For anyone using the se530's here's what i found when testing a few different opamps with the D2, if anyones interested
To be honest I wasn't expecting much difference with IEM. I thought most change would be in open or closed cans...this is probably true to some extent but I personally noticed huge differences in both low and highs.
I was happy last night to finally solder my first opamps to the little IC to 8 dip converters - LM6172 & THS4032. Damn those things are too small!
I've now tested using:
1\
main socket\ LT1364 (stock)
second socket\ NE4432 (stock)
2\
main socket\ OPA2111
second socket\ OPA2111
3\
main socket\ LM6172
second socket\ THS4032
Larry suggested this setup mostly for a livewire/grado sounding setup but i liked what he said about the opamps so wanted to test with se530's too
I've only had time to REALLY listen to one song
Interpol - Hands Away
I chose this song because it has nice vocals, riffs, bass, its quite short, i know it well and it also has quite a busy section around 1:50
Here's the song:
YouTube - Interpol-Hands away
2:10, is where I'm referring below to the bass guitar kicking in (or evidently not with stock) and throughout the song you can clearly hear the cymbal I'm referring too. Of course I wasn't using youtube as a reference track! lossless was used. I just wanted to link the track so you know what style Im listening to when i give my opinions
main socket\ OPA2111
second socket\ OPA2111
So much bass...more than any of the other setups. nice separation, highs were nice and live sounding. Instruments sounded very spread out...very wide soundstage but sounded nice with this track. High hat sounded clear and live, bass guitar was very pronounced along with the kick drum.
I also listened all day yesterday at work with this setup and electronica was nice. Very full bass. Couldn't complain
Of course I wasn't paying full attention but certainly noticed the nice bass.
main socket\ LM6172
second socket\ THS4032
Nice bass again, not quite such a wide sound stage as the 2x OPA2111. Cymbals sounded fantastic just like I was watching the drummer hit the high hat live. Bass guitar was clearly pronounced sounded great. Kick drum clear. Vocals were fantastic.
One thing interesting with this setup is that there wasn't a confused sound when all instruments were playing. I could clearly distinguish each instrument. I could also distinguish with the OPA2111's but the bass was a little heavy with this style music i thought...
Edit: forgot to mention, one amazing change with this opamp setup is that in certain rhythm guitar riffs you could CLEARLY hear the electric guitars distortion ... you know the classic electric guitar distortion when playing through a PA speaker? But not just that...it sounded so live. I loved it. I think its characters like this which the different opamps emphasis. Subtle things which add together to improve certain tracks. Anyway, I'd Never heard this in the song... i was amazed. Well...so amazed that I forgot while writing this
main socket\ LT1364 (stock)
second socket\ NE4432 (stock)
The standard setup sounded fairly rubbish when directly comparing. Its strange because up until now I thought it sounded fantastic stock!
Basically, bass was non existent in comparison. At certain points in the song i knew I could clearly distinguish the kick drum & bass guitar with the other setups. As stock I could barely hear the kick drum, and bass guitar was a no show. Vocals sounded quite good but the high hat was shocking. It was really bright and just didn't sound "live" like the others did.... i don't know but it wasn't as nice over all. I hope it wasn't just a mental "oh thats stock it can't be good!!"
Anyway I know the song well and recently saw Interpol so know how the sound engineers want them to sound live. I remember the bass was very nice and full which was just how setup 2 & 3 sounded
I'll keep listening to the LM6172 & THS4032 today but will listen again more scrutinizing tonight with a couple other tracks
Other setups I'm keen to try based on Larry's suggestions are:
2x LM6172
&
1\ ISL55002
2\ THS4032
I can't track down the ISL55002 atm though, anyone want to get rid of one (and another LM6172) and can ship to australia?