Is DEQX a game changer?

Yes, was Unsound's comment in the correct thread.

Also, Al did you have a chance to ask about the switching power supply in the HDP-5 vs the linear in the HDP-4?

Hi Roscoe,

In my initial email to Nyal I said:

...if you should happen to be aware of any issues which might result in the performance of the HDP-5 being inferior to that of the more mature HDP-4 I would of course appreciate being apprised of them. I realize that the HDP-5 utilizes a switching power supply while the HDP-4 has a linear supply, but I assume the design is well implemented and that is not an issue.

Neither of his subsequent responses made reference to that question. His many posts that I've seen at various forums are confidence inspiring, and I feel safe in assuming that if he was aware of any negatives about the new design he would have mentioned them.

Best regards,
-- Al

Yes, was Unsound's comment in the correct thread.

Also, Al did you have a chance to ask about the switching power supply in the HDP-5 vs the linear in the HDP-4?

Hi Al, I appreciate your comments re-"Neither of his subsequent responses made reference to that question. His many posts that I've seen at various forums are confidence inspiring, and I feel safe in assuming that if he was aware of any negatives about the new design he would have mentioned them."
My main take from this is you are a trustworthy person. However I can't concur. My business experience, although limited,as everyone's, drives me to uncertainty about it. When people have addressed an item I have found they are very open to confirm it, with pride in the improvement. Avoidance never gives me confidence-from anyone. I'm from Missouri(Newfoundland in Canada :-) Always a pleasure to review your pragmatic informative posts. Take care. Pete

I agree, in general, that when a manufacturer or its representative is asked a direct question re. a change (such as use of a SMPS in the latest rev) & the subsequent answer avoids answering that question, that is not inspiring & leads the mind to think that something's being hidden. Maybe Almarg can press the issue at a later date when he's ready to purchase the HDP-5?

OTOH, SMPS power supplies for use in power amps have made good strides in the overcoming their output noise issues (that would increase distortion in the music signal path & wreck performance). We see this evidence in many amps today - Anthem's Statement M-1 mono, Benchmark's AHB-2, Belcanto amps, Jeff Rowland amps & the quite popular Ncore 1200 series amps - just to name a few. So, the technology of low-noise SMPS for audio applications is out there; whether DEQX has accessed it for their HDP-5 is the question that needs confirmation. It seems to be a reasonable assumption that they have but we know quite well where assumptions can lead us sometimes!! ;-) I also think that DEQX wouldn't do something regressive to ruin their highly touted HDP-4 & Premate by putting a noisy SMPS in the latest HDP-5 but who knows sometimes manuf do things that they think are progressive only to be told by the user community it's regressive....
I agree with Almarg that it's a safe bet to think that the HDP-5 has a quiet SMPS but reading/hearing it from the manuf rep would have a reassuring effect...