Pinnacle is less bias and more hirearchy. Stating that some like center staged and mid focused sound while others like separation and sound-stage is bias because it is a preferential choice between the two. The reason why I gave the discreet opamps (Burson V5 SS and Sparkos) the Pinnacle moinker is because they both represent less compromise. They both exceed with separation and sound-stage with intimately staged and focused details while being warm and also fast.
Better for me is that the sound is as closely reproduced to what was recorded.
As for "Seems" ... that is because the implementation matters.
In my headphone amp, these are my impressions which are similar for some opamps and different for others from what they sounded like in the Xonar where you had I/V and a buffer or in something as simple as a CMOY. In my headphone amp I have the opamp performing gain and servo and then out to the buffer. This is a very different implementation to previous amps I had and benefits from being DC coupled with zero capacitors in the signal path. So this is how things "Seem" to me.
The AD797BRZ is really quite good and I have lived with it for a long time but have found better. The short-comings, for me, are a narrower sound stage (feels triangular) and less distinct separation of sounds compared to my current favorites. The trebble is a bit forward for my liking on cymbals.
The LME49720HA is another quite good one, but it has a shallower more 2D sound-stage and feels less dynamic and involving. The trebble can sometimes feel plastic. Sounds solid state.
The LME49860, no matter what anyone says, it not the LME49720. It has a warmer mid, better bass, better separation and better, more distinct details. It is a better opamp than then 49720. (I just A-B'd them a few times right now again and it's obvious.)
The LME49990 (discontinued! Why??) is another step up. Smoother, more coherent, good detail retrieval, more involving than the 49720. Was my longtime favorite until the Bursons.
OPA1692 is really good. Very detailed and fast. Hard to find a fault with it. In the Xonar it was too bright if in I/V and Buffer. If in I/V then it benefits from something warmer in buffer. Dark background and involving with really tight bass. Great for electronic.
Just to cause trouble
The Xonar came with the JRC2114D which everyone can agree was dull and flat in the Xonar. In my headphone amp it is not dull or veiled. It is actually really nice, almost tube like in its presentation. The bass is maybe slightly wooly, but not offensively so. It's really nice and relaxing to listen to. (Different circuit, different results. This one surprised me)
So why mention all these opamps, just to come to the Burson or Sparkos? Well, they do everything right that the other chip opamps do, but a little better. Everything is just that touch clearer, silkier, faster, better decay, cleaner separation.
That is why I called it a pinnacle because as for opamp technology right now they are at the top. But the other opamps are also good. If I had to give up my Bursons and only use a chip opamp, what would it be? The OPA2209. This one might even have better decay than the Bursons with reverb trails that are captivating. Fantastic bass that is tight and great dynamics. So, if you want the best get a Bursons V5 SS or a Sparkos. If you want a really, really good 2nd best get the OPA2209. Either way, the circuit you stick them in matters.
