Linear 9V Adapters

[bucephylus]

It seems that nearly all of the production of 9V adapters has moved to switching adapters.

But, I have a preamp, the Sadowsky SBP-1, which absolutely requires a linear 9V adapter. I have not been able to find one on Amazon. Sending my 2nd attempt back today, because many of the listings don’t tell you that the marketing department changed over to a switching adapter.

Who would have thought wall warts would be so complicated?

Any helpful input would be much appreciated.

 

[jbybj]

My first inclination, if I had trouble locating the correct PSU, would be to ask Sadowsky to sell me the correct one.

 

[sunbeast]

It seems that nearly all of the production of 9V adapters has moved to switching adapters.

But, I have a preamp, the Sadowsky SBP-1, which absolutely requires a linear 9V adapter. I have not been able to find one on Amazon. Sending my 2nd attempt back today, because many of the listings don’t tell you that the marketing department changed over to a switching adapter.

Who would have thought wall warts would be so complicated?

Any helpful input would be much appreciated.

Have you actually tried it with a decent filtered switch-mode supply? As long as the supply is 9V and regulated the only real concern with a SMPS would be noise, and a quality switching supply made for audio equipment (like a 1-Spot) has significant filtering built-in that should make for minimal noise as long as you aren't daisy-chaining the Sadowsky with other devices. If you are just buying random 9V supplies on Amazon then I suspect you will potentially run into issues because many of them are probably not built with quiet audio equipment in mind. Of course battery operation will always be the quietest way to run a preamp, but I've used my old Sadowsky belt-clip preamp with a number of different supplies (including a 1-Spot) using a 9V battery clip adaptor for years without significant noise issues.

If you are dead-set on a linear supply, supposedly Sadowsky will sell you one directly (as mentioned above)

 

[bucephylus]

Have you actually tried it with a decent filtered switch-mode supply? As long as the supply is 9V and regulated the only real concern with a SMPS would be noise, and a quality switching supply made for audio equipment (like a 1-Spot) has significant filtering built-in that should make for minimal noise as long as you aren't daisy-chaining the Sadowsky with other devices. If you are just buying random 9V supplies on Amazon then I suspect you will potentially run into issues because many of them are probably not built with quiet audio equipment in mind. Of course battery operation will always be the quietest way to run a preamp, but I've used my old Sadowsky belt-clip preamp with a number of different supplies (including a 1-Spot) using a 9V battery clip adaptor for years without significant noise issues.

If you are dead-set on a linear supply, supposedly Sadowsky will sell you one directly (as mentioned above)

Most definitely, I have tried multiple switching supplies. The preamp adds a high pitched whine when powered by the switching adapters along with the signal, which is unacceptable.

Sadowsky is still sorting our their arrangement with Warwick. The online store is a bit disordered right now.

 

[grocker]

Invalid Link Removed

 

[sunbeast]

Most definitely, I have tried multiple switching supplies. The preamp adds a high pitched whine when powered by the switching adapters along with the signal, which is unacceptable.

Sadowsky is still sorting our their arrangement with Warwick. The online store is a bit disordered right now.

Hmm- what supplies have you tried specifically? I never had this with belt clip Sadowsky with either a 1-Spot or my Cioks DC7 (both SMPS power supplies with decent filtering). I guess Sadowsky didn’t bother designing power filtering into the preamp itself since it was mostly just designed to be used with a battery or phantom power, but any decent supply already filters for these kinds of switching noise.
There are tons of those old Boss, etc regulated linear supplies out in the wild that have probably never been used. If you have a local store that sells used stuff they will have one to sell you cheap (even Guitar Center I suspect still has some of those old ones in some dusty corner somewhere). Apparently Sadowsky used to suggest the Boss one. Or check Craigslist/EBay, etc: BOSS PSA-120T Power Supply 9V 200mA AC Adaptor - Boss Effects Pedals | eBay
I might have a number of these things around collecting dust in boxes myself…

 

[fdeck]

If you go outside of the music world, watch out for the polarity of the plug. The "Boss" style adapter so ubiquitous in our world is center negative.

 

[J Posega]

Sadowsky is still sorting our their arrangement with Warwick. The online store is a bit disordered right now.

Have you tried emailing them? Online store =/= customer service. They even list their phone number on the website.

 

[skygzr]

Back in college (when I had time for such foolishness) I got me a transformer and some diodes and made one! Can’t remember why I chose to do such a thing but I was very proud of it. Got a nice metal box from somewhere and put stickers all over it. It made the best-sounding volts I ever heard. Probably traded it for some beer.

As the man says, Jameco is your friend.

 

[Slevage]

Look for a Boss.

The old ones were not switchers, but were regulated. (Very easy to build if you have soldering skills).

 

[taketwo]

If you go outside of the music world, watch out for the polarity of the plug. The "Boss" style adapter so ubiquitous in our world is center negative.

^^^THIS!
I never had to deal with center-negative barrel plugs until I got musical equipment. The rest of the electronics world is center-positive.

 

[bucephylus]

Thanks for the replies.

Yes, I am well aware of the polarity spec at the plug.

I have actually tried ordering the current Boss adapter on Amazon. Their marketing department has already substituted a switching adapter for current product deliveries.

Yes, there are probably some of the old school linear supplies knocking around in the local music shops. I haven’t made the effort to go on that particular spelunking expedition.

I do have an SBP-1 on a pedal board, powered by a CIOKS supply. That works fine. The CIOKS has appropriately engineered HF filtering. My search for the wall wart is for a practice space setup. Truly a “First World” problem.

I’ll keep looking. Thanks again for the replies.

 

[sunbeast]

Thanks for the replies.

Yes, I am well aware of the polarity spec at the plug.

I have actually tried ordering the current Boss adapter on Amazon. Their marketing department has already substituted a switching adapter for current product deliveries.

Yes, there are probably some of the old school linear supplies knocking around in the local music shops. I haven’t made the effort to go on that particular spelunking expedition.

I do have an SBP-1 on a pedal board, powered by a CIOKS supply. That works fine. The CIOKS has appropriately engineered HF filtering. My search for the wall wart is for a practice space setup. Truly a “First World” problem.

I’ll keep looking. Thanks again for the replies.

I’d really recommend trying a 1-Spot if you haven’t already. Easily purchased at a Guitar Center and returnable if it doesn’t work out. Given the current price of shipping I’d guess the price of a heavy old-school Boss adaptor would be more than a 1-Spot goes for. 1-Spots aren’t nearly Cioks-level quality, but for these kinds of uses I’ve found them great and quiet (til they eventually wear out, which does happen)