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SuperMacro V2.0 coming out soon! - Page 4

post #46 of 62
3/7/05 at 11:49am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by goto2003
I have no idea about the technical detail of SM V2.0. But I will get a V2.0 board this week and hopefully will throw several OPAMPs in it. I did roll different OPAMPs (NE5534, AD8610/825, LM6171, OPA227/627/637) in V1.0 and got various sound signatures and so far, my favorites are NE5534 and AD8610.

What cans did you test with in V1.0? Can you post some pics showing the v2.0 board swap out and OPAMP swaps for the electronically challenged. I'm still burning in my SM V1.0 which I got last week. I'm gonna wait for you early adopters to fully test V2.0 before I jump on the bandwagon. It's funny that when I made my decision on an amp that I read a post saying that the SR-71 is so stable because Sammuel E. doesn't make fequent changes and that Dr. Feng on the other hand is always tweaking the SM and the week when I received my SM Dr. Feng does an upgrade. Don't get me wrong I love my SM V1.0.
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post #47 of 62
3/7/05 at 12:12pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Big Al
What cans did you test with in V1.0? Can you post some pics showing the v2.0 board swap out and OPAMP swaps for the electronically challenged. I'm still burning in my SM V1.0 which I got last week. I'm gonna wait for you early adopters to fully test V2.0 before I jump on the bandwagon. It's funny that when I made my decision on an amp that I read a post saying that the SR-71 is so stable because Sammuel E. doesn't make fequent changes and that Dr. Feng on the other hand is always tweaking the SM and the week when I received my SM Dr. Feng does an upgrade. Don't get me wrong I love my SM V1.0.
I use HD600, Koss A250 and KCS75. Yes, I will try to shot some pictures. From my experience, I couldn't hear any sonic differences between a standard issue with 5000uf cap and a socketed one with 3360uf cap. IMHO, socked issue has far more benefits than the standard one as we can throw in different OPAMPs to get customerized sound, especially for those who have several cans with various sound signatures. It's so much joyce to use some low-priced yet outstanding OPAMPs, like NE5534, an extremely low-priced (<$1 at Digikey) op but truely high-end-sounded in SM. NE5534's have an overall warm and transparent sound with very relaxing and engaging mid, which synergizes nicely with HD600. To be honest, I do prefer NE5534 over OPA227/627/637/604 for a significant margin.
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post #48 of 62
3/7/05 at 12:49pm
The only difference between the old and new version is that the output ground channel is separated from the input ground channel.
The most noticeable benefit is better compatibility with a variaty of opamps.
I noticed that SM did not perform optimally with every opamps as compared to my 3-channel DIY home amp. The main problem were low volume attenuation and strange behavior in the square-wave response.
I think there is no reason to upgrade if the current opamps used works and sound fine.
A must get option is the 2X buffer option. It is inexpensive and it makes noticeable difference.

Quote:
Originally Posted by practitioner
can anyone explain in layman terms, why having a ground channel makes any difference?
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post #49 of 62
3/7/05 at 1:06pm
Akuan, that's a good description of the SM v2 for the electronically challenged. How is the Portaphile v2 different in its need for a 3rd opamp? How does that change the amp sonically? Again in layperson terms. Thanks.
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post #50 of 62
3/7/05 at 1:09pm
What does Xin mean when he mentiones "a new key component" in the seperated ground channel? Is it possible that he uses new OPAMP for ground? Thanks.
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post #51 of 62
3/7/05 at 1:33pm
No, I don't have SM V2.0. I even sold my V1.0 SM since I don't need portable amp. My guess is that he has substituted current-feedback opamp ground circuit for a buffered opamp circuit one so the new component is the buffer chip (most likely BUF634).
It is not clear if the opamp for the ground circuit is rollable.
My guess is that it will not be socketed since there isn't enough room.

Quote:
Originally Posted by goto2003
Have you got a SM V2.0? What does Xin mean when he mentiones "a new key component" in the seperated ground channel? Is it possible that he uses new OPAMP for ground? Thanks.
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post #52 of 62
3/7/05 at 1:41pm
I'm not familiar with Portaphile amp. Replacing opamp for ground when changing L+R opamps is optional. You can read some info here http://tangentsoft.net/audio/pimeta/pguide.html
As mention before, I believe the main advantage of this change is for the amp to work optimally with various opamps.
In my experience, tweaking the ground channel produces very little (if any) improvement in sound unless the opamps installed are not working optimally (like THD above 0.01%).

Quote:
Originally Posted by Oski
Akuan, that's a good description of the SM v2 for the electronically challenged. How is the Portaphile v2 different in its need for a 3rd opamp? How does that change the amp sonically? Again in layperson terms. Thanks.
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post #53 of 62
3/7/05 at 1:41pm
Thanks, Akuan. I wouldn't have decided to upgrade my SM if Xin hadn't claimed that the new SM has "blasting bass, quieter and better image" and he immediately noticed these improvements. But anyway, I will give it a trial this week. If it doesn't bring any sonic improvement, I will stay with my old SM
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post #54 of 62
3/7/05 at 4:31pm

Clarification? (Different take on Tangent reference)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Akuan
I'm not familiar with Portaphile amp. Replacing opamp for ground when changing L+R opamps is optional. You can read some info here http://tangentsoft.net/audio/pimeta/pguide.html
As mention before, I believe the main advantage of this change is for the amp to work optimally with various opamps.
In my experience, tweaking the ground channel produces very little (if any) improvement in sound unless the opamps installed are not working optimally (like THD above 0.01%).
Following is quote (copy/paste) from the link you provided, concerning OPAG (ground channel opamp).

