While deciding what internal sound card to buy as an upgrade of my current integrated solution it was pretty easy to settle with Prodigy HD2. However because I was only able to order the basic version with mediocre opamps, I searched for better, available and simple (no soldering) opamp configurations.

Well, I compiled a list of what I found, so I thought I could share my findings with head-fi.

There are three official manufactured configurations (as far as I know):
LITE --- 3x NE5532
GOLD --- 2x OPA2134 + JRC5532
ADVANCE --- 2x OPA2134 + OPA2604

The ADVANCE version perfectly fits my needs and it will definitely be the first replacement to try.

BEST --- 2x OPA2604 + AD8022 or AD8599
- no DIP version available for any of those two Analog Devices amps, which means adapter and soldering
- Majkel, a head-fier here, named the option above the "best", but I don't feel like soldering. Not yet, anyway.

These three configurations with Linear Technology opamps bellow are from user pdm:
A --- 2x LT1364 + LT1361
- unmuddled mids, more detailed highs, a little bit more bass, broader soundstage
B --- 2x LT1469 + LT1361
- a lot of detail everywhere, weak bass, too big soundstage
C --- 3x LT1361
- preferred and best sounding out of many LT opamps configuration

These four configs bellow are originally from BadassBob
D --- 3x LM4562NA
- definitely an upgrade over stock config
E --- 2x LT1364 + LM4562NA
- nice sound, punchier bass, mellow highs, and a more detailed midrange, recommended by two users so far
F --- 2x LT1364 + LME49720NA
- worse than config E - lost some midrange and had extremely harsh highs, also very much disliked by pdm
- GuyMe is generally pleased by this config and he doesn't get the harsh highs on neutral headphones, he tested bright headphones and the highs were there so headphones may be at fault not the opamps
BEST --- 2x LT1364 + LT1361
- punchier bass, great midrange, and nice and mellow highs - favorite setup

HYBRID --- 1x 2xOPA627BP on browndog + 2x LT1364
- update of config E mentioned by mnemoniak - by his comparasion E is missing soundstage and detailed highs, which are there with config - however HYBRID is lacking life and ejoyment factor and voices seems to got a sort of veil wasting overall presentation

Burr Brown opamps
G --- 3x OPA2134PA
- by frankR - much much brighter, sharper highs, almost too bright, stronger perhaps a little muddy bass, much wider and deeper soundstage

I wonder if any of you could suggest other combinations and perhaps share your experience with them and I will add them to this list. Thanks for any input, guys.

For the record, there are also two headphone amps (JRC4580) on HD2. Those can be used to boost the signal by 250%. They are switched on by two jumpers on the PCB. They are soldered in place.

Ive tried a few different combos. I started with 3x LM4562NA, sounded pretty nice. From the stock config, it was a nice upgrade. From there I went to 2x LT1364s and 1x LM4562NA. That gave a nice sound, punchier bass, mellow highs, and a more detailed midrange. Last weekend I replaced the LM4562NA with an LME49720NA, lost some midrange and had extremely harsh highs. I liked the LT1364s with the LM4562NA much better. Just a few hours ago, I replaced the LME49720NA with an LT1361. This is a very good setup. Punchier bass, great midrange, and nice highs. Not harsh at all, nice and mellow. Id have to say this is my favorite setup so far. It gives a more fun sound overall. As always, your mileage may vary.

Thanks for your info.

I wonder, do I have a typo in the option C? Shouldn't there be 2x LT1364 (which would make it same as option E) instead of 2x LT1634? Or is C a valid combination also?

We're surely discussing LT1364. It was probably me who recommended 2x OPA2604 + AD8022 because it's a configuration found by me and my friend from another forum including experiments with LM4562, AD8066, OPA2107, OPA2134, NE5532 and other well known chips. For further improvement - replace capacitors for Sanyo WG where possible.

Yes, it was you. Sorry for not crediting you properly, majkel.

And thanks for the suggestion for cap replacement. What's interesting, it seems like the Advance version of HD2 is already equipped with some Sanyo OS-CON.

Welcome to AUDIOTRAK Korea

Like was said above, this card would benefit greatly from a capacitor upgrade. Its an excellent sounding source as is, theres quite a bit of potential. Ive heard some people say the headphone amp is about on par with an EMU 0404USB, if so its a pretty weak amp. The headphone out on my old Pioneer amp is much better.

Isn't the headphone out as good as the opamps installed? As far as I know the two JRC4580 amps (which have dubious quality) are for optional boost of the signal. If I don't use the jumpers I'll get whatever the opamps create. Or do I?

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I would like to know this as well since I'm currently using the jumper to boost the headphone output, which is not really needed. I'm interested in upgrading opamps, espeacially if they can directly power the headphone out.

Try replacing the NJM4580's with the AD8022's if possible. It made a significant progress in my CDP.

How the Prodigy HD2 card with the Vista OS ? Is there any problem with the drivers or installation ?

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I wanna just bump this thread, but I might as well give my thoughts (even though I don't have the card yet and I don't have Vista anyway ). From what I've read the drivers for HD2 are fine with both XP and Vista and even with 64bit versions of these operating systems, so I wouldn't worry about it.

Im running XP x64 with the Audiotrak driver. No problems here.

One more question. I have a slim desktop from Dell, I was wondering if Prodigy HD would be able to fit into the slot. From the pic, it looks like it should be but if guys've installed it let me know , thanx!

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The HD2 is small. Probably the best sounding small sound card availible, and prety good in its own right.

Best past op-amp configuration :
1x LM4562 + 2x LT1364

New best op-amp configuration :
1x 2xOPA627BP on browndog + 2x LT1364 [back on this, two posts further]

I Will try to explain differencies later ..

PS : I first buy OPA627s from selectronic, probably fakes ones, no notche and sonds really bad, then some from tube_buyer (ebay), those with a notch, and, great, they are those I was expecting.