Auzentech X-Fi Prelude opamp rolling

[10068]

EDIT 05/17/2009: Please read the rest of the thread, there's much more detail and the OP is essentially null at this point. I didn't realize when creating this thread that opamp rolling for this soundcard was old news. I simply saw it advertised online and had to spread the word

Lots of opinions and info below from other (past) HeadFi threads regarding numerous opamps, their sound signatures and impressions. Happy rolling!

Direct links to the quotes and impressions I found:
This thread, post# 14
This thread, post# 15

Feedback and responses of any kind welcomed.


[size=xx-small](OP is below)[/size]
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Has anyone done this? Also if it sounds worthwhile please link to one of the threads discussing sound signature(s) of opamps. Thanks!

Auzentech, Inc. Sound Cards. Audio You Can Believe In. World First soundcards for Music, HTPC, and Gaming.
Auzentech, Inc. Sound Cards. Audio You Can Believe In. World First soundcards for Music, HTPC, and Gaming.

 

[Baird GoW]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sduibek /img/forum/go_quote.gif Has anyone done this? Also if it sounds worthwhile please link to one of the threads discussing sound signature(s) of opamps. Thanks! Auzentech, Inc. Sound Cards. Audio You Can Believe In. World First soundcards for Music, HTPC, and Gaming. Auzentech, Inc. Sound Cards. Audio You Can Believe In. World First soundcards for Music, HTPC, and Gaming.

I have been thinking of putting am Earth HDAM on it. once i do it illl get back to you

 

[10068]

I don't know what that is, but please do! I can change the thread title and maybe this can become the first official X-Fi Opamp Rolling and Impressions Thread

 

[Nirvana1000]

Boy does Auzentech really over charge for their opamp upgrades!!$65 each for OPA627AU and $70 for OPA637AU when you can get them through Texas Instruments for $19 each at Newark.com!TEXAS INSTRUMENTS|OPA627AU|Operational Amplifier (Op-Amp | Newark.com

 

[jenneth]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nirvana1000 /img/forum/go_quote.gif Boy does Auzentech really over charge for their opamp upgrades!!$65 each for OPA627AU and $70 for OPA637AU when you can get them through Texas Instruments for $19 each at Newark.com!TEXAS INSTRUMENTS|OPA627AU|Operational Amplifier (Op-Amp | Newark.com

To be fair, the OPA627/OPA637 are single-channel OPAMPs, you'd need to get two of them for the Prelude, plus the appropriate adapter.

 

[10068]

Yeah plus they install them using special faerie-dust conductive gel. Duh.

 

[Shizdan]

I have tried the Stock op amp, 627AU op amp and the 8620. The 8620 is by FAR my fav. The 627au just puts me asleep!

 

[Nirvana1000]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shizdan /img/forum/go_quote.gif I have tried the Stock op amp, 627AU op amp and the 8620. The 8620 is by FAR my fav. The 627au just puts me asleep!

How much can you get those for?And how does the 637AU sound?Anyone?

 

[ROBSCIX]

The OPA637 has more air and higher range extension. Atleast that is how they sounded to me when I tested them on the Prelude. Depending on your playback system they may be a better match.

 

[10068]

There was a thread here at one point comparing all these opamps. I think it was started by Iron_Dreamer when he started modding the E-MU cards. Let me see if I can track it down; I imagine it will help a lot for those of us looking to (potentially) mod an X-Fi.

EDIT: Well this isn't exactly what I was looking for, but it does have some good info:

http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f6/the...-opa627-77510/

 

[Shizdan]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nirvana1000 /img/forum/go_quote.gif How much can you get those for?And how does the 637AU sound?Anyone?

The 8620 is fairly cheap, and apparently the 637 is very similar to the 627

 

[ROBSCIX]

The 8620 is a nice opamp for the Prelude. The 637 is similar to the 627 But, the 637 seems to have more higher end extension and "air" hard to explain to others but once you hear the two you will understand. Depending on your rig, the 637 may be a better opamp for the prelude then the 627.

