New Reigning Champ in Speed - The THS4631 opamp! - Page 4

Originally Posted by Tyll Hertsens

Oh yea. I remember at one point during the time of much listening (and there's still a bit of twiddling to do) Jamie asked what the heck we were shooting for. On one recording you'd hear the difference one way, and then on a different recording you'd hear the difference a completely different way. So, while it's true that we would usually pick the same amp, it would be for different reasons, and our reasons would differ differently on a different day.

In the end I wound up using a few recordings that seemed to have lots of detail and organic instruments in it. These seemed best at being able to allow the differences between amps to be heard. Also a little female vocal. Then I'd sit back and listen to the choice of two under test, and would select the one that sounded most natural and life-like.

But, I have to tell you the differences we are talking about at a the limit of my ability to percieve. Sometimes it was more of a feeling as opposed to a concrete sonic feature. There's a handful of parts that perform at this level and they're all damn good sounding. (I have to add that that a bucket full of parts out there that are near as good as these. The number of good sounding parts out there is pretty good these days---bot in the analog and digital arena.)

Got to reiterate here though that the 627 was measureably "better" in the standard way we view the audio tests, and to our ears it was better, too. We'll be using the 627 in new "reference" module and we put so much money into the high-end amps in other places that it would be criminal for us not to pop the extra for the 627 and go with the recognised part. Too bad; I was ready for the change, and saving a few bucks wouldn't be bad either, but that's not what this is all about.

Originally Posted by phobus

I tried these in a M3 and a PPAv2 today.

M3 - I get about 7-8mv of offset in the L/R channels. I find it sounds quite nice, and has a bit more detail than the 637bp, almost "grainy". I don't know if I like it better than the 637bps yet.

PPAv2 - It doesn't work I think I don't have enough power to it? I found this quote by steinchen in the PPAv2 build discussion:



Do you guys think this is my problem, since when I try the AD843 in the PPAv2 it has the same result?

Thanks