that translates into better sound, I cannot personally say.
And cardri makes a compelling case… as nuanced as it is…
@dancingsea - Both supplies are good, @JeffofArabica has owned both and he believes Sbooster is definitely a better supply. I chose Sbooster first cause of topology mainly. Also, Uncle Kevin is selling a product so you need to factor his enthusiasm… If I watched every Uncle Kev video I would be broke… 
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The way I asked invited the answer I suppose. 
I find I enjoy the sound a great deal more powering my Matrix at 9 volts. I see you use 5 to 6 to power yours. 6 volts on my Uptone robs the sound of life with my Matrix.
I wish the Sbooster had a wider range. Perhaps it isn’t as easy a decision as I had hoped.
(I will also admit that when I first went to the Sbooster website I couldn’t make any sense of it. Was there a product or were they just discussing a theory?)
@aangen - not a fan of wider range in a supply like narrow, one single output supply. Yes, I discussed the theory some years back in my EE undergrad classes… You could buy a 9V Sbooster w/ Ultra and get 8.15V I guess… You could buy it and return it if you don’t like it in 30 days… that would give you time to evaluate. In addition, the hive gets more data and we love data…
I just buy something and try it in my system. If I like it, then it replaces what I was using. If I think it is not as good I return it… this hobby is a heck of a lot cheaper than engine swaps at $30K a pop…
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Hello all,
As the author of this review, let me clarify a few points raised here:
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I used the best PSUs I had at my disposal at the time. Over time, I’ll be moving to all Paul Hynes supplies - some SR-4 and some SR-7. But until then, I work with what I have!
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The rationale for the Dectet was to isolate all the SMPSes onto it, to filter SMPS noise going back to the P5. I only attached linear power supply based units directly into the P5.
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The LPS-1.2 is a supercaps PSU that needs another PSU to energize it. Uptone supplies a low noise SMPS, which is what was plugged into the Dectet, along with the SOtM sPS-500, which is also an SMPS, although a rather good one.
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The Bridge II picture has been corrected. It was from a set supplied to me by PS Audio, but apparently they included old Bridge pictures by mistake.
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While I do use SR Blue fuses elsewhere in my system, I chose not to replace fuses in any of the DACs in the review.
Rajiv
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Well, it happens. Sometimes PS Audio even get their own photos on their own website messed up. It happens. Thanks for the follow-up on that aspect.
I have to admit that I have not considered a USB-to-I2S converter, but you make it sound worthwhile. I’m currently running USB-LanRover-USB from a Mac Mini.
I might have missed, but which USB-to-I2S converter would be recommended? At $380, it’s not too much to invest in an experiment.
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I use and recommend the Matrix X-SPDIF 2. There is a large and active thread about the Matrix:
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Thank you. I’ll look into it.
I haven’t really been a forum monster, lately.
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@austinpop - Rajiv - thank you for the BD, it creates a lot of thought and ideas and buzz about your system and that is great for audiophiles new to the hobby. I think it is very important for reviewers to show the BD of their system and I really appreciate your follow up. The DSD is amazing w/ Matrix to DSD… again, thanks.
Think about SR Alpha NR cables w/ CCI filtering, they are amazing. What are the power cords you are using?
We prefer to talk about people behind their back. Your presence is making us quite uncomfortable 
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