Practical Devices XM5 - Page 11

So what would be the best option of opamps\buffers for my needs?

I want a warm, bassy sound but I still want the benefit of the dual mono design?

I'm confused as to which combination for the XM5 would do that. I should be ordering mine in the next two weeks.

The stock OP134's with the BUF634 buffers are a good choice. I still plan to try some OPA627 later, which should meet your criteria based on other experience with them.

Has anyone tried any other opamps in the XM5?
I very much enjoyed the AD8620 in the XM4 and am considering getting me 2 AD8610 and 2 adapters, but before i try my soldering skills i would much rather try a few DIP8 opamps, i gave my brain some time today with the OPA134+BUF634 combo before installing the AD8397, even if it would get me sound closer to the AD8620, i would like to take advantage of the customizability and try a few more opamps before crowning my subjective winner.
Right now i have the before mentioned LM6171 (tangent's notes worry me) in a basket and some OPA227 before adding the much pricier OPA627 i may try a few more lower priced opamps, pushing the OPA627 off to a later purchase....any suggestions? (i want to stay clear of OPA228 or OPA637, they seem trouble for simple drop-ins?)
Looks like AD843KNZ might be a desktop amp only option, like always plugged in i'd consider it. (see tangent's notes on opamps why i'm not trying it in a portable amp)

All that said:

Practical Devices is a great company to deal with, emails are answered quickly and friendly and amps ship quick too.
I enjoy the DAC in the XM5 quite a bit since my laptop's sound stinks.
One thing Practical Devices could improve on is to make the DAC an option or sell an XM5 with just the great amp and a XM5+ including the DAC, since i keep seeing people who would buy it if it didn't have the DAC.

I've had the same great CS from PD. It has been mentioned before and I also agree that PD should make 2 versions. I might have bought an amp only version but now I find myself using the XM5 DAC when I have my Pico mated to my iPod.

I don't know what the price difference would be between the XM5 & "XM5+" but they might sell a few more amps if that lower cost would put it next to other amps in consideration.

I have no experience with other opamps.

How noticeable would you say the treble boost is?

I know it's only a 2.5 dB boost, but I just can't hear any difference.

The 6 dB bass boost I can hear. Is my xm5 borked?

I think your XM5 is functioning normally. From my listening, the treble boost is subtle in most cases.

The pico is plastic, right? I know the XM5 has a metal case.

Both cases are aluminum AFAIK.

I wondered the same, on my phonaks i can barely tell when i use the OPA134 + BUF634, right now i try the AD8397 and i can very clearly hear the difference. Not huge, but there.

I like the treble boost but I wish the bass boost was 4 dB. @ 60 Hz. instead of 6 dB. @ 100 Hz.

ditto

Thanks for the replies, I might upgrade to the AD8397 one of these days.

And I agree, the bass boost is a little much depending on the music.

Actually, it looks like the XM5 uses the Texas Instruments PCM2702E, same as the Corda 3Move.

Practical Devices Corporation

I was trying to make a decision between those two brands, and the cost and convenience of ordering (in the states) is making me lean toward the XM5.

Well, you _could_ be like one of each some of the fellows here and get one of each

When I got back into audio 3-4 years ago, I accumulated 6 turntables (kept 4), 4 receivers (kept 3) 4 cassette decks (2 were "parts units") 2 CD players and 6 pair of speakers (kept 4pr)

I got the AKG 240s, and a Microshar 107B last year, and, afet MUCH thought, and a bit of boot thrown in by PD 8 months ago, bought the XM-5. I think that I'll take a breather, as I'm lusting after a better set of headphones, but _really_ would like to hear more phones and amps before getting more toys

I wonder how the LM6171's would do in place of the OPA134's ?? They seem to give me a nicer sound then the 134's, but the volume is less with my AKG 240's. Don't have the BUF 634's to try.

Not being a swifty with the data sheets, I can't see the difference.