[Ghoostknight]

Hello,

i just compared my current favourite opamp opa1656 vs the much older opa627 (its a dual module from audiophonics, the IC`s are "used" if this matter but as long they function correctly i only see the benefit of them being already burned in ) i tested these with the Aune X8 XVIII

on first sight i would say the opa627 has these attributes compared to the opa1656
- sounds somewhat thinner, voices sound more lean but at the same time a bit more sibilant
- you could say its a bit more analog sounding
- not so bass heavy as the opa1656 (the 1656 really shines in bass regions, specially infrasonics are much more "audible")
- im not a huge soundstange "comparer" but maybe its a bit more 2d but wider sounding
- highs (over 10-12khz or so) not as "sparkling" as with opa1656 (but at the same time more sibilant, not overly sibilant but with the opa1656 sibilant nearly "vanishes" while the opa627 brings them a bit up again, it doesnt "shoot" sibilance in your face, its just a bit more audible)

im just listening right now for 1h so take these descriptions with a grain of salt but it sounds interesting, i wouldnt say it sounds "worse" to the opa1656 but just a bit different, the first thing i thought was "ah this is how old stereos may sounded compared to modern equipment"

(both opamps were tested with a Nichicon KZ 10uF bypass capacitor between V+ and V-, i heared with all opamps i tested improvements with the bypass cap, tho i didnt tested it specially with the op627, imagine the change a bit what the opamp itself does but just a touch better with bypass capacitor )

would these discription line up with what you guys heared?

im looking forward to compare to the sparkos discrete opamps somewhat soon

 

[AJCxZ0]

I placed a second order which should result in me receiving four DIP-8 extenders of which I only need two.

The first extender arrived, so I was able to assess the options for fitting the pair of Burson V6 Vivid opamps in my Fosi Audio P1 tube pre-amp. Alas, there is only space for one with the case closed.

See the album for the answer to all the question of fitting in the other apparent spaces.
The mixed blessing is that I will finally be able to test the V6 Vivids in the P1 like

which I tested with the original TI NE5532Ps, but not keep them.

With a DIP 8 riser, I think I may be able to fit a pair of SS3602 Dual Discrete opamps between the tops of the caps and volume pots and the case.

 

[ekjellgren]

How many have actually fried a headphone amp switching opamps?
I've just recieved a pair of Sparkos SS2590, and Burson is warning me of customers that have had their units burnt.

 

[JAnonymous5150]

How many have actually fried a headphone amp switching opamps?
I've just recieved a pair of Sparkos SS2590, and Burson is warning me of customers that have had their units burnt.

I never have. Basically, as long as you've gotten op amps that are designed to function within the parameters of a given amp's circuitry, there would have to be something faulty with the op amp itself for any kind of meltdown to happen. Now, if you're not sure how to determine which op amps are capable of operating in your particular amp and you don't have anybody qualified to ask then shoving random op amps in expensive equipment can have consequences.

I don't want to speak for Burson, but my guess is that as a manufacturer they will always tell you not to use third party op amps or to do so at your own risk because they have no control over the QC of those amps or the accuracy of the info you're giving them so tacitly approving your use of third party op amps could potentially open them up to being liable for any damage caused by their use. Any reasonable company isn't going to do that if for no other reason than to cover their backsides. That said, Burson may have other specific concerns with Sparkos in particular (discrete op amp designs can come with other issues/complications), third party amps in general, or whatever that is also a part of them answering the way they did. In general, I have always found the few folks I have dealt with at Burson to be pretty open and honest so if they're telling you that they have reports that these situations have happened, then I'd believe them as I have no reason not to.

If you're not confident about doing it I wouldn't unless there are other folks out there using the same op amps on the same Burson model successfully AND you're willing and able to deal with any potential consequences from some sort of meltdown/epic fail situation.

 

[Ghoostknight]

i think you really just have to be careful with discrete opamps, they seem to draw quite alot of current compared to chip opamps, probably specially the Sparkos SS2590

 

[ekjellgren]

 

[ekjellgren]

I guess it's a matter of lining the half round notch in the opamp and the socket?

