Pure linear multi-railed supercapacitor ATX power supply
The sole ATX power supply designed exclusively and build purposely
for computer-based high-end streaming audio
It's all up to you
Full flexibility for your projects
Let us recap... Full ATX, 5 rail, three transformer double regulated low noise supercapacitor supply with a total of 17.500.000uF capacity and 20 regulations. Ground post and ground lift switch, fully microprocessor controlled and protected against shorts, overvoltage and dropouts. Do we really need to say more?
With over 8 years of experience in designing linear ATX power supplies both for DIY and commercial applications we have complete understanding what it takes to lift computer-based audio to its full potential, where full potential translates in sound quality and also very important: flexibility. These two qualities combined is a very rare sight and, back in 2013, made us start developing a ATX power supply that eventually led to the SuperATX now.
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Proudly Made in Holland. Crafted Without Compromise.
FARAD - Supercapacitor ATX power supply
Nothing more, Nothing less
The negative impact of a poor power supply on the performance of your audio gear is well known. This becomes even more evident with computer-based audio streaming. Most ATX power supplies are designed to perform the task of powering a computer for daily household use. Nothing more, nothing less. Audiophile computer audio is well beyond the needs of normal daily operation.
Thru time we are convinced a 'lighter' MB fed by a high quality power supply sounds way better than more 'heavy' MB's fed by a mediocre power supply. With this in mind we have set the output of the Super ATX is set to a recommended max TDP of 70W. This is sufficient to power most of the available MBs best suited for audio usage.
FARAD - Supercapacitor ATX power supply
Designed for tweaking
Vantage point when designing the SuperATX was a simple question: 'how did we make use of an ATX power supply back in the days when working on projects - be it commercial or DIY?' Simple as the answer might seem, looking at available ATX power supplies on the market today, many do not comprehend the question itself, are accidentally targeting different use (ie gaming or video), or come up with a more beefy power supply excelling in absolutely nothing at all.
But let’s answer the question we asked ourselves: delete everything you don't make use of, vastly improve or rebuild of that what we do make use of, and further extensions thereof. In other words: multi transformers, sufficient buffer capacity, many supercaps, and multiple separated outputs for a sufficient number of peripherals as SSD’s, clocks and output cards, to tweak your streamer to the max.
FARAD - Supercapacitor ATX power supply
Summarizing
So the SuperATX is the power supply we dearly wanted back then as it would make our projects more thorough and boost confidence in the technical concept we we're working on - it's the power supply we use this very moment for our commercial R&D. In short, this power supply is a tribute to all you DIY-guys and gals!
To the Farad SuperATX this translates into:
- Proven technology based on the Super3, Super6 and Super10.
- Five rail supply with 3x 150VA triple shielded custom wound transformers, one dedicated for the CPU, one dedicated for the Motherboard and one dedicated to SSD’s, Peripherals and clocks.
- Smoothing capacity of around 288.000uF total 105 deg. Low ESR long life automotive capacitors with Hf choke pi-filters.
- 27x 15F supercaps bringing an effective 22.5F of capacity at full voltage. Yes, that’s 22.500.000uF of total buffer capacity before the final regulators!
- Double low noise regulation with Hf post pi-filtering for even lower output noise.
- Microprocessor protection on all voltages (over- and under-voltages, shorts, etc) and communication with the MoBo.
- Ground lift switch and ground post, gold plated Molex output connectors.
Practically resulting in:
- Transformer 1 and Rail 1: 12V/8A microprocessor output (max 70W TDP)
- Transformer 2 and Rail 2+3: a full linear 24-pin ATX connector power supply, all outputs 5A-8A
- Transformer 3 and Rail 4+5: Double peripheral outputs with 5V/3A (total sum 5A) and 12V/3A (total sum 5A). One of the outputs can be switched to “always on” for for example motherboard clocks
FARAD Power Supplies
The origins of Farad power supplies
Farad power supplies is founded in 2018 by Mattijs de Vries. Already at the tender age of 8 experimenting with electron tubes and speaker and building peripherals for his Sinclair ZX Spectrum whilst learning programming Z80 Machine code at the age of 14. Bachelor in chemistry and Master in Applied Physics Mattijs started a small earning in the trade of NOS military surplus electronic parts during his student years. This evolved into Mach-Mat, a company very well known in the world-wide DIY-community.
Passionate about trying out new concepts and techniques, listening to the sound of different parts, circuit topology and equipment and design, Mattijs gained all the knowledge that eventually lead to the start Pink Faun in 2006. A true boutique audio company, which was transferred to longtime employee Jord Groen in 2018, with Mattijs still on the background developing new electronic technologies. This transfer gave room to start up a company specialized in power supplies – follow your heart!
With new types of supercaps available it was possible to develop a new principle for ultra-low noise wide bandwidth power supplies. This unique approach is used in the Farad power supplies we hear and enjoy today. Designed and hand build in The Netherlands since 2019.
Farad sound signature
A mediocre power supply can and will ruin the performance of any quality audio gear. Even the best quality components following the power supply can’t make up for this, and might even highlight the problem as those components are quite ‘vocal’ about the quality of the input they get fed with. So, firmly believing good audio can only be based upon a high-quality power supply, our goal is to offer the best possible linear power supplies. We do this by making use of proven technology as well as by implementing new technology. This, an optimal topology, use of first-class materials and ‘proof by ear’ make up for power supplies that will let your set-up shine and keep you chained in your favorite listening chair. We deliver a natural ‘sound’, rich in dynamics and detailing, spacious and pitch black in the background, without highlighting anything nor leaving anything out. In our opinion this will ensure immersive and satisfying listening sessions for a long time.
Technology and design
Everything starts at the AC inlet, all of our power supplies have Furutech rhodium AC inlets flowed by gold plated fuse holders to accommodate high quality fuses. Looking for low AC leakage and low noise, we use custom wound triple shielded high inductance transformers and Schottky diodes feeding low ESR capacitors for the initial buffering. The last remaining noise is dealt with thru HF common mode choke pi-filtering. Next up is the Super Capacitor powerbank (minimum value for all power supplies is over 1.000.000 uF!!) which acts like a virtual battery ensuring an extremely low noise floor and rock solid DC performance. Lastly, the output stage has foil capacitors for the best sound quality and very high bandwidth Hf post filtering.
All our power supplies are built with mechanical stability in mind: sturdy chassis, GX16-4 or GX25-4 connectors for the DC power cables. Furthermore, rubber or carbon feet and maple wood is used for resonance control making sure the power delivered is exactly the way we want it: stable, neutral yet musical!
We have chosen Synergistic Research Purple and various QSA fuses for upgrading our power supplies. Extensive listening sessions learned these fuses are an actual upgrade without interfering with, or completely altering the sound quality we want from our power supplies.
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