Hi Pete,

I'm really glad you like it, and not to say a little relieved. I didn't want to believe I'd been imagining it all along, and I was keen for someone else to hear the difference a linear supply can make.

For everyone else's benefit, I fitted Pete's linear supply with the connectors from his failed SMPS, so the existing AC and DC cables just plug right in, much as they do with the stock supply. That allows the linear and switching supplies to switched over quickly and easily.

Originally Posted by Tintin
Great stuff. So, with reports like this and the fact that M are using linear power supplies in the Anniversary stuff, it looks clear that it makes a difference. So, what is the theory behind the improvement and does it have much bearing on whether power conditioners/power cables are snake oil or not?
Its nothing to do with snake oil. Linear regulated supplies are measurably better. SMPS have 50-100mV noise and ripple one each line, and good linear supplies have 2-5mV. They also have much better load regulation and supply regulation as well. Although there ARE some SMPS that do have low noise and ripple, such as Datron Power, I still think linear supplies are cleaner. They operate at 50/60Hz, plus maybe a couple of harmonics, while switching supplies need to operate at high frequencies, and that gets everywhere you don't want it to.

Nick