Best affordable Linear Power Stage

@sizzitrail84 i don’t know the difference just went with the one specific to the uDDC.

@hdm can you explain the differences between encapsulated, toroidal and r-core transformers, and why an r-core based power supply might be a better choice for a small digital device with no internal power supply?  Honest question.  I’ve used various external LPS from MCRU, Swagman Labs  and Teddy Pardo with generally positive effect.  My favorites right now are an 18V Swagman SE that powers my ProJect phono pre and a Teddy Pardo dual supply that supports a digital front end consisting of a Bluesound Node N130 and Chord Qutest.  The 12V MCRU SE supply I had previously was pretty good, but those have become quite expensive.  If the argument is compelling enough in favor of an r-core supply, I might be convinced to give one a go.  At $108 it is a pretty low risk experiment.

kn

I use an After Dark power supply with an RME ADI-2 Pro AD/DA. Sounds better than an "eBay special" sourced from offshore.

Folks, can you provide some help please, to understand the "wattage" of a switching power supply and equivalent linear power supply?

I use the HDPlex 400W HiFi DC-ATX in my fanless PC build, which runs the HQ Player. Currently I use a Dell 330W power adapter that powers this PC. I understand that this outputs 19Volts. But I also see from other sources that this also outputs 10 Amps of power?

I see that the linear power supply specs mentioned above do have 12-19Volts output. But what about the Amperes? Will that matter when I try to replace the Dell switch mode power supply with a linear power supply?

knownothing: I am certainly no expert but google is your friend here. The argument is that R-Core, especially if isolated in a different chassis as it will be with an outboard linear power supply, will be quieter and perform better. The disadvantage, when compared with most torroids is size and weight, which again, is less problematic with an outboard as opposed to a built-in power supply. 

As with all things audio, there is rarely universal agreement but as you say it is a pretty insignificant experiment to try out the Sengterbelle I linked to. It was a fair bit better than a slightly less expensive Talema torroidal based power supply that I also have here on my DAC and astonishingly better on my Wiim Pro+ as a streamer only, which certainly flies in the face of logic with the "bits are bits" crowd. 

Here's a couple of links to discussions on other forums and I'm sure there are others. In any event to say I've been happy with the Sengterbelle's would be an understatement. If it doesn't work out for you, you're out $100. ;)

https://www.stereonet.com/forums/topic/55835-why-a-torroidal-instead-of-an-r-core-transformer-in-digital/

https://www.diyaudio.com/community/threads/toroid-and-r-core.228096/

John Curl also, for example, seems to have a preference for R-Core, so I figure that's probably not a bad thing?