Long convinced that the purity of the electrical current in hi-fi equipment is essential for optimal performance, Charles-Henri Delaleu has developed a range of external power supplies, the first of which, called Nano Power 2, has just been launched on the market. Based on extremely low ripple and noise levels, this new addition to 3D-Lab’s Nano range is available in one or two rails, allowing different output voltages to be set for dual use with products requiring different voltages.
Integrated into the usual chassis of the Nano range, the Nano Power power supply was finally released at the end of 2022, after being presented for the first time at the Paris Video Audio Show in 2021. Soon to be followed by an even higher-end Signature version, the classic range already consists of two models, Nano Power 1 and Nano Power 2, the difference being that the number 2 can power two devices at the same time, with the important ability to offer different voltages for each of the two rails.
Still notable for its discreet aluminum front panel, the Nano Power stands out because the small On button, which is only decorative on the Nano Transport and Player, is now functional! Next to it are two LEDs, blue and red, the former indicating when the device is operational and the latter when it is in standby mode.
At the rear, a five-pin socket allows you to connect a cable with one or two outputs, both of which are supplied in the box by the manufacturer. To select single or dual use, there is a small switch that you flip to the right when you want to power two products at the same time. Placed on a single printed circuit board, the two rails each use two 3,300 µF and 25 V transformers associated on each side with numerous semiconductors in discrete components, leading to a BI Technologies potentiometer and then to the switch, whose purpose is to set the voltage in six steps, from 3.3 V to 15 V.
On request, this DC voltage can be adjusted from 1.8 V to 18 V, although most high-fidelity devices are concerned with the directly configurable variables of 5 V, 9 V, and 12 V. A large 52 VA Printtrafo transformer block molded in epoxy resin with double winding completes the Nano Power, which is still based on very low-interference components, in order to create a power supply with some of the lowest noise and ripple levels on the market.
The setup of the Nano Power 2
Very easy to install, the Nano Power 2 comes in a shoebox format that allows it to be integrated almost anywhere, with good damping provided by its rubber feet, although adding decouplers further improves performance by further limiting vibrations.
Once it is connected to the mains via an IEC cable, it is important to ensure that the correct voltage is set for the desired devices, as powering a 9V DAC with 12V, for example, could burn it out in a matter of seconds. Once connected to the other devices—which should always be left on since their switches are no longer the master—simply turn on the switch on the back of the Nano Power and the small button on the front, then wait for the blue LED to light up.
For our tests, we paired the 3D-Lab Nano Power 2 with a Nano Player Platinum network player, positioned in the middle of the 3D-Lab range between Sonata and Signature. We then added the second rail to our Internet box. The Kora TB140 amplifier and our Jern 15H speakers, connected by Esprit cables from the Celesta to Aura ranges, were faithful companions in analyzing the contribution of the separate power supply in detail. This is refined by its use on Silent Angel’s very high-end Internet switch, also tested in this issue.
The sound of the Nano Power 2
It’s no secret that improving the reliability of a device’s power supply allows it to deliver its best performance, and while most high-fidelity products already have a lot of work put into their power supply, adding a high-quality external one further improves the sound quality. Initially connected only to the 3D-Lab Nano Player Platinum, the Nano Power 2 provides extra volume while creating more roundness and allowing for better contouring of the notes, with the advantage of giving the impression that they last longer. The power supply also refines the tone of voice and enhances the timbres, particularly the bass, which is better sustained and slightly deeper.
With the Nano Player used for transport only, the same qualities are noticeable when the external power supply is added, increasing the clarity of the signal as well as giving it volume, obviously because the background noise has receded and the soundstage gains in definition. Integration into the Internet box allows us to use the device with two different voltages, and thus to verify the perfect coordination of the elements, to the advantage of the Nano Power 2 compared to our Ferrum Hypsos, whose splitter can only power two or three devices with identical voltages and currents in the same direction.
Our conclusion
Finally released, the 3D-Lab Nano Power clearly brings added quality to the Nano Player Platinum network player, while at the same time being designed to be adaptable to products from other brands and with different voltages. In its Nano Power 2 version, having two rails with two separate voltage selectors provides a significant advantage over competing power supplies, as it becomes possible to simultaneously ensure the reliability of the power supply to a streamer and that of a network switch or Internet box.
Authors : Vincent Guillemin
Technical Sheet: Nano Power 2
- Origin: France
- Price: €1,550
- Dimensions: 215 x 95 x 300 mm
- Weight: 3.1 kg
- Continuous output voltage
- From 1.8 to 18 V (3A)
- 3.3 V/5 V/9 V/12 V/15 V (3A)
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