[Gradius]

Anyone tried the 994Enh-Ticha Dual Discrete Op Amp ?!
 
How different they are from Bursons?   I use Bursons over a year now on my Xonar STX.
 
Site:
http://www.sonicimagerylabs.com/products/Model994DiscreteOpAmp-Ticha.html

 

[Mad Max]

Why don't you take the plunge and tell us? 

Be sure to try it as is then try it again with a Russian K42-Y2 PIO capacitor connected across the power supply pins (pins 4 & 8 for a dual opamp, 4 & 7 for a single).

 

[joyman]

Hello all,
I`ve been reading a lot about this but there`s something i want to confirm,
i want to change the stock op-amp of the xonar dx,with dual LME49990 op-amps with this adapter: single to dual op-amp adapter so8 to so8 version http://cimarrontechnology.com/single-to-dualop-ampadapter-so8toso8versionpn031101a.aspx,
 
can this be done?most of the LME49990 dual op-amps mods are for stx xonar,can dx fully support dual op-amps?
does this mod needs any cap replacement for properly working?any overheat expected?
i`m ready to go but need to get this clear.
thanks a lot.
 

 

[CommanerKeen]

I've had my Essence STX for a while but never bothered with opamps but I've read they're a cheap way to upgrade/get better sound out of it.
Any inputs on this?
Thanks.

 

[Mad Max]

Quote:

I've had my Essence STX for a while but never bothered with opamps but I've read they're a cheap way to upgrade/get better sound out of it.
Any inputs on this?
Thanks.

 
There are threads on the matter in the computer forum.

 

[Mad Max]

Quote:

Hello all,
I`ve been reading a lot about this but there`s something i want to confirm,
i want to change the stock op-amp of the xonar dx,with dual LME49990 op-amps with this adapter: single to dual op-amp adapter so8 to so8 version http://cimarrontechnology.com/single-to-dualop-ampadapter-so8toso8versionpn031101a.aspx,
 
can this be done?most of the LME49990 dual op-amps mods are for stx xonar,can dx fully support dual op-amps?
does this mod needs any cap replacement for properly working?any overheat expected?
i`m ready to go but need to get this clear.
thanks a lot.
 

 
Here's a relevant thread: http://www.head-fi.org/t/339127/asus-xonar-dx-mods
You want to replace the stock 5532?
 
That is the right adapter.  I would recommend a lower bandwidth opamp instead of LME49990.  Try it if you want, just be careful when soldering to avoid ruining the little soic solder pads.
 
I would instead try OPA602AU (2 on one adapter like the one that you linked), OPA2209, or OPA1642.  OPA827 could sound good in that circuit, who knows.  827 is a really terrific chip. 

 

[G.Trenchev]

OPA1612 is my recommendation for @joyman.No adapters needed,since it's dual.

 

[joyman]

Quote:

OPA1612 is my recommendation for @joyman.No adapters needed,since it's dual.

 
*i read good,reviews for opa1612,so i will go for it,is it any way/adaptor for convert DX so no always soldering is needed(SMT),like DG or STX,for future op-amp upgrade/swapping?
*like music listening a lot and,but a lot of FPS surround-gaming too,any good cheap amplifier for modded DX?
*actually using cheap AKG k44,and thinking upgrade too.
thanks a lot.
 

 

[Mad Max]

K44 is nice.
 
You could improvise with a socket first if you want to be able to roll.  Bend the pins slowly and carefully to line-up with the solder pads on the soundcard.  Tin the adapter pins and solder it in place.  Make sure that the notch on the socket faces the same direction as the 5532's - each 5532 has a dot next to pin 1 (pin 8 is across from pin 1), so the notch must face that direction where pins 1 & 8 are.  Then you can roll opamps as long as they are DIP opamps or are little SOIC chips soldered to SOIC-to-DIP adapters.

 

[lawrywild]

Tried the OPA827 on a dual adapter in my LDI+ and really didn't like it. Found it extremely bright.
 
I have so many different opamps here to try but waiting for more adapters to arrive. 

 

[Mad Max]

Quote:

Tried the OPA827 on a dual adapter in my LDI+ and really didn't like it. Found it extremely bright.
 
I have so many different opamps here to try but waiting for more adapters to arrive. 

 
Remember that they are not going to sound exactly the same in every circuit.
 

 
Slower, lower bandwidth opamps are more likely to come close to acting like "drag-n-drop Lego bricks" than anything else.
Generally, if the stock opamp is a slow one, then a high-speed opamp may not be the best idea, although sometimes changing/upgrading the psu bypass caps can help a lot.

 

[lawrywild]

Yup, understood. Don't really want to fiddle around with the amp too much, just going to roll all the opamps I can to find my favourite without doing any other cap replacements. They're all free samples so may as well.
 
Most looking forward to trying the AD8597. LM4562 is my favourite atm (but OPA827 is the only other I've tried so far). Also looking forward to trying the tin can LME49710 (2x) to see if I prefer that to the LM4562.
 
When biasing into Class A, do the resistors that are needed change depending on the opamp or the amp (would different opamps require different resistors in the same amp)?

 

[joyman]

Thanks, ordered the two adaptors and the op-amp,
found in headfi forum ,capacitors can be added too:
http://www.head-fi.org/t/339127/asus-xonar-dx-mods
 
*any sound quality gaining from this?
*and maybe a crazy question can Xonar DX DAC be changed?
*the front channel dac(DX) is a cs4398 czz and can be found at ebay http://www.ebay.com/itm/1-PIECE-IC-CIRRUS-TSSOP-CS4398-CZ-CS4398-CZZ-CS4398CZ-CS4398CZZ-/140709837665?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item20c2f5bb61
 
**maybe can be replaced for a better one? maybe: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Burr-Brown-PCM1792A-192kHz-24-Bit-High-End-DAC-IC-PCM1792-/160811031513?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2571159bd9
 
*big thanks for helping and give important related info for noobs.

 

[Mad Max]

Quote:

Thanks, ordered the two adaptors and the op-amp,
found in headfi forum ,capacitors can be added too:
http://www.head-fi.org/t/339127/asus-xonar-dx-mods
 
*any sound quality gaining from this?
*and maybe a crazy question can Xonar DX DAC be changed?
*the front channel dac(DX) is a cs4398 czz and can be found at ebay http://www.ebay.com/itm/1-PIECE-IC-CIRRUS-TSSOP-CS4398-CZ-CS4398-CZZ-CS4398CZ-CS4398CZZ-/140709837665?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item20c2f5bb61
 
**maybe can be replaced for a better one? maybe: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Burr-Brown-PCM1792A-192kHz-24-Bit-High-End-DAC-IC-PCM1792-/160811031513?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2571159bd9
 
*big thanks for helping and give important related info for noobs.

 
Rolling DAC chips is highly not recommended.  You will screw up the card.
 
Just stick to the caps and opamps.

 

[joyman]

Thanks again,
ok no DAC roll up.
so what's the idea behind caps?lowering noise?