Could anyone who has used the Westminister Lab MSB Upgrade DC Cables share about the experience? Could the cables help to enhance the effect/quality significantly? Thanks.
I am afraid that MSB officially recommends using only original cables and that may ultimately void your warranty if a problem occurs due to different cables.
True true. We do know those guys and have provided them cable assembly drawings. If you search around, I am sure you will find more information on them and reviews. But, we have to be clear on the warranty, an assembly error that over voltages every IC on the motherboard will completely destroy the DAC and requires replacement, not just repair. Regular inputs and outputs are designed to be robust, but power supplies are expected 100% to be correct and do not have protections in place.
That being said, we don’t discourage it, but want you to know the risks up front.
1 Like
I‘ve upgraded to Revelation Audio Labs DC cables. it’s good product.
1 Like
I am hesitating whether to get 2 Westminster DC cables or get a Premier Powerbase.
After running my Discrete for 800 hours, I guess it has already 100% run-in, and further improvement is not possible without upgrading power supply.
If any Westminster / Premier Powerbase users here, hope they would share their thoughts.
Welcome to the forum! One of the things I like to point out in these types of choices is upgrading the performance/quality vs unlocking new technology. The DC cables may indeed improve your current system, but the Premier Powerbase adds better power circuity, custom transformers with improved shielding, and power control. It is a great improvement that makes a measurable difference. I like to imagine cabling as a way to tune up a system, but upgrading the powerbase is similar to buying a better car entirely. Our customers in Japan almost exclusively buy the Discrete DAC with the Premier Powerbase. Hope that helps! Feel free to ask if you have any questions about upgrading. Cheers!
2 Likes
I can’t agree with you more.
1 Like
Thanks Daniel.
Yes, I indeed have some questions, as I am going to replace the Discrete power supply with Premier Powerbase. (Ordered it from local dealer about 2 weeks ago, guess it is being produced in MSB factory now 
)
My questions:
- For the DC cables coming with the Premier Powerbase, are they identical to the cables came with the Discrete power supply? I want to keep using the existing Discrete cables as they have already run for over 1400 hours… But if the Premier cables are actually superior, then I’d swap
- Regarding the AMPLIFIER ground lug on Premier Powerbase - is it for MSB’s amplifiers only?
- I see the DAC is supposed to be placed on top of the Premier Powerbase… any impacts if I put the DAC under the Premier Powerbase?
(An extra question) Any plan for network renderer with SFP+? If yes, can the current network renderer be upgraded to it?
Cheers.
Congrats on the upgrade! To answer your questions:
- Yes, the cabling is identical. Feel free to keep your original set of cables in use!
- No, this is not MSB specific. You can use this with your current amplification. AB the results and make sure it is an improvement, it is not a universal use case and can vary based on your power.
- No issue with changing the stack up and no changes to performance. However, using dedicated shelves per unit could add some benefit. Again, AB to see if it changes the music for you!
Bonus: Not at this time! If a new Renderer does come out, we will try to keep it upgradable like it was from version 1 to version 2.
Enjoy!
Good day Daniel, I have the MSB Discrete DAC with the two MSB power supplies (PSU). I have a similar question: I’m using the MSB stock DC cables from the PSUs to the DAC. But I’m presently using two different brand power cords from the mains to the PSUs. These are after-market, audiophile grade power cords. It’s only due to budgetary constraints that at the present time I cannot purchase another power cord of one brand or the other to match either of the two existing power cords. I’m not a technical guy, but I’m guessing that the two power cords for the PSUs must be the same, in terms of optimal performance on the DAC? Can sound performance of the DAC be degraded if two different make power cords are used?
Thanks.
1 Like
David, there is absolutely no need to have matched power cables for the Discrete power supplies. If you have a preferred cable, it would do the most good powering the supply for the analog components. That would be the power connection closest to the Analog Outputs. Having two supplies powering two different areas of the DAC means there is no real interaction between them. Hence no worries on a cable mismatch.
1 Like
Hi Daniel, many, many thanks for your sage advice and recommendation. I have done accordingly, ie. placed the preferred power cord on the PSU feeding the P2 power inlet that is closest to the analog outputs on the DAC.
2 Likes
Excellent 
May I ask what power cord do you use? How much improvement do you think it brings compared to the stock AC power cord?
@Nous RSX Technologies Max and Prime power cords; the Roger Skoff design cables. The Max is on the analog side. These cables make a difference (improvement) with my MSB Discrete. 
Greater dynamics, transient attack and presence.