 

[10068]

Here's some quotes from the thread linked above in case no one clicks on it:
Quote:

Originally Posted by Neville /img/forum/go_quote.gif Is there a better opamp than the OPA627? -- Better as in "smoother and more detailed".

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sovkiller /img/forum/go_quote.gif OPA637 is smoother and a little more detailed, the AD8610 will sound too harsh to you if you like the 627 sound, but give it a try....LT1028, LT1122, are other options to consider...."better" depends of the eye of the beholder, (or the ear of...........)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iron_Dreamer /img/forum/go_quote.gif I think the AD8065/66, AD8610/20, LT1364/5, LM6171/2 all offer at least as good sound quality, just with different sound flavors.

Quote:

Originally Posted by chillysalsa /img/forum/go_quote.gif For a phono stage, some of the opamps to look at are the AD797 (similar in sound to the 627 actually), and OPA2227. These have very low noise ratings, so if you have a MC stage they offer really low background hiss. If that's not as much of a concern, you may also like the NE5532, the sound is different from either of those.

Quote:

Originally Posted by KTpG /img/forum/go_quote.gif I am a professed Burr-Brown ONLY fan... and I recently thought I'd roll in my old AD648 just for kicks... and to be honest, I really liked it. It wasn't very fatiguing, and had more of a live sound. I still like Burr-Brown's... but I am not open to AD as well. I also tried out my AD823, and liked it as well, though I prefer the 648. Doubt it compares to the OPA627 or the like, though. I have a couple of 637s, but I haven't had them in an amp in a long time. Maybe later... So, don't be afraid to check out the AD's. You might like them.

Quote:

Originally Posted by CBMC /img/forum/go_quote.gif After using the 627/637 combo the ad8610/8620 sound quite harsh.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DCameronMauch /img/forum/go_quote.gif Having read so many of these opamp subjective comparisons, this is what it has boiled down to for me: Grados are bright. Burr Brown is mellow. The two are synergistic. Your best bet is 627 or 637 depending on loop gain. Senns are mellow. Analog Devices is bright. The two are synergistic. Your best bet is 8610/20. Special note: Big thread on diyaudio regarding best opamp for I/V. The winner appears to be the AD826. Unless you want to be a real man and make a fully discrete zero feedback I/V. Not sure I personally believe that, but that's a different can of worms.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MisterX /img/forum/go_quote.gif [snip] After using the 8610s the OPA627/637's sound thick, muddy, and flat.

Quote:

Originally Posted by drewd /img/forum/go_quote.gif I agree as well. I have a pair of SR-325's and a pair of HD-580's. My PPA with 637/627's sounds great with the Grados, but kind of muffled with the Senns. My Pimeta with 8610's sounds great with the Senns but just about fries my head with the Grados. [snip]

Lots of good info in that thread!! It's about an amp (PPA) but to be honest I don't think the sound signature when placed into an amp would be entirely different than when plugged in to a soundcard. And, yes, I do have some personal-experience evidence of this, from reading about Iron_Dreamer's exploits with modding soundcards a few years back, and all the opamp info discussed at that time in regards, and lastly my own personal experience with two different modded soundcards. Although, the info I remember (not the information quoted above) was regarding the E-MU 1212, E-MU 0404, and RME DigiPAD 96/8, so FWIW YMMV IMO etc.

