Boss power supply for quietness - worth it?

boristhespider7 · #1 01-31-2012, 02:49 PM

I'm looking at power for my pedals, which are usually:

Chorus (Boss or Dano Cool cat)
EBS multidrive
Dano Tremelo

Usually no more than 2-3 pedals used per gig. I'll be purchasing a Boss LS-2 soon too so will probably power the pedals via that with a daisy chain cable (Boss PCS-20A parallel chord), although i've read a few TB'ers have problems with hum with this set up

I know Boss are more expensive than other power supplies but is it worth it in terms of noise?

I want something thats going to be quiet, no hum, period! I'm prepared to pay a little more for that. Don't feel i need a power brick just yet as sometimes don't use any pedals and only max 2-3, plus getting LS-2 soon too.

Is the Boss quiet? I think the latest power supply is the PSA-120S, but i don't see many places selling it here in the UK. The PSA-230 seems easier to get here

scottfeldstein · #2 01-31-2012, 08:48 PM

Why not just get a One Spot and call it a day? Mine works great for me and I got it complete with all the cables/adapters one could want for $30 from Amazonia.

behndy · #3 01-31-2012, 11:28 PM

wellllllllll....... like FeldStEIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIn says a OneSpot should do you fine for that setup. i wouldn't chain off of the LS2 too much because i think it's got a fairly small mA output (like 100?), so you're going to exceed it's power pretty quickly.

unless you're running some funky stuff or digital pedals than you should be fine with a cheaper option, and the OneSpot and Godlyke are REALLY good value for the money for smaller amounts of pedals.

ga_edwards · #4 02-01-2012, 04:31 AM

According to the manual, if using the DC out from the LS-2 to power other pedals when using the Boss PSA-120, 220, 240, you shouldn't exceed 200ma inc the LS2 itself (25ma). But this may be a limitation of the Boss PSU rather than the LS2.

It should be stated though, that the LS-2 cannot provide power itself, it's essentially a daisy chain point, a distributer. As such, I don't see a need to use this facility unless you have a number of pedals and have run out of power outlets. Then it's handy!

ga_edwards · #5 02-01-2012, 04:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boristhespider7

Is the Boss quiet? I think the latest power supply is the PSA-120S, but i don't see many places selling it here in the UK. The PSA-230 seems easier to get here

The number of the PSU reflects the voltage. So you would need the PSA-230/240.

sillyfabe · #6 02-01-2012, 05:40 AM

another +1 to a 1-spot (I power 15 pedals with it with ZERO hum!)

boristhespider7 · #7 02-01-2012, 05:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scottfeldstein

Why not just get a One Spot and call it a day? Mine works great for me and I got it complete with all the cables/adapters one could want for $30 from Amazonia.

How's the onespot for noise/hum?

bongomania · #8 02-01-2012, 05:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ga_edwards

It should be stated though, that the LS-2 cannot provide power itself, it's essentially a daisy chain point, a distributer.

Correct, the Boss LS-2 is not a power supply, it just happens to have a second jack for daisy-chaining. In this way it is NO DIFFERENT from just attaching a daisy-chain cable directly to the wall wart that was going to power the LS-2.

The Onespot and the Godlyke Powerall do not have any problems with hum or noise. However, some pedals will have hum or noise when powered using ANY daisy-chain supply, depending on the other pedals in the chain.

sillyfabe · #9 02-01-2012, 06:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bongomania

However, some pedals will have hum or noise when powered using ANY daisy-chain supply, depending on the other pedals in the chain.

My Roland RE-20 Space Echo needs its own power supply unless I want to hear the LED "tape" cycling. (even with a TB looper!) so yeah

ga_edwards · #10 02-01-2012, 09:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sillyfabe

My Roland RE-20 Space Echo needs its own power supply unless I want to hear the LED "tape" cycling. (even with a TB looper!) so yeah

perhaps an isolator would do the trick, then you could run everything off a single PSU?
Diago Isolator Adaptor

Or, indeed any power brick with isolated outputs.

boristhespider7 · #11 02-01-2012, 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bongomania

The Onespot and the Godlyke Powerall do not have any problems with hum or noise. However, some pedals will have hum or noise when powered using ANY daisy-chain supply, depending on the other pedals in the chain.

