[athenaesword]

can someone briefly explain to me what the above are? I keep reading that discrete output stages eliminate the use of opamps, yet I read about discrete opamps; so what's the difference?

sorry if it seems really basic; but I've really no clue and it's hard to get anything specific with the search function.

 

[deltaydeltax]

Discrete OP amps are made of transistors, diodes, resistors and other electronic components which are put onto a circuit board.

A monolithic OP amp is one you buy in an SOIC, DIP , or whatever package, such as an OP134.

The discrete ouptput stage is pretty much the same. So, you have transistors and other components instead of one package such as the LM3886 IC.

 

[nikongod]

Quote:

Originally Posted by deltaydeltax /img/forum/go_quote.gif The discrete ouptput stage is pretty much the same. So, you have transistors and other components instead of one package such as the LM3886 IC.

I disagree with that.

An opamp by definition is a device with (practically) unlimited gain, and infinite input impedance. Its disadvantages come from the fact that you MUST have lots of feedback to select the gain you would like. An opamp can be converted to a nearly-zero input impedance for current-output DACs, but its an effort of still more feedback.

A discrete amplifier stage if well designed can overcome the perils of lots of negative feedback. There are differences to be sure. In the case of current-output dac chips the input of an amplifier stage can be made to be a perfect current input (zero input impedance)

At the end of the day, NO global feedback is probably not the answer, but 75dB of global feedback (around an opamp) is worse. Tastefully applied global/local loop feedback Is FAR better than a single high-feedback global loop.

 

[athenaesword]

wow I wish I could've understood what you just said :S

I guess I'd better ask in specific examples. for example the Oritek OMZ modded zhaolu's discrete output stage. how is that different from a Zero DAC with modded HDAM OPA Sun V2, Earth and Moon opamps. and which is superior?

Quote:

Originally Posted by nikongod /img/forum/go_quote.gif I disagree with that. An opamp by definition is a device with (practically) unlimited gain, and infinite input impedance. Its disadvantages come from the fact that you MUST have lots of feedback to select the gain you would like. An opamp can be converted to a nearly-zero input impedance for current-output DACs, but its an effort of still more feedback. A discrete amplifier stage if well designed can overcome the perils of lots of negative feedback. There are differences to be sure. In the case of current-output dac chips the input of an amplifier stage can be made to be a perfect current input (zero input impedance) At the end of the day, NO global feedback is probably not the answer, but 75dB of global feedback (around an opamp) is worse. Tastefully applied global/local loop feedback Is FAR better than a single high-feedback global loop.

 

[Sovkiller]

OPamp by definition...

Usually a discrete output stage are called those that are made of discrete components, like transistors, resistors, caps, whatever you need for the given design. Those give you certain freedom as a designer, as you could design and customize them for the given application or load, but also you have to be careful with tolerances and matching, specially if you want to achieve almost the same results for both channels...in case of stereo, or more in case of multichannels...

 

[athenaesword]

Do does my omz have opamps at all?

 

[cotdt]

Quote:

Originally Posted by athenaesword /img/forum/go_quote.gif Do does my omz have opamps at all?

oh no, don't ask that question again. it will spark a huge flame war over the semantics of opamps

 

[athenaesword]

Quote:

Originally Posted by cotdt /img/forum/go_quote.gif oh no, don't ask that question again. it will spark a huge flame war over the semantics of opamps

My intention wasn't to spark anything. How can this be anything other than fact? If it has opamps it has opamps. If it doesn't it doesn't. If someone says that a discrete output stage has discrete opamps then that'll settle my confusion from what ppl have been telling me: discrete has no opamps, and yet there's such things as discrete opamps.

 

[majkel]

Some people don't accept the fact that many low distortion op-amps have the same schematic as some "one voltage stage" discrete amps, output stages, etc. It's a folded cascode architecture, with a diamond buffer or other class AB output stage, and a feedback loop connected to the input differential pair via a resistor divider.
The discrete op-amp resellers compare their designs to lower grade op-amps, then formulate statements that their circuits outperform the LT1028. Sure, especially that the ACN8 series sounds different and better than the lesser CN8 series. Same thing with other chips having A and B (better) series. People say it doesn't matter for audio but my ears tell me something different. Guess why there is not much talk about the OP27 here? First, because it sounds completely different when biased into class A, second, it's rarest versions exceed $100 per device, at least in Europe, while the cheaper GP series from Burr-Brown (these I know might sound great) are impossible to find these days.

 

[StanleyB1]

I must say that I am surprised how much a discrete stage output is pushed on headfi, which is then soon followed by suggestions as to which product with a discrete output stage is recommended. One would be easily fooled by such talk that discrete is better than opamp. That's like saying that electricity north of the equator is less noisy than electricity south of the equator.

 

[cotdt]

Quote:

Originally Posted by StanleyB1 /img/forum/go_quote.gif I must say that I am surprised how much a discrete stage output is pushed on headfi, which is then soon followed by suggestions as to which product with a discrete output stage is recommended. One would be easily fooled by such talk that discrete is better than opamp. That's like saying that electricity north of the equator is less noisy than electricity south of the equator.

discrete output stages are pushed for a reason. that's because people here like how they sound.

have you ever actually listened to opamps vs. discrete analog stage? they sound completely different. opamps have VERY different properties as compared to discrete even if it uses the same internal circuit, and needs way higher negative feedback and typical audio opamps have much lower slew rate. as a result the sonic differences between integrated and discrete is immediately noticeable. actually the different opamps sound different from each other as well, and same applies for discrete.

 

[mrarroyo]

I have listened to both and IMO it is not a function of the op-amp vs. discrete. It is a function of the designer/builder.

A good designer/builder can make either sound great. A poor designer/builder will make either sound like $hit. Just my opinion based on side by side comparisons.

Kind of like apple pie! A good cook will make a great apple pie out of good apples. A bad cook will make a lousy pie out good apples. I like food analogies!

 

[Champ04]

Quote:

Originally Posted by StanleyB1 /img/forum/go_quote.gif That's like saying that electricity north of the equator is less noisy than electricity south of the equator.

I would have to totally disagree. I find that the electricity south of the equator is less noisy.

 

[StanleyB1]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Champ04 /img/forum/go_quote.gif I would have to totally disagree. I find that the electricity south of the equator is less noisy.

I know that

. Let's leave the rest to figure it out...

 

[deltaydeltax]

Quote:

Originally Posted by nikongod /img/forum/go_quote.gif I disagree with that. An opamp by definition is a device with (practically) unlimited gain, and infinite input impedance. Its disadvantages come from the fact that you MUST have lots of feedback to select the gain you would like. An opamp can be converted to a nearly-zero input impedance for current-output DACs, but its an effort of still more feedback. A discrete amplifier stage if well designed can overcome the perils of lots of negative feedback. There are differences to be sure. In the case of current-output dac chips the input of an amplifier stage can be made to be a perfect current input (zero input impedance) At the end of the day, NO global feedback is probably not the answer, but 75dB of global feedback (around an opamp) is worse. Tastefully applied global/local loop feedback Is FAR better than a single high-feedback global loop.

True. A lot of that makes sense to some people. The OP I think needed a much simpler answer. One of my favorite acronyms from school is KISS, "keep it simple stupid". I think the only way we may have confused the person more is by getting into holes and majority carriers.