[ClieOS]

If you are interested in making your own HA-5002 + BrownDog adapter, read this:

  Okay, my BrownDog order finally came in this morning.
 

From left: BrownDog SOIC-to-DIP, HA-5002 adapter x2, eBay adapter and DIP8 chip for reference.
 
Did you see the problem? Yes, the HA-5002 is way too tall. It is designed for two HA-5002 parallel soldered on both sides (to double the output, if wanted), so it is 50% taller than a regular BrownDog.
 
 

Even without the IC soldered on it, the HA-5002 adapter itself is already as tall as a DIP8. With the HA-5002 soldered on the top side, it will never fit inside the E12DIY.
 
 

So what is the solution? Well, solder the IC on the back side of course, since it is parallel to the top side it won't cause any issue. The pins also need a little trimming, around 0.5mm to 1mm. See the trimmed pin on the empty adapter as reference.
 
 

 
All and all, the mod should leave you just enough room for the HA-5002 to fit in. Do note that you need to put some insulating tape over the top side of the adapter to avoid shorting the adapter if it ever comes into contact with the case.
 
After all the work, my impression on the HA-5002 is actually pretty mixed. It is clean for sure, but almost too clean and in fact a bit lean. It makes even the very well textured MUSES01 sounds lean, which isn't a good thing. It also has a little bit too much DC offset with OPA627, but it is fine with a few other opamps I tried. So it isn't really a drop-and-forget kind of buffer. You need to measure the DC offset to be sure it is behaving well with the particular opamp you are using. But not everything is bad on the HA-5002. On some occasion I thought it sounds quite good with AD8620, so it isn't a complete lost. Anyway, it is a bit too troublesome to find the right pairing for it so my advise is, avoid it unless you are the adventurous type. It is just too much work without guaranteed reward.
 
Also tried the AD8397 - not bad actually. It didn't wow me but it didn't fail me either. Overall a decent all arounder.

 

[sstyle]

 
This recent post by @Loquah has a number of viable suggestions. Read it and subsequent posts. If you get MUSES02 (DIP-8), you may need to grind the case as it may not be able to perfectly fit the chip. So drop-in solutions  (SOIC-8) may be preferable. There are several comprehensive reviews on pages 31, 38, 52, 53, 57 (I stopped reading at that point).
 
If you're looking for THE best, opinions will diverge and you'll have try them by yourself.

Thanks!
 
ClieOS said Here that MUSES02 is a best sound, but now I do not know where to buy geniune MUSES. I found some links in this thread, but price from 22$(taobao) to 78$ (mouser)...
 
And is it true that the E12DIY(with stock op-amp) has a better sound than original E12?

 

[nmatheis]

Try the Japanese store Akizudenshi.

 

[sstyle]

Try the Japanese store Akizudenshi.

Can you please give me a link? Can not find it. Does it ship to other countries?

 

[sstyle]

I think: may be buy an original E12 and change op-amp to MUSES? Will sound quality the same as E12DIY  but cheaper?

 

[nmatheis]

Why not just buy E12A, which has MUSES02?

 

[sstyle]

It is not enough powerful for my HD650.

 

[sstyle]

Try the Japanese store Akizudenshi.

Found it http://akizukidenshi.com/catalog/g/gI-03417/
 
Anyone know is there some mount adapter for X5-II?

 

[landroni]

  Thanks!

 
ClieOS said Here that MUSES02 is a best sound, but now I do not know where to buy geniune MUSES. I found some links in this thread, but price from 22$(taobao) to 78$ (mouser)...

 
And is it true that the E12DIY(with stock op-amp) has a better sound than original E12?

Be careful. The MUSES02 may NOT fit your case, and you may need to grind/adjust your E12DIY case for it to fit. Be sure that you're comfortable with this before you place the order. From what I've read in this thread, there are many fake MUSES01/02 chips sold on the internet, and many have had bad experiences with taobao. If you'd like a genuine chip, I'd bet my money on mouser (and a higher price).
 
I first had the original E12 but it had an audible noise threshold with my Grados SR225i so returned it back. No such issues with the E12DIY. I'm no expert but I think E12DIY is overall a better engineered device than original E12. This said, using the same chips in E12DIY as in E12, for me the sound was sensibly similar (bar the noise threshold issue).

 

[sstyle]

Thanks! It is a very bad news ( So, I need to choose another good op-amp

 

[landroni]

  Thanks! It is a very bad news ( So, I need to choose another good op-amp

According to @Loquah, there are better opamps out there than the MUSES01/02. Both OPA627 and OPA827 are SOIC-8 and as such should be perfect fits for E12DIY.
 
According to @earfonia, the AD8599 approaches an end-game opamp for E12DIY. Again, it's SOIC-8.
 
There may be other top-flight SOIC-8 recommendations around...

 

[earfonia]

 
According to @Loquah, there are better opamps out there than the MUSES01/02. Both OPA627 and OPA827 are SOIC-8 and as such should be perfect fits for E12DIY.
 
According to @earfonia, the AD8599 approaches an end-game opamp for E12DIY. Again, it's SOIC-8.
 
There may be other top-flight SOIC-8 recommendations around...

 
Now I'm using OPA827. 
Me and my bro ever compared original Muses01/02, for us we prefer Muses01, and to us OPA827 sound quality wise is about in the same category as the Muses01/02, so we choose to use OPA827. 
OPA827 has slightly better dynamic than AD8599. AD8599 is sweet, smooth, good bass, and good imaging, but slightly behind OPA827 on dynamic. AD8599 is more polite in presentation, while OPA827 has a little more dynamic and more lively.

 

[sstyle]

Thanks guys!

 

[landroni]

  And is it true that the E12DIY(with stock op-amp) has a better sound than original E12?

BTW, here's what @ClieOS has to say about this:
 
 
"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."
 
The consensus around here seems to be that the stock chips included in E12DIY don't do the amp full justice, and that investing in superior opamp chips is the way to go. Given the prices for many of the most recommended chips, it's not an incredibly expensive experience...

 

[sstyle]

 
The consensus around here seems to be that the stock chips included in E12DIY don't do the amp full justice, and that investing in superior opamp chips is the way to go. Given the prices for many of the most recommended chips, it's not an incredibly expensive experience...

 
But:
 
Here're some notes from @ClieOS from earlier in the thread:
OPA627 + BUF634 for warmth and smoothness
 
Is it a stock op-amp, right? So, as I read in this thread stock op-amp is best, and I can not use MUSES. Right?