 

[Ghoostknight]

I guess it's a matter of lining the half round notch in the opamp and the socket?

yes, tho there should be a marking on top of the SS2590 too (to make sure, take a look at the manual which can be downloaded to see where the marking is exactly)

Edit: here you go https://sparkoslabs.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/ProToDIP_Dimensions.jpg

 

[ekjellgren]

I got them to work!
Only for a short while though.
After about a minute I heard som noice and the left channel went silent.
I reconnected the V6’s and everything was fine. So nothing broken in the amp/headphones anyway.

My impression is that the opamps sit quite loose in the sockets, and I guess it’s the one I connected without the raisers that went silent.
How could I get them to sit more tightly? Should I bend the pins or something?

I’ll try tomorrow and use them both with raisers just to verify they are ok, but my heart can’t take more drama for today =)

 

[Ghoostknight]

I got them to work!
Only for a short while though.
After about a minute I heard som noice and the left channel went silent.
I reconnected the V6’s and everything was fine. So nothing broken in the amp/headphones anyway.

My impression is that the opamps sit quite loose in the sockets, and I guess it’s the one I connected without the raisers that went silent.
How could I get them to sit more tightly? Should I bend the pins or something?

I’ll try tomorrow and use them both with raisers just to verify they are ok, but my heart can’t take more drama for today =)

the dip sockets are quite fragile and not really made for many inserts, best would be to replace them if they went too lose
but i guess you can also bend the pins a little to get a tighter contact as a kind of workaround

 

[AJCxZ0]

The mixed blessing is that I will finally be able to test the V6 Vivids in the P1...

The other three extenders arrived, so in order to test them and the Burson V6 Vivid opamps in my Fosi Audio P1 tube pre-amp, I started with the extenders and the included TI NE5532P opamps.

With 96 kHz PCM from the PC to the Topping E30 and output from the L30 (of which there are now a version two of each), I casually listened to a variety of tracks of varying quality and type, occasionally twiddling the bass and treble knobs, listening with my Sivga SV021 "Robin" using my ears and being reminded again that this cheap little tube pre-amp is excellent value and does not go wrong.

With the devices powered off, I carefully swapped the IC opamps for the V6 Vivids and listened again to the track to which I was last listening: a 24 bit 96 kHz Wave file of Movement IV from Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125, performed by Anima Eterna Brugge & The Australian Brandenburg Choir courtesy of RØDE followed by the newly released Tenebre Rosso Sangue from KEYGEN CHURCH.

With all the other components in the signal path and the lack of even an attempt to A/B test, not to mention all my biases, I am hesitant to give any impression of the difference between these two opamps, however the significant initial impression I got was that the sound became more intense, revealing and dynamically expanded.

With the Vivids installed, I plan to listen to more tracks of varying quality and type, occasionally twiddling the bass and treble knobs, listening with the Robin and my other headphones before switching back to the NE5532Ps to get another impression.

 

[TheManko]

In case anyone is in Japan, MUSES05 is now available on sale. https://www.nisshinbo-microdevices.co.jp/ja/MUSES/series/MUSES05.html Unlike previous MUSES op amps, it's a SMD style op amp. But for DIY purposes there is a version pre-mounted on a DIP8 adapter. So far, this is the only store where you can buy it: https://akizukidenshi.com/catalog/g/gM-17651/

I'm pretty excited about the MUSES05, because I have a lot of experience with the previous MUSES models. I'm currently using MUSES03 in the input stage of my Purifi 1ET400A speaker amplifier. Before I broke my Essence III dac, I did extensive op amp swap testing, doing careful listening for hours and hours for years. The number of comparisons and tests I conducted is easily over two hundred, as I owned the dac for nearly ten years. I have tried every version of the OPA627, including the metal can version, the AD797, AD827SQ, AD847SQ, OPA828, Sparkos SS3602, Burson V6 Vivid, OPA1611, OPA2156, and many many others. In my experience the OPA828, SS3602 and MUSES03 are easily the best I've heard, regardless of whether they're used in the Essence III dac, or in the Purifi amplifier. Note that I haven't tried the larger SS2590, or other similar larger discrete op amps. After what I've heard with V6 Vivid and SS3602 I expect the SS2590 is superb. SS3602 gets a lot of things right, but it's a bit crude in the finer details, with diffuse bass and a grainy character to the sound. In isolation these flaws might not be obvious, but compared with say OPA828 these imperfections become clear.

