[headphoned]

Quote:

This guy, wait 'til you hear 4627-1, then you'll eat your words, lol.

 
Head-Direct told me Minibox-E+ is 7.4v
 
49710HA will not fit with TO-99 adapters, the leads have to be bent and trimmed little by little very carefully.
Other Minibox-E+ users found OPA627 to sound no better than AD8610 in this little amp. 8610 gives the best battery life, but certainly not the best sound.
 
I also did not imply 744 being ultra-detailed. LT1028 is noticeably more detailed than the plastic dip J version but in my Compass DAC only. Minibox-E+ is just not suited for 1028 and 797.

I know this for a fact: the ADA4627-1 can't but have a similar tonality to the OPA627, and I never found the OPA627 enjoyable (musical) enough.
 
 
Yep, the LT1028ACN8 is crystal clear yet remains fluid and musical. I think the OPA1611 is just a bit better (rounder & more luminous mids).
 
 
 
 
P.S. The TL051 are simply magical & heavenly sounding in my CMOY (just been listening to Tom Waits, "Bawlers", 2nd disc of the 3 CD set "Orphans"). I never thought my CMOY could sound this good.

 

[headphoned]

BTW based on my memory I would much prefer to use a LME49880 (FET opamp with very low distortion & natural sound) to a AD746. I guess I'd prefer the TL052 too

 

[headphoned]

Also, I notice that the OPA1641/1642 has completely disappeared from the discussion. It's just a pity, because that's one very good FET opamp, and one that is rail-to-rail and low-power-consumption too, thus potentially perfect for those portable amps. I do find that the bipolar counterpart the OPA1611/1612 sounds better, as usual - more refined.

 

[Mad Max]

Too much speculation there. Wait 'til you hear it, lol.
 
I have OPA1641. It is good and better than TLE2141A which I used the most before but it cannot touch 4627-1.

I haven't compared it to AD744AH or either of the other grades in output bypass now that I think about it. It certainly betters the J version.

 

[headphoned]

The TLE2141 is mediocre, the OPA1641, OPA132UA and TL051 being far better. The LME49880 is also another world, however dual (what's this mépris for anything "dual", BTW)
 
 
I'm of the opinion that when a DIP opamp don't please your senses, you can't fix it by replacing its package with the TO99, heh. Sure, the TO99 sounds a bit better, but it's only worth the investment when you liked the DIP version of the same opamp in the first place.
 
For instance I liked the LME49720 and the LME49720HA is one of my favorites; but I didn't like the AD744/746 so I don't want to spend money on the TO99 version of the AD744, let alone using it with outputs bypassed and nearly no output current. There simply are better opamps nowadays, like the OPA1611, or if you must go FET, the OPA1641, OPA827, and possibly ADA4627-1.
 
Still interested in hearing these super LME49990's, which are bipolars so they may be my thing

 

[Sebhelyesfarku]

Ok, opamp gurus floating in lotus position over a brown dog, what would be a good swap for a NE5532 in the input section of a headphones amp? I'd like to keep the lush, musical sound, just improve it. I'd prefer a dual chip on DIP8, don't want to mess with adapters... just plug'n'play.

 

[K3cT]

LT1364

 

[headphoned]

I agree about the LT1364, & would add the LME49880, TL052, LME49725, LME49723.
 
 
Especially the LME49725

 

[Mad Max]

 
Quote:

...  
I'm of the opinion that when a DIP opamp don't please your senses, you can't fix it by replacing its package with the TO99, heh. Sure, the TO99 sounds a bit better, but it's only worth the investment when you liked the DIP version of the same opamp in the first place.
...

I like AD744

 

[headphoned]

Ok. To me the AD746 was much too cold. Even the AD8620, which is not a very colorful chip, sounded more musical. The OP275, as I remember, was the most musical of this trio.
 
 
Nowadays I'd use the LME49725 or LME49880, or the OPA1612 naturally =)

 

[headphoned]

I highly recommend trying the EL2228 too. It only exists as a dual opamp but it's worth it
 
 
The TL051 still amazes me in the CMOY, it is just perfect
 
If you like musical and lush, but clear, try TL052 and TL051 also in line stages.

 

[leeperry]

LT1364CN8/OPA2132P are good starters.

 

[headphoned]

Yes they are, but I still think that LME49725 & LME49880 are better sounding opamps overall. The EL2228 is slightly less easy to use but it's the most detailed dual opamp I know.

 

[leeperry]

he said "don't want to mess with adapters", and none of the 3 chips you mentioned is available in DIP8 form 

if it were about using adapters, using single chips would be a far smarter move...LT1028, ADA4627-1, LT1363, OPA132, OPA827 etc etc

 

[Sebhelyesfarku]

Ok, thanks for the replies, I'll give a try for the LT1364, swap'n'play. Who knows, later I may catch the rolling fever and stick in crazy stuff on crazy adapters (I hope not )