manuvajpai
100+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- Jun 12, 2009
- Posts
- 156
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- 13
So I tried the line-out with the new op-amps as some people had suggested. Here are my observations in brief.
LM4562 buffer, 2*LT1358 I/V
Airier and smoother than the headphone out but the difference is not huge. What is huge is the sheer lack of bass from this setup. Some may say it is because of the high impedance of the line-out which is having trouble driving my low-impedance phones. Wait till your read the next part.
LT1364 buffer, 2*LT1358 I/V
I chose LT1364 because it was brighter than the other op-amps I have (besides LM4562). I found LM4562 to be aptly extended in the highs but lacking in bass and it's impact, so this was a natural choice. And what an effect this change had! Beautifully airy sound while keeping all the positive aspects of LT1358 which I have come to appreciate. Bass is back and is well controlled and ample in quantity, even from AD700s.
The best thing is how wind instruments and vocals sound from this setup - just breathtaking. The subtle changes in the wind columns and resonances are just astonishingly clear. This is very evident on A/Bing with the HP-out. I think this settles the dispute on whether HP-out is better or line-out, for me.
One more thing about the HP-out which I have observed for a long time but it never bothered me enough until I moved to this setup - it electrifies the notes
. It feels like it has just artificially brightened up the ends of notes being played, giving them extra sizzle. Besides this, it also smears some notes in the mid-range making them sound rougher, which can sound organic if not for the extra sizzle on brighter notes accompanying it. I hope I am making sense.
However, the HP-out still has some use for me. The reason is the difference in sound signature that it presents. I thoroughly enjoy acoustic and mid-centric music with the HP-out because of it's warm nature, compared to the current line-out setup. The line-out has slightly recessed mids in comparison and works well for classical and rock.
Will post more impressions later, if you guys are willing to be bored a bit more.
LM4562 buffer, 2*LT1358 I/V
Airier and smoother than the headphone out but the difference is not huge. What is huge is the sheer lack of bass from this setup. Some may say it is because of the high impedance of the line-out which is having trouble driving my low-impedance phones. Wait till your read the next part.
LT1364 buffer, 2*LT1358 I/V
I chose LT1364 because it was brighter than the other op-amps I have (besides LM4562). I found LM4562 to be aptly extended in the highs but lacking in bass and it's impact, so this was a natural choice. And what an effect this change had! Beautifully airy sound while keeping all the positive aspects of LT1358 which I have come to appreciate. Bass is back and is well controlled and ample in quantity, even from AD700s.
The best thing is how wind instruments and vocals sound from this setup - just breathtaking. The subtle changes in the wind columns and resonances are just astonishingly clear. This is very evident on A/Bing with the HP-out. I think this settles the dispute on whether HP-out is better or line-out, for me.
One more thing about the HP-out which I have observed for a long time but it never bothered me enough until I moved to this setup - it electrifies the notes
However, the HP-out still has some use for me. The reason is the difference in sound signature that it presents. I thoroughly enjoy acoustic and mid-centric music with the HP-out because of it's warm nature, compared to the current line-out setup. The line-out has slightly recessed mids in comparison and works well for classical and rock.
Will post more impressions later, if you guys are willing to be bored a bit more.
