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Although IC op-amps have considerable power supply rejection (E-1 and E-3) it doesn’t explain the use of excessive DC storage except possibly with the equalizers that have discrete gain blocks which represents the bulk of the DS Audio product line. That brings up the question as why DS Audio finds it necessary to use physical large computer grade capacitors when there is hardly any ripple current to worry about? Physically smaller caps can leave room enough for devices to eliminate the use of electrolytic coupling caps either through the use of pots to null out DC offset – or better yet DC servos – or maybe even high-quality film caps.
Having said that – that leaves the 5-vdc supply for the IR LEDs (and pilot lights) that is essentially not protected from power supply “cross-talk” that modulates the IR LEDs. Why is that a problem? It is a form of feedback that effects the IR LEDs directly. The cartridge’s Pin-Diode Photocells don’t know the difference whether it is music from the modulating shade plates or the “tickled” LEDs.
I installed a 1-farad super capacitor (1F=1,000,000-ufd) across the 5-vdc supply right at the input RCA connectors signal grounds on two different equalizers (E-1 and 003). The end result was the same with both. Actually, it wasn’t even contest. The super capacitors effectively locked the IR LEDs in a “DC supply vault” that disabled the cross-talk. The overall playback quality was beyond my expectations. It was bigger in terms of imaging – was more transparent revealing subtle details that were smooched over – and with the extra side benefit of being sweeter and more musical. Better overall focus is the bottom line here.
Any of you DIY guys/gals can easily implement the installation on any equalizer that has space and access. Unfortunately, from the DS Audio W-3 equalizer and up -- the product line is not doable because of the cramped space from those “giant” power supply caps. The E-3 is doable but you have to get creative with the PC board that is easily removable.
A super-capacitor is a new type of energy storage device, different between a conventional capacitor and a rechargeable battery. Super capacitor, also known as electro-chemical capacitors, electric double layer capacitors, gold capacitors, and farad capacitors, are electro-chemical components that have been developed by polarized electrolytes since the 1970s and 1980s.
Ultra-capacitors not only have the characteristics of fast charge and discharge of capacitor, but also has the characteristics of energy storage of battery.
The cap that was used for this upgrade was the 5.5V 1F SP KAMCAP Combined Farad Super Capacitor ultra-capacitor. This is the standard power series in the product line with typical applications being RAM, detonator, car recorder, smart meter, vacuum switch, digital camera, motor drive, clock circuit, UPS, toy, program-controlled switch, etc.
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Walt
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