[Andrea]

I rolled in my 2nd, very-tweaked Xenos 0HA-REP, the AD746 -> AD8620 -> OP285 in a row. Surprisingly, with an increasing liking. The AD746 was too smooth, yet not warm enough in tonality. The AD8620 was pretty good if it weren't too 'skeletal' to be true

The OP285 was a mixture of the former two - some smoothness from the AD746 plus some crispness from the AD8620 (making for a very good overall resolution), plus the welcome freebie of a richer (= more colorful, as in, real world) tonality than the other two.

I like it, I think it'll stay

 

[Andrea]

Btw, I think that the BB chips that are 'specified for audio' are more optimised (i.e. more consistent in their sonic signature) than the equivalent AD chips. Nonetheless, I really like this OP285.

 

[ezkcdude]

You should try the LM4562 that everyone is talking about.

 

[Andrea]

I guess that's the only chip for which I'd open up the amp once more.

 

[Andrea]

Just for the record - as it is, the amp is sounding quite satisfactorily.

 

[Andrea]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andrea I guess that's the only chip for which I'd open up the amp once more.

Besides the AD8599 (I guess).

 

[Filburt]

It seems every op-amp is, for Andrea, the penultimate. Oh AD746, how you've fallen from grace ;D

I never really cared for the OP275 or 285. I guess they're OK, but not something I'd keep in any of my stuff. You still have the 6654s on output?

 

[Andrea]

I guess that the OP285 needs some special care for being made to sound best (that the Xenos provides).

The AD746 is less musical even than the AD8620 for my ears, despite being attractively smooth (this I had already perceived in my previous experimenting, btw, though not as distinctly). The OP285 sounds similar to the AD746 in balance, but it's definitely more colorful, and perhaps more clear too (@ 12V DC). I guess that I must care for timbral quality more than your average head-fier (?). Surely I'm not a maniac of extreme analyticalness at the expense of my immediate enjoyment of music

 

[Andrea]

Yep the LMH6654's were my choice after all the experimenting. I wouldn't change them with anything else until I see some equally 'fit' chip that accepts a higher maximum supply voltage.

 

[Andrea]

Just to stress that the OP285 has very good resolution too, and I especially like its refined but resolving treble (in the Xenos).

 

[Filburt]

I see. Well I didn't find them to have such high resolution, personally. Weren't bad, but I wouldn't rank them so high.

 

[Andrea]

Btw, how would you rank the OP285 compared to the OPA2134 and 2227 ? I'm curious since I haven't been able to compare these in this amp.


It doesn't have such a high resolution, actually; it has good resolution and sounds 'right' overall. That is the problem with the other chips I mentioned: they have the resolution, but they fail to sound 'right' here or there.


To be fair to the AD8620 I'm still debating whether to go back to it, though. I'm hesitant as I just don't know if I might regret it later

 

[Andrea]

.

 

[majkel]

OP275 is nothing more than the OP275 with better offset specs. Could it sound interesting? I doubt it as I know the OP275 sound.

 

[MASantos]

Did you notice the thread is almost 2 years old?