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| Headphone Amps (full-size) Discussion of desktop headphone amps. |
04-18-2008, 09:23 PM
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100+ Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 425
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Penchum
In the portable realm, that may have been closer to the truth, but in the desktop realm, things are much more expanded.  Imagine what that Zero will sound like when you have a better sounding Opamp in there! |
I have about 160 hours on mine. The 1324 in the DAC is my favorite so far, it seems to be the best for bass oomph while still being nice to the mids and highs. (I'm alternating between 1429, and 1361 in amp section) For the $8 it cost, it's definitely worth the upgrade.
Make no mistake though, to me the difference is at best very subtle. It's by no means 'night and day', or even afternoon to evening...
What I'm still puzzling over is whether I should try the 627, but I'm not sure that the $40 or more investment is worth such small results. If there are much better results with the 627 then by all means, but not if it's merely very very slight.
Is it really that much better?
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04-18-2008, 10:02 PM
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Headphoneus Supremus
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Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Arizona
Posts: 3,262
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Quote:
Originally Posted by oatmeal769
I have about 160 hours on mine. The 1324 in the DAC is my favorite so far, it seems to be the best for bass oomph while still being nice to the mids and highs. (I'm alternating between 1429, and 1361 in amp section) For the $8 it cost, it's definitely worth the upgrade.
Make no mistake though, to me the difference is at best very subtle. It's by no means 'night and day', or even afternoon to evening...
What I'm still puzzling over is whether I should try the 627, but I'm not sure that the $40 or more investment is worth such small results. If there are much better results with the 627 then by all means, but not if it's merely very very slight.
Is it really that much better?
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This is an area that is dead center in personal tastes. With the Zero driving a nice tube amp, you might get better results from changing driver tubes. The only thing I know for sure, is that more than a hand full of Zero owners, like the OPA627's in the DAC, for driving a separate amp. Hopefully, some of them will chime in and tell you what they think.
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04-18-2008, 10:24 PM
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Headphoneus Supremus
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Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Euroland
Posts: 2,693
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Well I don't have the money to buy a good tube amp, so I wanted the best opamps for in the zero, cause I'm gonna connect my K601 and SR-325i directly to it. Penchum you got me all drooling, I checked out your gear on your profile page  !!
__________________
H1: NAD C542 / T.C. Electronic Konnekt 8 -> SPL Phonitor -> [B] AKG K1000
H2: NAD C542 / T.C. Electronic Konnekt 8 ->KRK VXT 8's
Headphones: Sennheiser HD-650
P1: Archos 605/iPhone -> Qables -> Corda 3Move -> Denon AH-C700 (T400 tips) // ATH-EW9 / Etymotic UF5
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04-18-2008, 10:38 PM
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100+ Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Palm Springs, Ca
Posts: 282
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I have the Zero connected up to my MAD EAR HD and also my Dared VP 16 tube amp and the sound has improved in both amps. I am waiting on my fake 627 from China..See how that sounds
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04-18-2008, 10:40 PM
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100+ Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 425
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Penchum
you might get better results from changing driver tubes. ... Hopefully, some of them will chime in and tell you what they think. |
I have noticed that the driver tubes make much more difference than the OpAmps... Even in my brand new MKIII, I put my NOS Tung-Sol's in for a few minutes just to see if they work. The difference there was much more obvious than the OpAmps.
Like you say, I hope some others can chime in on the difference with 627's, and whether it's worth it given the price tag.
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04-18-2008, 10:56 PM
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Headphoneus Supremus
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Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Euroland
Posts: 2,693
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I will do so when I receive them, and offcourse Penchum also commented on the 627's on page 1 (the review).
__________________
H1: NAD C542 / T.C. Electronic Konnekt 8 -> SPL Phonitor -> [B] AKG K1000
H2: NAD C542 / T.C. Electronic Konnekt 8 ->KRK VXT 8's
Headphones: Sennheiser HD-650
P1: Archos 605/iPhone -> Qables -> Corda 3Move -> Denon AH-C700 (T400 tips) // ATH-EW9 / Etymotic UF5
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04-19-2008, 12:36 AM
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100+ Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 289
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Finally bit the bullet on one of these babies. It better come in soon, I'm living off of onboard sound atm 
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04-19-2008, 12:59 AM
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100+ Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Naples, FL
Posts: 313
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Well, I just picked up two LT1364 for the Headphone Amp and one LT1469 for the DAC. That should be all I need to replace the OpAmps in the Zero correct? Hopefully they will both be coming soon, can't wait.
