[NymPHONOmaniac]

Hi there, anybody know a really TRUSTABLE Aliexpress seller for OPamp ???

Too much confusing comment....about fake stuffs. I search the best 2-15$ OPamp for swaping in Walnut V2 and a external DAC-AMP.

Thanks in advance to help here, so I will not fall in traps....was eying LM4502 or Muse8920 or 01-02....(OP-newbie here!)

 

[olymind1]

Hi!

I am trying to find a better opamp for my Auzentech X-Fi Prelude card which uses AKM-4396VF DAC and LM4562NA opamp. I read, i read and read, and now i'm starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel:

LME49860NA
LME49990MA

I liked what i read about the LME49720HA too (or 2x LME49710HA), but saw complaints about the highs having troubles. What about the LME49990MA? While the LME49860NA seems to be more balanced overall.

Is there anyone here who use all 3 of them?

 

[rikk009]

Hi!

I am trying to find a better opamp for my Auzentech X-Fi Prelude card which uses AKM-4396VF DAC and LM4562NA opamp. I read, i read and read, and now i'm starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel:

LME49860NA
LME49990MA

I liked what i read about the LME49720HA too (or 2x LME49710HA), but saw complaints about the highs having troubles. What about the LME49990MA? While the LME49860NA seems to be more balanced overall.

Is there anyone here who use all 3 of them?

*720 slow and good for mids, *990 faster and more lively

 

[ScottFW]

I am trying to find a better opamp for my Auzentech X-Fi Prelude card which uses AKM-4396VF DAC and LM4562NA opamp. I read, i read and read, and now i'm starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel:

LME49860NA
LME49990MA

I don't know anything specifically about your sound card, but my Audioengine D1 has the AK4396 DAC with just one dual-channel opamp driving either the line outs or headphone jack.

Presumably you are aware that the LM4562 and LME49860 are dual channel opamps, but the LME49990 is a single. So if you're trying to sub in for a dual, you would need to solder two of those to an adapter. I have run LME49990 both as singles and on dual adapters in a few CD players and in the Audioengine D1 and it's a great choice.

Another really good option is the OPA1688. I'm hard pressed to notice much/any difference in sound quality compared to 2x LME49990 strapped to a dual adapter, and the OPA1688 being 2-channel is more of a direct swap, plus it provides more output current which is beneficial if it's going to be driving headphones directly.

 

[raoultrifan]

I don't care about their datasheet, but to my ears LME49860NA is noisier than LME49720HA.

LME49990MA, besides that is single and needs very good quality PCB to adapters, it could oscillate with ease, so depending on how it's built your Auzentech could be needed additional decoupling caps (fast multilayer 0.01-0.1uF + 1uF tantalum should probably do).

Without additional decoupling you could also try MUSES 8920 or MUSES 01, but also something from Burson that could feet your computer's case (V6 if possible).

 

[olymind1]

I don't know anything specifically about your sound card, but my Audioengine D1 has the AK4396 DAC with just one dual-channel opamp driving either the line outs or headphone jack.

Presumably you are aware that the LM4562 and LME49860 are dual channel opamps, but the LME49990 is a single. So if you're trying to sub in for a dual, you would need to solder two of those to an adapter. I have run LME49990 both as singles and on dual adapters in a few CD players and in the Audioengine D1 and it's a great choice.

Another really good option is the OPA1688. I'm hard pressed to notice much/any difference in sound quality compared to 2x LME49990 strapped to a dual adapter, and the OPA1688 being 2-channel is more of a direct swap, plus it provides more output current which is beneficial if it's going to be driving headphones directly.

Mine also has only 1 swappable opamp.
I'm doing some more reading about the OPA1688 then.

I don't care about their datasheet, but to my ears LME49860NA is noisier than LME49720HA.

LME49990MA, besides that is single and needs very good quality PCB to adapters, it could oscillate with ease, so depending on how it's built your Auzentech could be needed additional decoupling caps (fast multilayer 0.01-0.1uF + 1uF tantalum should probably do).

Without additional decoupling you could also try MUSES 8920 or MUSES 01, but also something from Burson that could feet your computer's case (V6 if possible).

So then the LME49860NA not a good upgrade choice from LM4562NA.

It was considered to be a well built card 10 years ago, how well i don't know.

This is the card:

This is the 2x LME49990 soldered into a DIP8 socket what i looked out:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/One-2x-Mon...364823?hash=item4670c059d7:g:pPkAAOSwd4tTtCZP
^^ I know, ebay, but at least the seller is 100% trustworthy, not a single negative critic.

About discret Burson opamps, yes i know, probably it would be the safest and best course of action, just not the cheapest one, sadly. With taxes and import it prices 5 time more than the linked one. Even if i buy within the EU.

 

[raoultrifan]

My recommended budget opamp will always be MUSES 8920 if used in I/V stage and MUSES 8820 if used in LowPass or Voltage Amplification or Buffer stages.
I assume (not 110% sure) that the LM4562 is used as I/V converter in your soundcard, so I would anytime try the 8920. This is designed for audio-use, needs no additional decoupling and it's DIP8 too.

 

[rikk009]

Mine also has only 1 swappable opamp.
I'm doing some more reading about the OPA1688 then.




So then the LME49860NA not a good upgrade choice from LM4562NA.

It was considered to be a well built card 10 years ago, how well i don't know.

This is the card:

This is the 2x LME49990 soldered into a DIP8 socket what i looked out:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/One-2x-Mon...364823?hash=item4670c059d7:g:pPkAAOSwd4tTtCZP
^^ I know, ebay, but at least the seller is 100% trustworthy, not a single negative critic.

About discret Burson opamps, yes i know, probably it would be the safest and best course of action, just not the cheapest one, sadly. With taxes and import it prices 5 time more than the linked one. Even if i buy within the EU.

