[Fiiorless]

Did anyone try the OPA637?
It's supposed to be even better.

Better = Faster? Unlike an OPA 627 the OPA637 is not internally compensated for unity gain and is likely to be a lot less stable in the E12DIY. The sort of oscillation that results can sometimes only be seen with a fast oscilloscope and is not good, at best things will get warm and use a lot of power. Not every opamp is interchangeable in every circuit and different headphones can work better with different opamps, especially comparing low impedance iem's and high impedance headphones. Better is often not always better but better with this music or that source device and not to forget different people like different things. 

 

[Hal Rockwell]

  Better = Faster? Unlike an OPA 627 the OPA637 is not internally compensated for unity gain and is likely to be a lot less stable in the E12DIY. The sort of oscillation that results can sometimes only be seen with a fast oscilloscope and is not good, at best things will get warm and use a lot of power. Not every opamp is interchangeable in every circuit and different headphones can work better with different opamps, especially comparing low impedance iem's and high impedance headphones. Better is often not always better but better with this music or that source device and not to forget different people like different things. 

 

 This what happens when I fail to read the data sheet all the way through.
 

  These are what I have for E12DIY so far, including the stock:
 
OPAMP :
LME49860, AD8599, ADA4627-1, LME49990, OPA1642, AD825, LT1028, AD744, OPA627, LT1678, LT1469, LT1358, OPA2111, NE5532, LM4562, LME49720, NJM5532, NJM2114, NJM4580, NJM4558, NJM4556, OP270, OP275, OPA2134, OPA2227, OPA2604, AD8397, OPA2209, OPA2107, AD8066, MAX9632, MUSES8820, MUSES8920.
 
Buffer:
LT1010

 
Did you manage to go through all this list?
If so, what can you recommend from it? (I deleted the ones that I have or going to get soon).
 

We usually sell in master rolls of 600mm x 200Metres. But let me check whether I have FOC samples for you cos it is really small.

 
Thanks. Any progress on the subject?

 

[ClieOS]

  Did you manage to go through all this list?
If so, what can you recommend from it? (I deleted the ones that I have or going to get soon).

 
Briefly, yes.
 
Those that really impressed me in the list are: AD8599, OPA627, NJM5532, AD8397 and the MUSES (which are surprisingly good and similar to 01 and 02). MAX9632 is quite interesting as well. It works quite well on some buffer but not all of them. Also, it is the only Maxim opamp I can find that will work in E12DIY, given Maxim isn't that interested in opamp but more in chip amp.

 

[delrosa81]

 
 
Thanks. Any progress on the subject?

 
I can cut some samples and mail it to you. Could you send me your mailing address so I can send it from Singapore?

 

[Hal Rockwell]

I can cut some samples and mail it to you. Could you send me your mailing address so I can send it from Singapore?

I sent you a PM with my address.

Thank you very much for your help.

 

[delrosa81]

I sent you a PM with my address.

Thank you very much for your help.

Sure, will post it out by this week! Most welcome, glad to help a fellow Headfi member out

 

[delrosa81]

Finally the E12DIY Gold is in my hands! Right now it is charging and I am back at work. Cant wait to get home tonight and try it out!
 

 
BTW my number is 00XX. Me likey double digits lol.

 

[delrosa81]

Did some testing last night on my new Fiio E12DIY, I left everything in default and have yet to start swapping out the internals, so far so good!
 
A photo of my E12DIY. It is simply beautiful to my ears and eyes

 
My rig (Current Setup)

 

[K.T.]

Did some testing last night on my new Fiio E12DIY, I left everything in default and have yet to start swapping out the internals, so far so good!

A photo of my E12DIY. It is simply beautiful to my ears and eyes



My rig (Current Setup)

Cool. What's in your rig? Looks pretty serious. Probably sounds great.

And what is that connector cord you're using? I'm sure it sounds better than the stock connector FiiO supplies. Is it worth the extra cost?

 

[ClieOS]

Sony ZX1 + PHA-2 + E12DIY.

 

[delrosa81]

Cool. What's in your rig? Looks pretty serious. Probably sounds great.

And what is that connector cord you're using? I'm sure it sounds better than the stock connector FiiO supplies. Is it worth the extra cost?

ClieOS answered your question lol. DAP: Sony ZX-1, DAC: Sony PHA-2, AMP: Fiio E12DIY. Im using the Cypher Labs connector cord, for me it is more for the aesthetics rather than for sound enhancement. Plugging it in and burnt probably 50 hours or so, I did not really notice any significant difference but swapping back to the OEM black copper cord, I noticed the Cypher Labs connector seems to brighten the sound and just that little bit more clarity as compared to the OEM black copper cord.
 
As for sound, in my opinion it sounds rather good for the category and price.
 

  Sony ZX1 + PHA-2 + E12DIY.

Spot on!

 

[DMax99]

Love the look of the gold colour!

 

[K.T.]

Love the look of the gold colour!

 
Get one of each! 

 

[jacky599r]

How different is the sound compared to a regular FiiO E12? 

 

[ClieOS]

  How different is the sound compared to a regular FiiO E12? 

 
I'll say E12 is near top-tier that can compete with just about any portable amp around the $250 mark while E12DIY is the top-tier amp that can compete with portable amp of any price range.