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04-19-2008, 01:53 AM
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100+ Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 425
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Quote:
Originally Posted by [S]uds
Well, I just picked up two LT1364 for the Headphone Amp and one LT1469 for the DAC. That should be all I need to replace the OpAmps in the Zero correct? Hopefully they will both be coming soon, can't wait. |
I'm actually diggin' the 1364 over the 1469 in the DAC section. Try that as well!
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04-19-2008, 05:47 AM
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100+ Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 107
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Penchum
This is an area that is dead center in personal tastes. With the Zero driving a nice tube amp, you might get better results from changing driver tubes. The only thing I know for sure, is that more than a hand full of Zero owners, like the OPA627's in the DAC, for driving a separate amp. Hopefully, some of them will chime in and tell you what they think. |
It will likely come down to personal tastes and what other kit is involved. I have the ZERO feeding a Cayin tube amp and haven't yet found the best overall DAC opamp for my varied musical tastes. Add to that the ability to roll preamp and power tubes and I have quite some combinations to try out. I'm taking my time swapping the opamps and it is very interesting to hear the differences.
On one hand $40 is not a lot compared to some of the tube prices, but on the other it is $40 that you may not wish to spend if you are happy with the sound that you are hearing.
-- sorry, should have multo-quoted oatmeal769 and not just penchum
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04-19-2008, 08:13 AM
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Headphoneus Supremus
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Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Euroland
Posts: 2,693
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How do I know that I put the opamp in the right way (so I won't blow them up again on monday)? And another possibility could be 1x1364 in DAC and 2x 1361 in AMP ?
__________________
H1: NAD C542 / T.C. Electronic Konnekt 8 -> SPL Phonitor -> [B] AKG K1000
H2: NAD C542 / T.C. Electronic Konnekt 8 ->KRK VXT 8's
Headphones: Sennheiser HD-650
P1: Archos 605/iPhone -> Qables -> Corda 3Move -> Denon AH-C700 (T400 tips) // ATH-EW9 / Etymotic UF5
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04-19-2008, 08:33 AM
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1000+ Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Sweden
Posts: 1,033
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Quote:
Originally Posted by vvanrij
How do I know that I put the opamp in the right way (so I won't blow them up again on monday)? And another possibility could be 1x1364 in DAC and 2x 1361 in AMP ?
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The opamps have a round dot on them. Make sure that the new dot is at the same place as the dot on the old opamp. You can also look at the text. It should be the same way as the old opamps.
__________________
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H X-fi XtremeMusic -> ASIO -> Optical -> Gamma2 / Zero dac (OPA-Earth) -> CK2III / Zero internal amp -> RS1 "brown headband" / HD600 '02 / K501 .v1 / HF-2
P Cowon D2 - Head-Direct RE0
Other Fiio portable amp / Playstation SCHP-1002
Gone: DT990 '05 32ohm, HD650 with Oehlbach cable / Meier Corda Headfive / MS2i / DT880 '05 250ohm / RS1 "buttonless" '08 / LD MKIII / Audio-Technica ATH-AD2000
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Spotify
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04-19-2008, 10:34 AM
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Headphoneus Supremus
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Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Euroland
Posts: 2,693
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Thanks, also to burn in the DAC, do you have to connect anything? Like right now its connected to my pc, which is sending purple noise to it. And the ZERO is connected to my receiver (which is OFF), should still be burning in right?
__________________
H1: NAD C542 / T.C. Electronic Konnekt 8 -> SPL Phonitor -> [B] AKG K1000
H2: NAD C542 / T.C. Electronic Konnekt 8 ->KRK VXT 8's
Headphones: Sennheiser HD-650
P1: Archos 605/iPhone -> Qables -> Corda 3Move -> Denon AH-C700 (T400 tips) // ATH-EW9 / Etymotic UF5
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04-20-2008, 11:59 PM
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100+ Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 133
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I just noticed on the Ebay that now Zero comes with the USB connecting device. I'm not sure how good it might be but it just looks like a device that converts the USB into the optical signal for the zero. Now, I might actually buy one to try with the UBS from my pc.
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04-21-2008, 12:13 AM
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Headphoneus Supremus
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Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Arizona
Posts: 3,262
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Quote:
Originally Posted by psc001
I just noticed on the Ebay that now Zero comes with the USB connecting device. I'm not sure how good it might be but it just looks like a device that converts the USB into the optical signal for the zero. Now, I might actually buy one to try with the UBS from my pc.
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Be careful!!! Snow48_6 was identified earlier this year as a scam artist. He may have gone legit, but we don't know for sure. 
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