bongieto
Head-Fier
- Joined
- Apr 24, 2015
- Posts
- 87
- Likes
- 12
My experiences, so far, with fitting some Burson V5S single discrete op-amps.
Gustard H10 (with v.approx 150hrs use)-
Fitting:
Tools used - 2 x Allen (hexagonal) keys (2mm & 2.5mm (I think)) + Wife's tweezers (Don't tell her!)
The plastic op-amp case appears to have done its job!
Top plate removed, to reveal output (single) integrated op-amp's location.
Integrated op-amps removed.
I used metal tweezers, hooking the pincers underneath the ends of the op-amp. This risked doing some damage, but it's most important to use a gentle wiggling motion, and make sure that they lift out as straight as possible, to avoid jamming. (Lifting the amp lid, was more difficult! (The amp hadn't been powered up since the previous day.)).
An op-amp socket. (Notice the U-shaped recess, towards the top. This indicates the op-amp orientation.)
A V5S (wonkily) in place. (Just visible is its U-shaped groove).
V5's pushed easily into place.
Ready to go!!!
Other kit-
Source: QLS QA550 SD card transport, feeding a Cambridge Audio vintage DAC (both heavily modified). Connected to the H10 via Missing Link Alaqia 0.5m cable.
'Phones: Audeze LCD2f (with CAT 5 DIY headphone cable).
Music- Various tracks: Mostly Electronica, but some mainstream rock/pop, including live recordings.
What difference(s) did I hear?
--------
Listening notes-
2-3 hours:
mid-centric, more 'throat' to vocals,
wider sound stage or spread out?, still good image
treble- same extension; no clearer, but more realism/energy,
bass- maybe fuller upper or less deep bass,
6 hours:
treble- settled- more natural
bass- fuller, more low end
7hrs: bass- much more present, more ext.
30-40 hrs:
clean, fast sound
bass- punchy, articulate but full
starting to have realistic experiences (not sure if recording or external sound)
treble- still slightly uneven.
---------
So yes, an obvious change. But what exactly that change is (what's happening to what part of the frequency spectrum, that's causing the perceived differences), is difficult to characterise; such as at a particular freq. I can't say that there's a particular difference, even at the freq extremes, such as an extended bandwidth, like other members have mentioned. Maybe there's more treble, but I would have to do swabbing and re-swabbing to know, for sure. So, I'm afraid that my description is only of a limited scope.
What I've found that they do is 2 things:
1. Soundstage: the most obvious difference, for me, was a large increase in breadth of soundstage and space between instruments/performers; what was more centralised (in my head), is now more spread out. The instruments that were playing to one side, but still in-between my ears, have moved more out to the 'phones diaphragm region. And what was a little stuck in the diaphragm area (a weakness of planar 'phones), is now making a more successful effort at breaking into the free space around my head (as opposed to the plentiful, free and unused space, inside of it). This perceived increase in soundstage has occurred with no loss of focus, or solidity, to each instrument/performer; in fact, maybe the opposite; the performers seem to be more defined within the space that they occupy.
This change is the most obvious, and was so, right from the first moment of listening.
2. This is the bit that's hard (for me) to quantify; I feel like I'm only able to say "Err....umm....well,.... i'it just sounds...(cue: nonplussed shaking of head, whilst brain attempts to find concise and informative description).......better.".
I'm used to being able to get a pretty good idea of what aspect(s) of the sound has changed, when swapping bits of equipment. But with these op-amps, all I can really say is that the whole audio spectrum seems to have taken on more focus; the treble is clearer (and maybe more extended), and this phenomenon extends all the way down through the frequency range, into the bass.
I can't, for sure, say that the bass has more extension (goes deeper); sometimes I think so, but other times I think there's less bass. I can only put this down to increased focus; the bass is more accurate than before; maybe, previously unnoticed bass bloat has been reduced. Whilst the bass, that is present, has taken on more articulation and resolution; more character; the characteristics of the instrument that's creating it.
Some have mentioned more body (This is what really piqued my curiosity). Whilst I'm still not getting the fullness, weight and solidity, with my lcd2f, that I desire, vocals, such as Beck's in 'Sea Change', do seem to have more 'throat'. So, I guess that there is more 'body'. And something like Krist Novoselic's big acoustic guitar (in Nirvana Unplugged) does now sound like it's back on the stage, rather than sounding like it's located in another room. Although, it still sounds a little small or distant. And Dave's drum kit (softer 'acoustic' sticks noted) still sounds a bit like a toy. But as I say, this may be more of a reference to my personal preference, and current 'phones, rather than the H10 with the V5S.
To summarise, the V5S does increase all detail resolution and, very noticeably, improve the realism and naturalness of the sound (surely these are quite high up on the list of what high fidelity music reproduction is about). So I think that, even with just 30-40 hours burn-in (Burson recommend 100), the fitting of some Burson V5S's moves the H10 up another category in performance.
What to put in these dual op-amp slots?
Whilst I'm happy with the improvements of the singles, I don't fancy paying twice the price for the fraction of an improvement that the dual op-amps offer (when compared to the singles). I guess that I'll wait and observe the feedback of others who have experimented with the duals vs other good dual op-amp integrated chips.
I'll periodically post any updates here. (I'm not sure if there's another change already; I must have hit the 50 hour mark!)
Where can I buy just the pair of singles and how much? I checked Burson's site and I cannot find a link to buy.
zoAAOSwWnFWChi9
