How does the OPA627 compare to the AD797?
What's the best OP amp money can buy?
-Ed
What's the best OP amp money can buy?
-Ed
Modding the RME PAD
- Thread starter Iron_Dreamer
- Start date
I'm not sure there is an answer to the latter question, I think t depends on the specific application.
As far as the furst question goes, I'm quite honestly no so sure. I wrote the 627 off from the get-go due to its very high cost (compared to AD797, 8610, etc.). People say it has a very full, slightly warm sound, with non-edgy highs.
As far as the furst question goes, I'm quite honestly no so sure. I wrote the 627 off from the get-go due to its very high cost (compared to AD797, 8610, etc.). People say it has a very full, slightly warm sound, with non-edgy highs.
Yes, relatively speaking. I figured why spend so much more, when the reference design for the AD1850 includes an AD797 output stage.
Can you OP amp roll easily now with the Brown Dog adapter?
-Ed
-Ed
No because I had to use a SOIC one, since the DIP version was too wide to fit. SOIC chips have to be soldered to the adapter.
That was fun. Little MicroMeet with Iron_Dreamer and Ozric.
This time battle of the RME digi96/8 PAD's.
And an AKG full house. K240, K271, and K1000.
I must say that we'll have to hear what your modded card really sounds like when it's fully burned in. So far, I really can't live with the volume drop. Three "clicks" less than the stock RME PAD.
I'm not really liking the Modded RME with my Grace. Smoother, and less bright for sure, but dynamics and imaging was suffering. BUT, there was some pretty nice synergy happening with the AKG SAC amp. I can't wait to hear what the fully burned in modded RME PAD sounds like.
To be fair, it's too early to determine the final impression yet. So far, I really like the dynamics of the stock RME better.
It's interesting how different this mod made the RME digi96/8 PAD sound.
Hopefully the "punch" and imaging focus will return as the modded RME PAD burns in. Especially those pesky Black Gates.
-Ed
This time battle of the RME digi96/8 PAD's.
And an AKG full house. K240, K271, and K1000.
I must say that we'll have to hear what your modded card really sounds like when it's fully burned in. So far, I really can't live with the volume drop. Three "clicks" less than the stock RME PAD.
I'm not really liking the Modded RME with my Grace. Smoother, and less bright for sure, but dynamics and imaging was suffering. BUT, there was some pretty nice synergy happening with the AKG SAC amp. I can't wait to hear what the fully burned in modded RME PAD sounds like.
To be fair, it's too early to determine the final impression yet. So far, I really like the dynamics of the stock RME better.
It's interesting how different this mod made the RME digi96/8 PAD sound.
Hopefully the "punch" and imaging focus will return as the modded RME PAD burns in. Especially those pesky Black Gates.
-Ed
Ed, I found a way we could rig up two browndog adapters and a DIP socket to make the opamps swappabble. I might sell the current card, buy another, and mod that one to have a swappable opamps.
The way it would work is that I would put on the same adapter you saw today, but instead of opamps on it, I would put in a DIP socket. Then we could trade sets of two opamps mounted on 2-SOIC -> 1 DIP adapters into the socket. We could use AD797, OPA627, AD8610 etc.
The way it would work is that I would put on the same adapter you saw today, but instead of opamps on it, I would put in a DIP socket. Then we could trade sets of two opamps mounted on 2-SOIC -> 1 DIP adapters into the socket. We could use AD797, OPA627, AD8610 etc.
I know, I'm nuts, but what the hell, this might be the perfect solution. Be able to swap for the flavor you want. Ad797 for SAC, OPA627 or AD8610 for Grace? I'm looking up a few other opamps, just to see if any others would fit the bill. Maybe the AD8065.
Courtesy of Jukie:
Grace uses the AD815AY.
Holy crap is that OPamp expensive to order. They have a pretty large minimum order.
I'm very happy with the Grace's OPamp right now.
Now it does look possible to possibly swap out the DAC chip in there?
Hmmmmm. Now that's an idea.
-Ed
Grace uses the AD815AY.
Holy crap is that OPamp expensive to order. They have a pretty large minimum order.
I'm very happy with the Grace's OPamp right now.
Now it does look possible to possibly swap out the DAC chip in there?
-Ed
I think a lot more goes into swapping a DAC chip than an OPAMP, and I think that DACs aren't as easily compatible as opamps. Plus, that one has uber-skinny legs that I don't think I would be able to solder. Maybe someone else? Or a bot? An Ed-bot?
LOL, that bot wasn't capable of posting a legible post.
And E-02 is afraid of soldering irons after it saw what I did with E-01.
I wonder what that chip in the socket is with the label on it , "H 1 . 0" it looks like?
-Ed
And E-02 is afraid of soldering irons after it saw what I did with E-01.
I wonder what that chip in the socket is with the label on it , "H 1 . 0" it looks like?
-Ed
Well for my new RME modding project I'll have the AD797, AD8610, and LM7171 to swap between. I know the latter might have some compatibility issue, but I figure I'll try it and see what happens, since they're only $3 each. I was again pondering the OPA627, but again resisted becuase of the cost. If anyone has a pair of SOIC 627's they don't need send them my way, and I'll give you my comparison with the others
Here are crappy pics, only had my Clie at the time.
Sorry for the crappy host, but feel free to download these and post them in your for sale thread, Peter.
-Ed
Sorry for the crappy host, but feel free to download these and post them in your for sale thread, Peter.
-Ed
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