"The ground channel op-amp also affects power draw, but does not affect sound quality as much as the output channel op-amps. There's a good argument that you should use the single-channel version of your output channel chip for the ground channel; the contention is that the ground channel will counteract the currents from the output channels symmetrically, resulting in better sound. In practice, people have reported sonically interesting results from putting different types of chips in OPALR and OPAG. Sometimes one is forced to use different types of chips, such as when you use the OPA637 in the output channels: you have to use the related but different OPA627 in the ground channel, since the OPA637 won't work at unity gain."

The notes indicate that the OPAG "does not affect sound quality as much..." and does not say not at all or minimally. It would seem that Xin and Cesar are designing their triple opamp topologies for appreciable sonic improvements and not as tweaky sales gimmicks, or they'd go with a 2 opamp topology and not waste time and money on this enhancement.
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post #55 of 62
3/7/05 at 7:23pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Zoide
So, will the SM 2.0 require 2 opamps or 3?
I just asked Dr. Xin this on the fixup forum, as well as if the G channel will have a socket. I'm curious as well, since I'd like to know how many opamps I'm going to need ;-)
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post #56 of 62
3/8/05 at 12:08am
I am a satisfied SM V1 owner, and I will try to wait it out. However,
I am really tempted to try the SM V2 with the NE5534, or AD8610,
and have it in running side by side audio comparisons with my SM V1
(627 OPAMP Powered SM.)

Another option hopefully worth waiting for: SM V2 with Internal DAC!!!

Dr. Xin has been experimenting (03/04/05) with trying to fit new DAC
chips inside the SM hammond case. Details are on his "Cool Talk" forums.
Of course it is unknown if XIN will finish this project and make it
commercially available.

There are many options, and not enough details on what is available,
ORDERING PROCEDURES, AND PRICES for the NEW V2 UPGRADES.
Patience, I know.

Kudos to the people ordering their first SuperMacro Amps as they will
be V2 versions. The V1 versions are excellent, and the V2's should be
even better!!! And hopefully the near future analog/digital versions
will be ...

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post #57 of 62
3/8/05 at 12:48am
Quote:
Originally Posted by rab10
I am a satisfied SM V1 owner, and I will try to wait it out. However,
I am really tempted to try the SM V2 with the NE5534, or AD8610,
and have it in running side by side audio comparisons with my SM V1
(627 OPAMP Powered SM.)

Another option hopefully worth waiting for: SM V2 with Internal DAC!!!

Dr. Xin has been experimenting (03/04/05) with trying to fit new DAC
chips inside the SM hammond case. Details are on his "Cool Talk" forums.
Of course it is unknown if XIN will finish this project and make it
commercially available.

There are many options, and not enough details on what is available,
ORDERING PROCEDURES, AND PRICES for the NEW V2 UPGRADES.
Patience, I know.

Kudos to the people ordering their first SuperMacro Amps as they will
be V2 versions. The V1 versions are excellent, and the V2's should be
even better!!! And hopefully the near future analog/digital versions
will be ...
I too am a satisfied V1.0 owner. Don't want to be a 'wet blanket' on the upgrade euphoria but I just really like the sound of my SM to begin with -- don't see that much need to 'raise the bar' when 'the bar' is already in the clouds. I'm not so sure it's not an op-amp-ruled world anyway.

Was listening to SM and switching back and forth with my worthy Xin SuperDual. SM has OPA627s, SD has AD8620. Phones were E5s from iPod line-out->SikDin. Really enjoyed SD's synergy with the E5s! Actually thought about sending SM back to Xin for swapping in the AD8610s. But then I thought, "Hmm, some recordings could use the brighter, splashier, boomy AD8620, while other albums will sound awesome with the thicker, less forward OPA627s. So I'm keeping my stuff exactly as it is. YMMV.
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post #58 of 62
3/8/05 at 1:05am
Before I got SM V2.0, I had no idea how good it would be as I am also a happy V1.0 owner Now I think a socketed SM V2.0 with AD8610 and NE5534 ($0.95/each) would be my ultimate solution for my gears as long as Xin doesn't make a V3.0.
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post #59 of 62
3/8/05 at 1:25am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dr. Xin on fixup
I received new PCB boards today and have soldered/assemblied some. So far so good. Therefore Mar. 26 should be no problem.

All amps to be shipped afterwards will be V2.0. Note the default opamp will highly be NE5534, because it sounds damn so good in V2.0. If you selected a different opamp and would like to try NE5534, please email us.

Yes, the new version has opamps in L,R and G, but the one in G is fixed because this one is very special, changing it is not recommended.
So I guess that's good... I've got some OPA627, 637, and 604s headed my way (should be here before the amp I guess), so I'll have some options
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post #60 of 62
3/8/05 at 6:02am
Quote:
Originally Posted by vranswer
I too am a satisfied V1.0 owner. Don't want to be a 'wet blanket' on the upgrade euphoria but I just really like the sound of my SM to begin with -- don't see that much need to 'raise the bar' when 'the bar' is already in the clouds. I'm not so sure it's not an op-amp-ruled world anyway.

Was listening to SM and switching back and forth with my worthy Xin SuperDual. SM has OPA627s, SD has AD8620. Phones were E5s from iPod line-out->SikDin. Really enjoyed SD's synergy with the E5s! Actually thought about sending SM back to Xin for swapping in the AD8610s. But then I thought, "Hmm, some recordings could use the brighter, splashier, boomy AD8620, while other albums will sound awesome with the thicker, less forward OPA627s. So I'm keeping my stuff exactly as it is. YMMV.
vranswer - Did you ever own the SR-71, if you did how does it compare to the SuperMacro? I wished that I would have held onto my SR-71 just a bit longer to make this evaluation.
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