The Opamp thread

[sp33ls]

I'm wondering if some of you played around with bypass capacitors like me

If you take a look at the datasheet for most opamps, it's important to add that 0.1uF bypass capacitors should be located as close to the device as possible, and connected to the devices Vcc and Vee pins.

 

[Xynon]

Hi there,

I'm new to this opamp rolling stuff, but I have a Fosi Audio P2 headphone amp that has dip-8 sockets (stock NE5532).

I was wondering if I could put OPA1656 (I am most interested in) as a drop in replacement (SOIC is fine)? I was also looking at OPA1612, AD8599, AD825, and OPA627. Also LME49860NA but I can't find them anymore.

What I am scared of is instability, I'm not sure if the P2 has bypass caps for the NE5532, and not exactly sure how bypass caps work with dip-8 sockets.

Someone on amazon reviews have posted a picture of internals of the opamp section of the P2, if that helps.

Also, is CMOS opa1656 bad for headphone amp? Heard that opa1612 might be better for <600ohm.

 

[povidlo]

Aune is selling a three-piece op-amp set through their Amazon store if you want to try rolling different op amps with no risk. Fulfilled by Amazon, so no questions asked 30 day return period.

OPA2604, MUSES01, LME49720 for $39.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BJB69V9L

 

[VintageAudio]

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.

I have a several devices now that have DIP-9 sockets that will let me experiment with op-amps: Burson Funk, Aiyima 07, Geshelli Labs J2 DAC.

So far I've accumulated:

- NE5532
- Burson V6 Vivids
- Sparkos SS3602
- Sparkos SS2590
- Muses 01

Of course it's all about synergy with the rest of your audio chain, but testing in my Burson Funk I preferred: SS2590, SS3602 and MUSES01.

SS2590 has clean, sharper edges, but retains all of the holographic sound qualities I like - sound stage depth, layering, instrument separation
MUSES01 is warmer, smoother but also very holographic
SS3602 is somewhere in between to two, a less refined version of the SS2590

Very curious about the MUSES05. Looks like it is a single channel opamp, so I'll need to double them up to use them in my gear because they all take dual channel op amps.

 

[Xynon]

Just swapped in OPA1656 and tested for a few days.
To be honest, I heard basically nothing...
Compared to the original JRC5532D, differences were minimal, though it may be a bit more laid back.
Maybe I don't listen at high enough volume? I barely push amps, etc in terms of power. 30% os volume, 10 o-clock on dac and 10 o-clock on amp.

 

[sp33ls]

Just swapped in OPA1656 and tested for a few days.
To be honest, I heard basically nothing...
Compared to the original JRC5532D, differences were minimal, though it may be a bit more laid back.
Maybe I don't listen at high enough volume? I barely push amps, etc in terms of power. 30% os volume, 10 o-clock on dac and 10 o-clock on amp.

Very much depends on the circuit. Even the circuit with the greatest difference (in my experience) was still quite subtle in differences.

 

[Xynon]

Very much depends on the circuit. Even the circuit with the greatest difference (in my experience) was still quite subtle in differences.

yeah, I seem to have gotten a lot more of a change by swapping the power supply rather than the opamps.

 

[adeadcrab]

Have been using 2 * Orange Dual Discrete Op-Amps in my Gustard P26 preamplifier for a few weeks now.
My thoughts so far:
- Technically better than the latest Burson V6 lineup of opamps; faster transients and good dynamics with a wide soundstage.
- Stays close to the source frequency response; there is a slight bass boost and a relaxation of the upper midrange. It just takes the edge off of the Koss ESP950, for example, but doesn't mellow it like either of the Burson V6 opamps.
- Works really well in a preamp connected to the Koss ESP, and also the LCD-X / Topping A90D. Helps open the soundstage more and keeps the dynamics compared to using the A90D as preamp, but is not as harsh sounding.

Really impressed with the Orange Dual Discrete Op-amps; will be pitting them against the other heavyweights (SparkoS, Staccato, Muzg etc) in the coming months. Keeping the Burson opamps just to test if a component fails; that's it...

 

[D1N0]

Just swapped in OPA1656 and tested for a few days.
To be honest, I heard basically nothing...
Compared to the original JRC5532D, differences were minimal, though it may be a bit more laid back.
Maybe I don't listen at high enough volume? I barely push amps, etc in terms of power. 30% os volume, 10 o-clock on dac and 10 o-clock on amp.

Similarly unimpressed by it. I preffered the dual opa627 to it in my Aune X8 even though that is leaning a bit too much towards the high end (that is now replaced with Sparkos ss3602). It is now living in a Ayima a3 together with a opa627 (simply because I already had those). Two opa2604 coming in (probably fake) to compare it with. I use the OPA1622 in another tube preamp FX audio Tube 03. As detailed as the opa627 but better balanced. Very modern sounding

 

[sp33ls]

I'm finding more enjoyment out of my SparkOs discrete opamp over my OPA627 and OPA828.

Anyone else finding something similar?

 

[D1N0]

Sparkos is just better period.

 

[Xynon]

well, its also the most expensive

 

[FritzS]

As detailed as the opa627 but better balanced. Very modern sounding

Gives AD797 a chance too .... now I use Burson V6 Vivid fully discrete audio opamps in my headphone amp.
But OPA627 are the best IC based (non discrete) opamp that I tested!

 

[D1N0]

Yeah but compared to how much difference it makes, it is really cheap

Gives AD797 a chance too .... now I use Burson V6 Vivid fully discrete audio opamps in my headphone amp.
But OPA627 are the best IC based (non discrete) opamp that I tested!

I found them(627) a bit hot for my taste. Although it seems to have improved some after I switched the cheap power wart for a meanwell. It is all about matching them of course.

 

[PushTT]

Hi. Has anyone measured their burson v6 classic offset? Mine has 40mV on one and 36mV on the other opamp. It seems quite a bit on the high side?