[stuartmc]

Ok done! AD797BRZ's  are ordered.  We can all compare notes in a few weeks.  I am so happy with the sound of my current setup that I'm almost hesitant to mess with it, but hey, being Capt. Guinea Pig does have it's obligations, and this is definitely one of them.  If I can get a touch more clarity/resolution without increasing graininess and fatigue, then it will be worth it.  There have been many times in the past when I thought things couldn't possibly get any better and then, low and behold, it does!
 
I'm quite surprised that this Hong Kong company can sell the 797BRZ mounted on an adapter for less than you get the bare chip from digikey or mouser.  They must have bought a boatload of these chips directly from the source at a substantial discount.

 

[stuartmc]

I know there has been some concern about Chinese fake chips recently, especially some ebay sellers.  This company seems to have been in business for quite a few years and has maintained a paypal account, so they couldn't be all that bad. I did pay for mine with paypal, so I have their buyer protection working for me.  Besides, $27 is not a lot to risk.

 

[Lupino]

Are special tools required for op-amp swaps?
Thanks...

 

[jjkes]

One has to wonder with opamps being so cheap in China and the H10 sounding so good with AD797/823 combo, why don't they come stock with the AD797/823 already installed?

 

[stuartmc]

One has to wonder with opamps being so cheap in China and the H10 sounding so good with AD797/823 combo, why don't they come stock with the AD797/823 already installed?

The stock op-amps actually sound darn good and are a fraction of the price of the AD op-amps. To sell the H10 at such an affordable price, they had to find some reasonable ways to save. I'm guessing that there are just as many people who like the stock opa134/ne5532 sound as that produced by the 797/823 combo. It's a matter of taste and associated equipment.

 

[mandrake50]

  One has to wonder with opamps being so cheap in China and the H10 sounding so good with AD797/823 combo, why don't they come stock with the AD797/823 already installed?

I think that they probably use the opamps that they do because those achieve a sound signature that they designed for. As all of this is very personal, perhaps they don't agree that the AD chips do sound better. Just a guess, but, as it would be easy enough to build the H10 with alternate configurations, it does fit the situation.

 

[stuartmc]

I think that they probably use the opamps that they do because those achieve a sound signature that they designed for. As all of this is very personal, perhaps they don't agree that the AD chips do sound better. Just a guess, but, as it would be easy enough to build the H10 with alternate configurations, it does fit the situation.

Let's remember that they showed us the kindness of installing sockets to easily change out these op-amps. The Gustard gang is very in tune with the burgeoning Chinese DIY market, so this little benefit was clearly intentional. I suspect that the Chinese audiophiles on average do more tweaking to their gear than we westerners do.

 

[mandrake50]

That they did... and I am glad. I put the AD797ANZ chips in and was going to put the 823s in as well. I had bought a set of the LME49720NA on another members recommendation. Not paying attention, I grabbed those and installed them. I didn't realize it until everything was back together and I was putting things away. Darned if the 823 package was still there and sealed up. I just did it a few minutes ago... at least everything works. I took a quick listen and it sounds nice. I am going to let it run for awhile and hopefully a bit later try to do some more in depth listening. After a bit, over the next few days, I will put the 823s in and see what difference that might make.

 

[Jozurr]

  Yes, the LCD2.2 classic lol. More seriously - how you describe what you're looking for sounds like my current combo of chips: two OPA2604 and two AD797AN. The warmth I'm getting is good for brighter cans, and the bass is both present and impactful - almost too much for the LCD's but very good with the HD800/HE400 without excessive brightness or harshness in the highs.
 
Sounds like I need to get some AD823ANZ's to try at some point, but I have too many amps now anyways lol.

 
I think I'm going to go with these. I'm choosing the OPA2604 over the AD823, which supposedly have an effect of making the sound transparent and opening up the treble more. Compared to the AD823, the OPA2604 have smoother highs. At least this is what I have gathered from the reading some 30 pages now. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong. 

