I really appreciate your help with this, waymanchen11. I should get everything either this weekend or early next week. I’ll follow-up when I have everything up and running.
Thanks again!
1 Like
I use this at 6v. Really opens up soundstage. I would not spend money on a switching supply. Also run one at7v for UltraRendu. Probably can get a comparable Chinese unit on Mass Drop or ebay that is LPS for 50 less. They are all adjustable with a Philips screw driver even the higher 6 amp units
1 Like
I agree. The Teradak branded LPS on Ebay are first rate units and are probably the source for units in the US sold under other brand names. I have one that I have used on an Aries Mini for over four years problem free. There are units on Ebay that look identical to the ones SGC is selling for less.
Obviously a linear power supply is superior but it sounds like the matrix had somewhat prepared for a switching power supply.
From the matrix manual:
“The inner multi-level and multi-group LDO combined with solid-state capacitor, which can filter the superposed noise in the power supply. All the circuit units are supplied by the low or ultra-low noise LDO without DC/DC circuit to avoid high frequency switching noise.”
But I agree a LPS upgrade will be first on my list.
Don´t worry too much on LPS at first. Matrix will work fine with usb power and my suggestion is to get their own usb cable at the same time ordering Matrix unit. It is one of the best sounding usb cables you can find and not too expensive either. Then try to find good hdmi cable, or even try optical as Ted recommends. I find optical gives nice resolution and airy sound,but lacks body and bass oomph that other connector types excel.
What comes to DOP and Native DSD it is extra conversion and since DSD uses internally DOP… it makes no sense to use Native other than if you actually feel it sounds better. Try them out,there is no right or wrong.
Good LPS for Matrix? Ciunas,Farad,Sbooster,Uptone,Hdplex,Keces,Paul Hynes…list is long and sound is even more affected by power cord to LPS,DC cables out,fuses in LPS… never ending story in good and bad.
Now I use Matrix made usb cable direct from Innuos to DSD. No Matrix ,no LPS ,no DC cables even though I have a backpack full of different kinds to choose from. If I get bored I might try them out some time again 
Thanks Somppsa!
Do you use an optical cable to the DSD Sr?
Can optical send a DOP or DSD signal?..thats usually all I play…since i ripes all my SACDs to my server.
It was my understanding that optical didn’t have that capability.
The thing that will make the biggest improvement is the usb cable you use. The matrix’s will add about 10% and a LINEAR power supply will add 2%. So concentrate on the usb cable for now. Personally I tried both the 5v and 9v ifis in the past and made no improvement in my system.
Majority here uses WW Platinum usb and hdmi cables with Matrix. You might want to follow those footsteps if possible.
At the moment i don´t use optical ,and i think that those who tried optical,still preferred usb or i2s hdmi.
Agree with @chris5 here,usb cables make the biggest difference. But so do i2s hdmi cables…Get a few for trial and pick your favorites.
1 Like
Yes agree the hdmi lead is just as important if you use the matrix. In fact Ted has hinted in the past it may be even more important. But until you have bought a WireWorld silver or platinum, or a AudioQuest Diamond cable I would not worry about an optional psu for the matrix
I am using a good usb cable(aq diamond) but i bought a mid grade pangea hdmi(Pangea HD23PC Premier SE) when i purchased the matrix.
Just want to take it for a test drive before i buy a $1000 WW hdmi and then a $500 LPS.
Sheesh, the matrix is not a cheap upgrade lol
2 Likes
I just ordered the UpTone UltraCap LPS-1.2 PSU 
…decided i’ll just return the ifi 5v and start with good power.
Man, you’re in it deep now. There’s no turning back. Time to return Pangea HDMI for Platinum S7. I don’t know if Walter at Underwood has any left, but he has the best price for one. The resulting sound improvement will put your system in another level. 
2 Likes
I think you may be right
Have to tried toslink out from the matrix to your DSD Sr?
I only ask because the matrix manual says the toslink output can handle ‘24bit/192kHz sampling rate of PCM signal and 1bit/DSD64 for DoP’
Yes, I did try Toslink. I use a top of the line Audioquest OL5 Quartz fiber Toslink cable somewhere like $500 cable. It can play up to 24bit 96Hz maximum. Doesn’t work with 192Hz or higher. Also no DSD or DOP. I don’t have much files in 96Kz so couldn’t judge sound quality, but it does sound decent and not as good as 192Hz or DSD. I use Toslink only out from my TV since sound quality is not as important with video. I tried it from the Matrix out and pull out the HDMI cable so only Toslink is coming out from Matrix. I know maybe 192Hz is possible from Toslink, but I couldn’t do it with the best cable and using the Aurender N10 server. Toslink straight from the server, I get same result. Maybe I need the $20k W20 and it will work, I don’t know. Forget about DSD. Sony won’t allow it.
Interesting thanks.
The toslink input on the DSD Sr cant handle DoP input??
So it can’t do 1bit/DSD64 using DoP??
Maybe there’s someway to get DSD from Toslink, but why bother. The sound is plenty good from I2s. I couldn’t imagine it any better.
Im sure it’s very good with i2s. What i like about toslink is the isolation. Optical cables provide excellent isolation and the sound is not colored by materials…it’s just pure data.
I believe this is why ted is planning on using an optical cable with his TSS.
Im bummed the DSD Sr cant take that input.