loquah said:

   
Sorry to be demanding

, but can you say what you prefer about the HA-5002 compared to the LME49600? Just trying to work out if this is just a difference in tastes or something to do with synergy.

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Well seemed like things got clearer and the soundstage separated a bit for me.  Might just be a matter of taste but whatever it is I like it.

[also sent via pm]
Hi Determnistic NL!
 
Am interested in buying your soldered spare set so I can use as a buffer togther w/ my Muse02.
 
Where are you residing and how much are you selling?
 
I can pay you via paypal.
 
Although I live in the Philippines, I can receive it via a US Los Angeles address.
 
Do please reserve it for me
 
Cheers,
Rene

Anyone just love this amp even in stock form?
I am currently using this with HTC One - beyer m200p - e12DIY - Mad Dog 3.2 and it sounds fantastic.
 
I have done some searching for what sounds like what as far as opamp options etc, but there are so many posts with opamp in them that I just gave up and listened as it comes.
 
Enjoying it a lot.
 
Thanks to @Loquah for the suggestion!!!
 
Scott

wyd4 said:

  Anyone just love this amp even in stock form?
I am currently using this with HTC One - beyer m200p - e12DIY - Mad Dog 3.2 and it sounds fantastic.
 
I have done some searching for what sounds like what as far as opamp options etc, but there are so many posts with opamp in them that I just gave up and listened as it comes.
 
Enjoying it a lot.
 
Thanks to @Loquah for the suggestion!!!
 
Scott

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Glad you're loving it and you're welcome for the recommendation.
 
It's all a question of symmetry, but the OPA1611+LME49600 is still a winner to my ears

wcdchee said:

  Sorry for this but to any singaporeans out there, if you happen to have extra muses / HA5002 chips that you dont mind selling could you pm me? s sorry for hijacking the thread thanks!!!

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sorry, we don't sell the muses or ha5002. 

wyd4 said:

  Anyone just love this amp even in stock form?
I am currently using this with HTC One - beyer m200p - e12DIY - Mad Dog 3.2 and it sounds fantastic.
 
I have done some searching for what sounds like what as far as opamp options etc, but there are so many posts with opamp in them that I just gave up and listened as it comes.
 
Enjoying it a lot.
 
Thanks to @Loquah for the suggestion!!!
 
Scott

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Hehe, guess what? I've owned and been using my E12DIY for almost 2 months now and I have yet to unscrew the cover to roll between opamps and buffers because I feel that the stock combo just sounds great with what I have. Recently I tried it with the iBasso DX90 Line Out and HD 650 on high gain and I found the results very satisfactory. Everything sounds clean and clear. There is just very slight background hiss when the track is super silent (e.g. classical symphonic/orchestral tracks), but it's not in your face, so I'm not bothered by that at all. Very very happy with this portable amplifier so far. Who knows, maybe I'll find some of the other stock combos even more amazing? We'll see when I finally decide to get into the DIY part of owning this amp. 

The stock sound is great, but the biggest improvement Ive noticed is with the muses01 or muses02. I currently have the HA-5002 in but the improvement is minimal over the stock. The muses are the biggest leap Id say, a certainly noticeable difference. 

The stock chips are a great place to start.
 
If you like them the best, then they are the ones for you!
 
You do owe it to yourself to explore the other chips, however. You might find something you like even better. Or not.
 
But it's easy to do and worth trying the other choices to see.
 
Plenty of choices to satisfy everyone!

One update on the HA-5002 impressions, the static noise I was experiencing on high gain with IEMs is completely gone. I was second guessing if soldering those little things was worth it time and price wise. It is IMO if you plan on using IEMs. Did not try the E12DIY on high gain for some time since I had static with all of the stock chips on high gain, I was pleasantly surprised today to find this out. 

I've had some static issues too, but it's normally solved by removing and reseating the buffer/op amp so I think it's something to do with th contact between the adapters and the PCB rather than being caused by the chips themselves.

On other related matters, I've spent some time rolling op amps with the HA-5002 today and think either the OPA604 (stock option) or LME49990 (bought separately) are my favorites so far (no MUSES in my collection yet). I find the HA-5002 is much thicker sounding than the LME49600 so it's probably a good match for more analytical / neutral headphones. Once determined, I'll compare my preferred 5002 combo with my current preference of OPA1611/LME49600

Any more interest in HA-5002? I reckon I can offer my labor for free and make a few pair of them if some of you are still interested in getting a pair. I'll get the parts needed, built and tested them out, then send them to you.
 