Of these top three my favorite is MUSES03. It has a style of sound that seems to evoke more emotion and make the music more enjoyable than the others. OPA828 feels like the most technically correct presentation of the sound, done at a far higher level of quality than say LM4562. But it's a bit emotionally distant compared to MUSES03. For me it's important that the sound evokes an unexpected and involuntary emotional response. MUSES01 was also good at this trick, but it's far inferior in quality to MUSES03. MUSES01 is not in the same top tier level of performance. In my experience, older op amps sound like old outdated technology compared to newer ones. The entire OPA627 line sounds obsolete compared against OPA828. Newer op amps provide a far more detailed and precise sound, which in turn also results in a broader tonal range. But of course, how they're implemented and how they interact with the sound system as a whole makes all the difference. MUSES03 is/was a huge improvement over MUSES01 and MUSES02, like how OPA828 is on another level compared with OPA627. This is what makes me curious to try the MUSES05. Will they have made meaningful forward progress in the quality of sound, while still retaining the charm of the MUSES line? I'd buy them, but the only store that sells them doesn't accept international orders.

Hope this was interesting to someone.

 

[sawindra]

Muses suprised me a lot

 

[Ghoostknight]

im looking forward to compare to the sparkos discrete opamps somewhat soon

well it ended up as a Burson V6 Vivid

these are my first impressions compared to the dual OPA627 im using until now and reviewed earlier in post #7216 where i compared the dual opa627 against the opa1656
(the V6 isnt burned in yet)

- it sounds more quite, you have to give it a little more volume
- bass is stronger and i would say sounds more accurate and has more "punch", i think this is also the strongest difference to the OPA627
- voices sound -very- smooth and natural
- overall it has a nice presentation, i would say it sounds more 3D with a bit more narrow soundstage, specially in comparision to the OPA627 which sounds more 2D with a very wide soundstage
- it has very nice natural sibilance, -you hear the sibilance- but it sounds somewhat natural (imo sibilance always sounds artificial because its mostly because of mics)
- older recordings sound very nice, i tested a 1960s track, the V6 brings up some of the "retro sound" in these recording
- instruments also have a nice natural character
- highs sound more sparkling again, which i missed with the OPA627
- i expected a bit more, maybe i was a bit hyped because its my first discrete opamp but on the other side it still sounds very nice, and probably the best opamp i heared
- way less listener fatique even at higher volumes, actually it sounds very pleasing to listen to

overall i would say, it sounds very natural and "coherent" across the board, im specially surprised over the punchy bass
i already heared burn in after a few minutes, but i will give it of course more time

i also tried my default Nichicon KZ 10uF bypass capacitor, it nearly sounds like it lifts of a veil above the music, more dynamics, clearer and even more natural overall sound describes it the best i think, i can only suggest all people that are opamp rolling also to try bypass capacitors, i tried a few electrolytics so far and the Nichicon KZ sounds best/most flat to me

there will be a complete review somewhat soon after i bruned in the V6 a bit if someone is interested

Edit:
after around 40h of burn in, the most obvious things:
- a little more cohorent/natural
- i specially really like the sound of "retro mics", the V6 does some kind of magic with "older" recordings (for example Nancy Sinatra - These Boots Are Made for Walkin`)
- treble/highs got VERY nice, way more pronounced than with the OPA627 without being annoying, it sounds very detailed in the upper regions (probably >5k hz)
- i think the punchy bass i heared before is a little more laid back now, overall it sounds more neutral now imo

looking forward what 100-200h burn-in will do!

 

[mrjayviper]

thoughts of replacing JRC 5532 in a DAC output with something else that's easily available? if yes, what would you recommend. nothing too exotic. Thanks