Also, I'm not located in the US so is it safe to order from ebay? Are these these links fine and same things we are talking about:
 
http://www.ebay.com/itm/5PCS-OP-AMP-IC-BURR-BROWN-BB-TI-DIP-8-OPA2604AP-OPA2604APG4-100-Genuine-and-New-/261046530381?hash=item3cc795f14d (Will be ordering 2 of these and not 5)
 
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1PCS-Audio-OP-AMP-IC-ANALOG-DEVICES-DIP-8-AD797AN-AD797ANZ-100-Genuine-and-New-/270977868969?hash=item3f178a24a9 (2 of these)
 
Also,
 
1) Is the BRZ worth the increase in price ($32 for BRZ on analog metric vs the $15 for ANZ as in link above)
2) Why do you guys order for example the BRZ for $16 vs for example this one available for $7 (assuming it's not fake because the seller is well rated):
 
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1-Pieces-AD797BR-SOIC-to-DIP-Op-amp-replace-OPA627AU-/120757514941?hash=item1c1db572bd
 
 
3) What is the difference between ANZ and AR?
 
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1-Pieces-AD797AR-SOIC-to-DIP-Op-amp-replace-NE5534-/120757516362?hash=item1c1db5784a
 
4) is the LT1357 better than the OPA2604 if I need tamed highs and tight, punchier bass? Cant find direct comparisons for this.
 
Thanks!

 

[stuartmc]

The opa2604 did very little for me. Very similar to the stock ne5532 in my opinion. A little to warm, friendly and veiled for my taste. When i switched it out for the 823, it was like, whoa!...that's what the Cap'n wants.

 

[stuartmc]

Vive la difference, Swabbies! There is No right, or ultimate op-amp. As many flavors as there are scurvy dogs aboard this good ship.

 

[Noodlz]

Hm~~ looking at the link from the analogmetric, there's also a DUAL AD797BRZ, can we use a pair of these for the H10? would it sound better? very curious =P
 
Here's the item:
http://www.analogmetric.com/goods.php?id=2031
 
I assume we'd need to get two of these?

 

[Thenewguy007]

Out of sheer chance, I saw something about an amp that cloned the $1,000+ Violectric V200  amp.
 
I read that the V200 is one of the best amps to pair with the HD800, but I read a few posts here & a few people said the Gustard H10 doesn't pair well with the HD800.

Different opinions or is the Gustard H10 absolutely on par with the $1,000+ amp?

 

[Arnotts]

  Out of sheer chance, I saw something about an amp that cloned the $1,000+ Violectric V200  amp.
 
I read that the V200 is one of the best amps to pair with the HD800, but I read a few posts here & a few people said the Gustard H10 doesn't pair well with the HD800.

Different opinions or is the Gustard H10 absolutely on par with the $1,000+ amp?

 
Ears I trust suggest that the V200 and H10 are very similar, with the H10 offering significantly better value.
 
The HD800's do not pair well with the H10 imo. It's very listenable, but it's a case of the H10 inhibiting the HD800's strengths, while not really making up for its weaknesses. Pairing the HD800's with the H10 left me thinking that the resulting sound was like a lesser Audeze headphone.

 

[stuartmc]

Out of sheer chance, I saw something about an amp that cloned the $1,000+ Violectric V200  amp.

I read that the V200 is one of the best amps to pair with the HD800, but I read a few posts here & a few people said the Gustard H10 doesn't pair well with the HD800.


Different opinions or is the Gustard H10 absolutely on par with the $1,000+ amp?

On paper, and looking at the critical specifications, the two seem to be identical. There are some build similarities as well, but in my opinion, the Gustard design actually trumps the v200. You have two transformers and separate left, right channel power supplies and that dual mono configuration is carried all the way through with the Gustard. You also have a shortened signal path with the volume pot mounted at the rear of the board with a clever extension rod going to the front mounted volume knob. The Gustard cabinet affords greater real estate for the entire layout, so I think it is a more simple and elegant design without the clutter and jumper boards you see on the V200.

We have been on the subject of op-amps lately and it should be noted that both amps use socketed opa134 and ne5532 in stock configuration. That being said, I would think the satisfaction one gets with the H800 cans would be very much effected by the flavor of op-amps chosen.