Here is my impression with V5i:
(updated 11/11/16 for the ACM module)
Out of the box, it make the ZxR sound more cleaner and fuller.
For the music:
I did a quick test between 2 setups (turn off all SBX of ZxR, iCan, iDSD enanchement features during test):
Foobar ASIO
ZxR > ifi iCan > HE 560
ZxR > (toslink) ifi Micro iDSD (rca) > HDVD 800 > HE 560
Stock opamp: iCan setup score 6/10 compare to iDSD setup.
V5i opamp: iCan setup score 8/10 compare to iDSD setup.
SBX Studio Pro respond to V5i (test with iCan setup):
- Bass: the bass boost is less bloat compare to the stock opamp.
- Crystalizer: with stock opamp, only lossy format (MP3, Youtube…) is benefit from this feature, not with lossless (FLAC…). With V5i installed, the lossless also can benefit now.
ACM module with V5i installed
- Earbud (Yuin PK1), iem (Flatsui 4, FX 850) sound very close to iCAN
- Easy drive Can (Oppo PM3, Audio Technica ATH - M70X) also very close to iCAN, just slightly less airy
- Hard drive Can (HE - 560): simply no match for iCAN.
This is my first time opamp replacement, very nice improvement for music, gaming or movie. The result make me curiuos with how V5 (big one) and SS3601/2 would improve the sound.
Full set V5i installed
Those V5i slightly higher than those around caps
The shield barely touch V5i, so I left it open
Installed back to the pc.
Note for Windows 10 user:
After you installed new opamp, the SBX Pro Studio might pop up warning message (see the picture below), thus you cant use SBX Pro for switching between mode (stereo, headphone...) and other features.
It's really freak me out, I don't know what wrong during the replacement. After several remove, reinstall driver, software, check the sound card...
Finally, I figured it out, not sure it is Windows 10 or SBX Pro bug. To fix this problems, just go to the menu in Pro Studio --> Audio Device Selection --> Select the device to configure --> Sound Blaster ZxR.