Ok I'm done with the burn-in.
So this op-amp requires at least 200 hours on the clock in order to expand nicely and reach a near-optimal state. Keep in mind this before you draw any premature conclusions. It goes through a transformation cycle and may sound really bad during the burn-in process however in the end it plays much better than brand new, like all the discretes I've put my hands on thus far.
But before I say what I want to say, I have to mention something first. The Conductor 3 in its default form plus the Supercharger is able to take 95% (I leave room for the tiny boosts from much more expensive gear) out of most if not all entry level cans around 300 Euros. So don't expect by hooking up an HE400i or the HD650 that you'll be able to hear what the SS2590 can do. You'll simply waste your money on the op-amp....A headphone of the next step such as the Sony Z7 at €600
greatly benefits from the improved signal generated by the Sonic Imagery 992/994, but not so from the even better SS2590! The HE6se is a different story though...What I'm hearing through the Sparkos is not comparable to SIL and of course to any other op-amp in my possession.
All that was needed was to switch just once between 4 x SS2590 and 4 x SIL and that was pretty much it. If I put this upgrade into percentage perspective, the performance boost seems to be very similar if not even higher(!) than what it was when I moved on from the V6 Vivid to the 992/994.
This came as a shock because my thought before buying the SS2590 was like the two would be somewhat on par. Who would have thought...
In spite of that, going all Sparkos is not ideal! It never was, and most probably it never will with a single op-amp because none in my possession so far has been good enough to pass the checklist and therefore run the signal by itself. So I always end up mixing op-amps for the most balanced option, and neither this time there will be an exception to the rule it seems...
The 992/994 serve as a complement to the SS2590. Someone may find the tone of the Sparkos too bassy or thick (never congested!) and the Sonic Imagery will dissolve some of that extra juice, however this comes at the expense of clarity because the latter adds noticeable distortion to the signal in contrast to the flawless SS2590 in that regard.
The strong points of the Sparkos op-amp:
1) Crystal clear signal and clarity to die for. Better understanding of what's happening in the stage. There's more air. Perfect (channel) separation.
2) The definition of "effortless" audio. Totally uncompressed vocals. Full and enjoyable, but never pushy or piercing. With the Sonic Imagery, sometimes they are.
Note: Due to the size of the music with the SS2590, bass and some instruments in the mids may give you a slight unwanted pressure occasionally at higher volume. Well I guess we can't have everything!
3) Very energetic and imposing! Gives a closer look into the music. It feels more "stereo" than SIL.
4) Very warm and musical. The 992/994 grasps the emotion too, but it does that in a more sterile, noisy and at sometimes slightly fatiguing way.
5) Extraordinary bass. Man...
The sub-bass follows the route of a sub-woofer! Not quite a sub-woofer but it feels like it at times! When all 4 op-amps are installed, it's one hell of an experience I tell you.
The strong point of SIL 992/994:
It's more tonally even. Things that happen at the higher frequencies are more prominent with a tad extra texture and substance. There's more bite and vibrance in violins and vocals for instance which is the weak spot of the SS2590 in my opinion. In some cases it feels overly soft in comparison. That's the most powerful card of the SIL, but unfortunately within that realism, distortion coexists...Still, the Sonic Imagery 992/994 are easily the 2nd best op-amp that money can buy right now and the two 992s will be going permanently into their sockets as a companion to the SS2590.
Anyways, that's my subjective view on the Sparkos SS2590. You will hear what I hear only if you happen to have the same audio chain and ears as mine.
Perhaps a cable that thickens the sound might give you a bad result with this op-amp, but then again a headphone at the other end that does the opposite may form a good balance. I don't know. But on my Conductor 3 Reference, the jury has unanimously declared the Sparkos SS2590 as the King of the op-amp world.
Hope I gave you a good insight with this
SIL boards measure 25 x 25mm approx. and the Sparkos 28 x 32mm for the single and 35 x 32mm for the dual. Not exactly sure if and how a full 2590 configuration is achievable inside C3R...But I think it is feasible, even if they are cramped inside the case. Very interesting to see!
What urged you to suddenly get those? The timing is great, as I'll be doing the same comparison in the next few weeks as well. Well, sort of. I'm just going to start with the singles first.
