<< 3. Removing the power supply (or at least the step down transformer) from the main unit lowers the noise floor by a few dB>> As a musician THAT justifies the ugly little pugs. An example: my Korg X5DR is very clean (soundwise), my Korg NS5R is pretty noisy. The NS5R has a built-in power supply with transformer, the X5DR has a wall wart. hawkeye