[Tsuioku]

Looking to buy some opamps for rolling then stumbled on a thread with people saying that the three are the same thing.  Some vendors market them as the same as well.
LM4562 and LME49720 are the exact same part... just different model stamped (stated by an ex-employee)
The LME49860 is just a LME49720 that passed a higher voltage test. (Supported by same response graphs in their datasheets)
 
Anybody who has played with these opamps care to share their opinion on how they sound?  (HA / Metal can models excepted)
Was thinking about buying the 49860 and 47920 but if they are the same, I might as well save the cash for a diff opamp.

 

[joe_cool]

In my experience they sound the same, except for the LME49720HA (metal can with glass seal) which may sound a bit better.

 

[FallenAngel]

Please elaborate on the comment of "may sound a bit better"...

 

[majkel]

Quote:

Looking to buy some opamps for rolling then stumbled on a thread with people saying that the three are the same thing.  Some vendors market the same as well.
LM4562 and LME49720 are the exact same part... just different model stamped (stated by an ex-employee)
The LME49860 is just a LME49720 that passed a higher voltage test. (Supported by same response graphs in their datasheets)
 
Anybody who has played with these opamps care to share their opinion on how they sound?  Was thinking about buying the 49860 and 47920 but if they are the same, I might as well save the cash for a diff opamp.

Dig "The opamp thread" for mine and other's take on these three. I'm too lazy to write again.

 

[joe_cool]

Quote:

Please elaborate on the comment of "may sound a bit better"...

I bought 5 of the LME49720HA devices and soldered them to Brown Dog adapters. I substituted them in my DR.DAC2 DX and was convinced enough to leave them installed there (this circuit runs at +/- 12 VDC). I read a statement from an engineer who claimed to be one of the chip designers at National Semiconductor, and he said in his listening tests that they were better, even though he had no technical explanation. Since he is no longer employed there I took his recommendation at face value.
 
Since I believe music playback quality is very subjective I chose to use the phrase "may sound a bit better" to indicate that the reader may have a different opinion.

 

[sleepy dan]

Quote:

In my experience they sound the same, except for the LME49720HA (metal can with glass seal) which may sound a bit better.

This is my experience too - no difference between the LM4562 and LM49720, the HA part is a clear upgrade.

 

[Tsuioku]

@majkel:  Compared to the 49860, I believe your comments were that the 4562 was smeary and the 49720 was bland.  I wonder if the 4562 and 49720 are manufactured at different plants.
On a more detailed note, since the 49860 has a wider operation voltage range, did you ever try running it in different voltages ie < 9V (battery) vs higher voltage to see any differences in performance? 
 
@ joe_cool:  I believe I also read the comments of that engineer; he even recommends to try the LME49713HA.  A common assumption that I read on metal packaging in general is that it has better shieldng.  Edited OP so exclude the HA model in the comparison as there seems to be a consensus that it is indeed better.
 
@ sleepy dan:  What about the LM4562/LME49720 vs LME49860?

 

[joe_cool]

Quote:

What about the LM4562/LME49720 vs LME49860?

I have 3x LME49860NA in my Prodigy HD2 and find it sounds very good, a balance of resolution and musicality. YMMV

 

[raymond555]

I just love the LME49860,after testing both the 49720NA\HA,49860NA on my X-fi titanium HD with OPA627BP in the buffers,the LME49860NA is a clear winner,great mids and lows,highs are better in the 49720 but the overall sound of the 49860 is better.

 

[Mad Max]

That's what I've been told, LME49860 > LM4562 = LME49720.

 

[12Bass]

FWIW, I've tried all three LM/LME types in SOIC and DIP, though none in the metal can.  While I may have noticed some slight differences among them, they all sounded fairly similar from what I recall.  I've since moved on to other op amps which sound better to me.

 

[Zeltec]

The LME49720 output stage is optimized for supply voltages under +-17 volts.  The LME49860 is optimized for +-14.5 to 22 volts. The LM4562 is similar to the LME49720 except it's in a metal case and has better heat dissipation and drives 600 ohms effortlessly.

 

[afshin]

Hi
After testing, I think the lme49720 and lme49860

lme49860 was much better than the lme49720. Consistency and smoothness in the high frequency and mid bass ... it takes more heat to burning the 50 hour.

Thank you.

 

[wakibaki]

Why not make up a circuit board, or more than one if necessary, that will allow you to build a unity-gain buffer with each of these devices, then send a sample of music out of your soundcard, through the buffer, and record it back in through your soundcard. Then post the samples here without stating which is which opamp. Get people to vote for which they like best.

w

 

[Jnjy]

LME49860 bass seems more full, louder. LM4562 bass tighter. Top end and air more audible in LM4562 than LME49860
But both do sound like they belong in the same family