 

[10068]

Here's some more good quotes and info from other threads:

**Note that these impressions below are specifically regarding the Auzen X-Fi and X-Meridian cards!** Good

Quote:

Originally Posted by fetalgoat /img/forum/go_quote.gif I'm using the LT1361. IMO it's a huge improvement over the lm4562. I tried the opa2107, which is meant to sound similar to the opa627, and it wasn't a good match for the sennheisers. Too dark and reserved. I'm fairly new with all of this but I have tested out a few different opamps and here are some of my thoughts. OPA2107 - Dark & muddy. Sounds very poor with sennheiser 650s. Mids are reserved and in the distance. Not a good match for my equipment. LM4562 - Stock Opamp. Mids are very compressed and sterile sounding. Bass is very fake sounding. Highs are harsh. Someone mentioned that this opamp was like a robot on steroids. I would agree with that. Might be ok if you have an insanely warm amp or something but I just didn't like the way it sounded on my setup at all. LT1361 - Mids are more pronounced. Warmer than the LM4562 but more detailed with more impact at the same time. More airy as well, doesn't sound as compressed. Better separation I would say. Bass sounds more natural, also deeper. Highs are warm and not harsh. I think this is a very good match for sennheisers. Very natural and pleasing sounding. LT1469 - This opamp is clinically precise, very fast and extremely detailed at higher frequencies. I would say it borders on being ridiculously detailed at higher frequencies. You're able to hear things you wouldn't otherwise hear, and perhaps wouldn't want to hear because it's so bright. Everything else kind of sucks with it though. Sounds very sterile and digital. Bass isn't as deep and doesn't have the same impact as the lt1361's. It's also missing the nice warm and detailed mids of the lt1361.

Quote:

Originally Posted by fetalgoat /img/forum/go_quote.gif I ended up taking the lt1361 out. My initial impressions were correct, atleast for the music I'd listened to at the time, but I found that it doesn't suit other forms of music very well. Mids are too forward. Theres also lack of clarity in the high frequencies. For some music it sounds very natural, for other stuff it just doesn't sound right. What were once balanced vocals and guitar are now quite vocals and guitar or loud guitar quite vocals. Almost like an EQ graph has pushed the mids forward. I guess I should spend some time with these before I write out long impressions. Right now I'd got a lt1469 opamp in and a yaqin tube buffer connected to my DV332. Sounds interesting so far. Will have to spend more time with it though.

Quote:

Originally Posted by audioengr /img/forum/go_quote.gif The LT1360 and LT1361 are good op-amps, although not the best in the noise department. I would recommend using them in an inverting application, not non-inverting. Good output driver. Another one to try is the AD844. Also a good output driver.

Quote:

Originally Posted by majkel /img/forum/go_quote.gif I'd never choose the AD844 (single) over the AD8022 (dual) as an output buffer. The latter is ultra low noise and distortion - the numbers are really impressive, sound quality and output current, too. AD844 is good but imperfect - produces a bit bright midrange and rolled-off trebles. It's direct competitor - LT1028 is better, one of the best single audio op amps, BTW.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ROBSCIX /img/forum/go_quote.gif The Opa627 has the typical laid back Burrbrown sound but it is very clear and "tube like" hard to explain I guess if you have never heard the chip.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ROBSCIX /img/forum/go_quote.gif The OLM4562's are nice chips and national won quite a few awards for that model. To me it doesn't quite sound up to the quality produced by the 637's. They are somewhat clearer and have more articulation. OPA627's are nice too.

 

[10068]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ROBSCIX /img/forum/go_quote.gif The 8620 is a nice opamp for the Prelude. The 637 is similar to the 627 But, the 637 seems to have more higher end extension and "air" hard to explain to others but once you hear the two you will understand. Depending on your rig, the 637 may be a better opamp for the prelude then the 627.

More high-end extension? Ooh. Bad. I have lots of sensitivity to treble. What do you mean by air? Blacker background? Maybe it has a lower noise floor.... is the extra treble "energy" in the high frequencies (i.e. 10k plus)? If it's nice and smooth like HD600 or something that would be nice, otherwise i'll probably have to pass.


EDIT: In other news, I updated the OP and linked the impressions posts before this one into the OP.

EDIT2: Obviously opamp rolling effects output, but what about recording and input? In this thread, I am discussing setting up a home recording studio... would opamp rolling have any useful purpose for Input feed(s) processing on a soundcard such as this?