Cheers Bongomania, looks like i need to get a onespot and give it a go!

boristhespider7 · #12 02-01-2012, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ga_edwards

According to the manual, if using the DC out from the LS-2 to power other pedals when using the Boss PSA-120, 220, 240, you shouldn't exceed 200ma inc the LS2 itself (25ma). But this may be a limitation of the Boss PSU rather than the LS2.

It should be stated though, that the LS-2 cannot provide power itself, it's essentially a daisy chain point, a distributer. As such, I don't see a need to use this facility unless you have a number of pedals and have run out of power outlets. Then it's handy!

Sorry, my bad, i realise how it read now...but yes i know the LS2 can't power anything on its own, its just wired with a parellel power jack to connect a daisy chain cable to. And yes the 200ma limit is the capacity of the PSU powering the LS2, arther than the LS2 itself

boristhespider7 · #13 02-01-2012, 01:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bongomania

However, some pedals will have hum or noise when powered using ANY daisy-chain supply, depending on the other pedals in the chain.

Bongo, i think i read one of your comments somewhere that this is common when powering both analogue and digital pedals together on the same daisy chain. Am i likely to see this with a digital delay and an analogue OD (eg. EBS Multidrive) or analogue chorus or trem? As i'm likely to be using this set up

bassburton · #14 02-01-2012, 01:12 PM

+1 on the Onespot, too.

BagelBruin · #15 02-01-2012, 01:15 PM

You can pass with a One Spot in a live setting, but you will be amazed how much clearer and punchy your pedals are with a power supply. If you ever go into a studio I STRONGLY suggest a power supply.

scottfeldstein · #16 02-01-2012, 01:19 PM

When I am doing headphone practice I can occasionally hear a hiss/buzz when I have my TCE PolyTune engaged. When I mute the strings, nothing. When I pop one and let the tuner measure it, hiss. Very faint, but I can hear it sometimes. Other times it seems not to do this. I don't know if it's my cables, the tuner, something else...

Other that that, I haven't heard one tiny crackle of unwanted noise out of my board. Silent as the grave.

bongomania · #17 02-01-2012, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boristhespider7

Bongo, i think i read one of your comments somewhere that this is common when powering both analogue and digital pedals together on the same daisy chain. Am i likely to see this with a digital delay and an analogue OD (eg. EBS Multidrive) or analogue chorus or trem? As i'm likely to be using this set up

It really depends on the specific pedals. I don't recall what I said before about analog and digital, but honestly I wouldn't expect any problems. It's more something to be aware of as a possibility.

bongomania · #18 02-01-2012, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BagelBruin

You can pass with a One Spot in a live setting, but you will be amazed how much clearer and punchy your pedals are with a power supply. If you ever go into a studio I STRONGLY suggest a power supply.

The Onespot IS a power supply. You mean "a traditional large/heavy non-switch-mode supply".

Bish42 · #19 02-01-2012, 06:11 PM

I'm not sure we have the onespot adaptors over here in Blighty. There are British websites that sell them, but the pictures show the American pins on the adaptor.

To the OP, I've always just used the £7.99 adaptors from Argos. I don't get any hum problems - but after about 6months the wires always seem to break! Thinking about getting a pedal power 2 to get round this.

ga_edwards · #20 02-02-2012, 04:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bish42

I'm not sure we have the onespot adaptors over here in Blighty. There are British websites that sell them, but the pictures show the American pins on the adaptor.

To the OP, I've always just used the £7.99 adaptors from Argos. I don't get any hum problems - but after about 6months the wires always seem to break! Thinking about getting a pedal power 2 to get round this.

Let me introduce you to JohnnyShredfreak.com, Store (sorry, direct link to PSU page blocked at work)
They sell their own branded 1500ma 9v PSU, exactly the same as the diago power station (albiet the diago is 3000ma, but there is tell of a 3000ma JSF version) (Diago Powerstation) for a hell of a lot less money. Have a look here to see what I mean.
http://www.elementfx.co.uk/2011/07/j...-power-supply/

I've had mine for a few years now and hasn't let me down once, proper heavy duty stuff and solid cabling - the universal PSUs I got from Maplin (similar to your argos ones) have failed and broken so many times it's not worth the hassle or money on them. I used mine previously with a daisy chain but now with a gigrig distributor as I have a couple of high current 12v pedals on there (with gigrig 12v adaptors).

BTW, the effectpowersupplies website, although expensive for that particular PSU, is great for a lot of other power related goodies.