As per forum's rule, I won't be making money over them, but you will have to pay for all the parts and shipping fee. The cost will roughly be HA-5002 x 2 = US$16.50 (from RS Malaysia), adapter x 2 = US$8.20 (including shipping from BrownDog to me), packaging = US$1 (padded envelop), and shipping fee from me to you (unknown, but usually international registered air mail with tracking should be less than US$10. EMS however can go over US$20 easily. Cheaper if you are in S.E.Asia and more expensive if you are further away). So the estimated cost will be around US$36 or so, depends on shipping.
 
It will take about a month or so from ordering parts to delivery to you, mostly because the time it will take for the BrownDog adapter to shipping from the US to Malaysia, where I live, then from Malaysia to where you are. I have no control over the postal service so I can't give you a precise time. However, tracking will be available once I sent the finished HA-5002 to you. Also, please understanding that I am only doing this for fun of DIYing, so this isn't exactly a commercial built and I do have a day job to attend to.
 
Payment will be made via Paypal and you are expected to cover any applicable Paypal fee, as I don't want to lose money over this since I am not charging for any profit. Full payment when I am ready to ship. If fail to pay within a week of notification, the adapters will go to public listing in the for sale forum or else where. Right now I am planning to make about 5 pairs max. If there is enough interest, we can arrange for more.
 
Please register in the for sale forum thread to reserve your pair: http://www.head-fi.org/t/722671/ha-5002-browndog-adapter-for-fiio-e12diy

I've spent a lot of time testing different op-amp / buffer combos over the last few days and finally understand why people like the HA-5002 and LME49990 combo. While the OPA1611/LME49600 combo is strong on detail, it can seem a bit unnaturally emphasised at certain frequencies (treble mostly). The LME49990/HA-5002 combo is more subtle and may sound a bit rolled-off at first (which I still think it is slightly), but what it gives in return is excellent note weight and realism in the staging. The sound becomes more solid and holographic with the LME49990/HA-5002 combo without really sacrificing anything other than some treble extension. This makes it less prone to fatigue and, to my ears at least, doesn't cost in terms of treble detail and texture, just emphasis.
 
I'm yet to try any DIP-8 op amps (i.e. MUSES) in the DIY as the clearance on my case is not even close to fitting so I'm reluctant to shave away as much aluminium as would be required.
 
For anyone who has tried the LME49990 op amp and MUSES01/02 op amps (preferably with the HA-5002 buffer), how would you compare the signature and staging of the MUSES compared to the LME49990?

loquah said:

  I've spent a lot of time testing different op-amp / buffer combos over the last few days and finally understand why people like the HA-5002 and LME49990 combo. While the OPA1611/LME49600 combo is strong on detail, it can seem a bit unnaturally emphasised at certain frequencies (treble mostly). The LME49990/HA-5002 combo is more subtle and may sound a bit rolled-off at first (which I still think it is slightly), but what it gives in return is excellent note weight and realism in the staging. The sound becomes more solid and holographic with the LME49990/HA-5002 combo without really sacrificing anything other than some treble extension. This makes it less prone to fatigue and, to my ears at least, doesn't cost in terms of treble detail and texture, just emphasis.
 
I'm yet to try any DIP-8 op amps (i.e. MUSES) in the DIY as the clearance on my case is not even close to fitting so I'm reluctant to shave away as much aluminium as would be required.
 
For anyone who has tried the LME49990 and MUSES01/02. How would you compare the signature and staging of the MUSES compared to the LME49990?

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for me ..i only have the default LME49600......and when pair with MUSES01 ...it bring the music with much more warmer and tighter bass on my UM mentor...i have muses02 too but it pair better with BUF634...

doki81 said:

  for me ..i only have the default LME49600......and when pair with MUSES01 ...it bring the music with much more warmer and tighter bass on my UM mentor...i have muses02 too but it pair better with BUF634...

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Thanks doki. Would you describe the MUSES as having spacious or intimate soundstages?

loquah said:

   
Thanks doki. Would you describe the MUSES as having spacious or intimate soundstages?

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slightly on spacious side..... if 1 is intimate and 10 is spacious....muses01 and LME49600 combo is on 6-7 side