carlmart
100+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- Apr 22, 2009
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Looking around for OPA1612 impressions, I found this one, where a guy replaced the NE5532 on a Benchmark with the OPA1612:
"I just replaced all NE5532 amps in Benchmark DAC1 with OPA1612 and play it so far for few hours. NE5532 is a very good amplifier especially for the price ($0.5). OPA1612 is fuller sounding - especially lower midrange but also more dynamic. Transients are stronger, both rimshots of snare drum and big-band trumpets. It is a little bit cleaner and perhaps because of that instruments are more defined in space. A little improved width of the image and maybe slightly depth as well. NE5532 is very flat and even sounding but is no comparison to OPA1612. Overall balance with new amp is a little darker but with better transients. OPA1612 is open sounding but is a little warmer possibly because of the lower midrange roundness. So far I don't hear any harsh sibilants (very clean) but it is virtue of my speakers. What else, maybe cleaner more resolved sound at congested parts."
As we can't (shouldn't) repeatedly solder/unsolder an SMD IC, my idea is to find a point where it's possible to solder an output cable, and experiment with IC options (and regulation) outside the D50.
"I just replaced all NE5532 amps in Benchmark DAC1 with OPA1612 and play it so far for few hours. NE5532 is a very good amplifier especially for the price ($0.5). OPA1612 is fuller sounding - especially lower midrange but also more dynamic. Transients are stronger, both rimshots of snare drum and big-band trumpets. It is a little bit cleaner and perhaps because of that instruments are more defined in space. A little improved width of the image and maybe slightly depth as well. NE5532 is very flat and even sounding but is no comparison to OPA1612. Overall balance with new amp is a little darker but with better transients. OPA1612 is open sounding but is a little warmer possibly because of the lower midrange roundness. So far I don't hear any harsh sibilants (very clean) but it is virtue of my speakers. What else, maybe cleaner more resolved sound at congested parts."
As we can't (shouldn't) repeatedly solder/unsolder an SMD IC, my idea is to find a point where it's possible to solder an output cable, and experiment with IC options (and regulation) outside the D50.