MS300 power supply

[1KW]

It would be nice if there was a power supply that fit inside the MS 300/750

[Cohibaman]

Originally Posted by 1KW

It would be nice if there was a power supply that fit inside the MS 300/750

Agreed. That certainly would be a nice aesthetic solution and I'm sure there are some small enough 19VDC linear power supplies out there. I briefly looked around, but decided on keeping it external because from a functional standpoint, one has to consider heat. The linear power supply generates much more heat than the stock switching PS. Locating it externally lowers the internal temperature of the MS300/750. In my opinion, the internal pico with an external linear power supply is the best "off-the-shelf" solution for noise and heat mitigation.

[Golucid]

Originally Posted by Cohibaman

Agreed. That certainly would be a nice aesthetic solution and I'm sure there are some small enough 19VDC linear power supplies out there. I briefly looked around, but decided on keeping it external because from a functional standpoint, one has to consider heat. The linear power supply generates much more heat than the stock switching PS. Locating it externally lowers the internal temperature of the MS300/750. In my opinion, the internal pico with an external linear power supply is the best "off-the-shelf" solution for noise and heat mitigation.

Mike...McIntosh separates the power supply into its own control unit separate from the C1000/500 tube and solid state preamps for to eliminate noise and a variety of other reasons. Good to not have it within. I now wish the MCD1100 had an external power unit.

[sgbroimp]

I am renaming my MS 300 (750 Upgraded) as above. Last fall I reported the successful install of the Seagate 750 drive and a new CD ROM. All worked perfectly with better responsiveness to the files and I-Radio url's. In December the unit began requiring a reboot about once a week, usually after failing to turn on, but once in a while freezing while on. I stopped using the unit and sent the power supply to Otis for refirbing. When I got it back and installed, the once a week reboot issue persisted. Several weeks ago I decided to count the starts and days between the needed re-boots and it looked to be after 7 days or 7 starts, not sure which of course, but you could count on it to need the reboot. Now out of the blue, it is not requiring reboots at all! I wonder what changed.
Did not disconnect or move the unit. The humidity is perhaps a bit higher, or the temps too, but other than that........so mystery server it is, but it plugs along fine.

[jdandy]

Steve.......That is a mystery. I hope the self healing persists.

I have my MS750 plugged into a APC UPS. I have now taken to turning off the UPS when I am not listening to the MS750. It requires time to boot each time I want to use it but I hope the complete shutdown when not in use will extend its service life. There's no reason to have the power supply energized and the hard drive spinning when I am not listening to the music streamer.

[sgbroimp]

I certainly see your logic there, Dan. Then again this runs into the argument that the computer geeks seem to be divided on. 50% say the act of starting and shutting down (more the former) stresses the parts and causes failures, so leave 'em running, while 50% seem to say it is best to shut down as you are doing. Either way I am glad I have the (working) Escient E2-100 in storage for that "rainy day" should it come.

Sad that Mc has apparently still not come up with a main board repair program for those less fortunate than we are.

[Cohibaman]

Originally Posted by sgbroimp

Sad that Mc has apparently still not come up with a main board repair program for those less fortunate than we are.

They really have no impetus to do so either so they probably never will unfortunately.

[sgbroimp]

Well, besides damage to their image you mean? That is important to most companies.

[Cohibaman]

Originally Posted by sgbroimp

Well, besides damage to their image you mean? That is important to most companies.

You are of course correct. McIntosh is leaving us high & dry when it comes to support for the MS300/750.

[Haudio]

Despite replacing my brown crude encrusted power supply with the Pico/brick (as detailed in this thread), my MS300 still has a permanently blinking red light. I'm not entirely surprised as I was having an intermittent problem for a while before it died. From physical inspection, I can't tell if the motherboard, hard drive or both are the remaining problem. I still hope to resurrect my MS300 one day but for now I'm using TIDAL along with stored music already on the HD of a laptop based system.

Can someone suggest how I can determine if the HD is still working and whether I can recover the data (I only had half of the MS300 drive backed up)?

Thanks to all for this wonderful thread.
Harry