That's interesting piece of hardware...is that one DAC chip per channel?

I bought this one https://www.ebay.com/itm/1pcs-Dual-...OPA2604-NE5532-TL072-LME49990MA-/181118392690. Got genuine.

 

[olymind1]

That's interesting piece of hardware...is that one DAC chip per channel?

I bought this one https://www.ebay.com/itm/1pcs-Dual-...OPA2604-NE5532-TL072-LME49990MA-/181118392690. Got genuine.

1 DAC per 2 channels, it's a 7.1 sound card, hence the 4 DACs, front channel's op amp is swappable and 3 OPA2134uas for the remaining channels. By the way i like the LM4562NA clarity over the OPA2134, but maybe it has too harsh highs, i don't know.

I looked that vendor / item too, but that shop sometimes sells fake ones. I would rather not risk it.

My recommended budget opamp will always be MUSES 8920 if used in I/V stage and MUSES 8820 if used in LowPass or Voltage Amplification or Buffer stages.
I assume (not 110% sure) that the LM4562 is used as I/V converter in your soundcard, so I would anytime try the 8920. This is designed for audio-use, needs no additional decoupling and it's DIP8 too.

That i don't know how it works. Doesn't the 8920 have somewhat limited soundstage? At east that's what i read about it.

And how would i know if the 2 lme49990s would oscillate?

 

[raoultrifan]

And how would i know if the 2 lme49990s would oscillate?

Usually by using the scope, but also if it's really hot after 10-15 minutes of operation (or if you hear radio-waves or strange wining sounds).

 

[Rroff]

LM4562 though clear and detailed is very "clinical" and in my experience a bit susceptible to power supply noise making it "metallic" sounding - as mentioned earlier in this thread you can do wonders with it sometimes bridging the rails with a 10uf aluminium electrolytic capacitor like an Elna Silmic II or Nichicon FG or KZ - though potentially that is trading accuracy for a subjectively more pleasing sound. That likely depends a bit at what stage in the pipeline it is used and how.

Personally not a fan of the OPA2132/2134 it is accurate enough but somehow it sounds like someone playing the same tune for the 1000th time with none of the passion and nuance of when they enjoyed playing it.

I'm actually quite a big fan of the OPA2228 over the 2134 but its only stable at higher gains so would need intimate knowledge of the circuit it was going into and quite fussy about the capacitors around it i.e. if there are ones used to limit bandwidth in the feedback loop, etc. and so on to sound good - a lot of people end up with a "grungy" sound because it can't just be dropped into the circuit they are using.

 

[NymPHONOmaniac]

no answer=not cool.
SO nobody never buy any Opamp from aliexpres its what I conclude????

if I ask this its because I don't want to pay 10$ shipping for a 3$ Opamp.

 

[rikk009]

I have never received an opamp I order from Aliexpress so can't say. Btw, ebay is good alternative for cheap opamps.

 

[ScottFW]

SO nobody never buy any Opamp from aliexpres its what I conclude????

I've never bought opamps from aliexpress or from any other source shipping from China.
If it's a low price on an ordinarily expensive "audiophile approved" opamp (OPA627... cough cough) it's a fake, whether it's coming from China or elsewhere. Not that price is the only indicator (fakes can be priced high too).
There are plenty of really good opamps in current production and priced low enough that I just order from Mouser or Digikey or Newark or Allied and have no worries about counterfeit goods.
Ebay might be okay for current production inexpensive opamps if you just need somebody to sell you 1 or 2 without charging $7.95 for shipping. I have purchased a couple of discontinued opamps on ebay, but they were a quad channel version of a not-popular opamp, so not rampantly faked.
Usually if there's a new opamp I want to try, I add it to my running parts list on Mouser and submit the order once I have $100-200 worth of stuff I need for a larger project, so the postage doesn't bother me.

 

[NymPHONOmaniac]

I've never bought opamps from aliexpress or from any other source shipping from China.
If it's a low price on an ordinarily expensive "audiophile approved" opamp (OPA627... cough cough) it's a fake, whether it's coming from China or elsewhere. Not that price is the only indicator (fakes can be priced high too).
There are plenty of really good opamps in current production and priced low enough that I just order from Mouser or Digikey or Newark or Allied and have no worries about counterfeit goods.
Ebay might be okay for current production inexpensive opamps if you just need somebody to sell you 1 or 2 without charging $7.95 for shipping. I have purchased a couple of discontinued opamps on ebay, but they were a quad channel version of a not-popular opamp, so not rampantly faked.
Usually if there's a new opamp I want to try, I add it to my running parts list on Mouser and submit the order once I have $100-200 worth of stuff I need for a larger project, so the postage doesn't bother me.

Okay interesting....thanks for feedback, but I don't think I can buy 100-200$ of audio part. Just wanna begin some swapping. I read lot of feedbakc there...very strange. Look like even if its fake it sound good cause I was looking for Muse8920 wich is priced around 6$ from a seller that got 96positive reviews about it, but i find ONE that say its fake and have a proof:

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Fre...2466e173&transAbTest=ae803_5&rmStoreLevelAB=0

Now i'm very confuse. 96 feedback say its good, some with pics and it look legit comments. My question is now: can what mean the number under Muses 8920? Because this other seller that look more serious have not G05 but G03 under.....and it cost 15$ instead of 6$.
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/2PC...2466e173&transAbTest=ae803_5&rmStoreLevelAB=0

Anyway, can you kindly suggest me low priced great OPamp, better than the NS5532P??? My obsession about ali is not really about lower priced OPamp but more about free shipping.

Thanks and sorry if I look clumsy....just a OPbeginner here.


EDIT: to make me more confuse, official site show this picture, so now its F07 under model number.