[groucho69]

  no solder, it is in a socket, if you are not so good with your fingers, you can take it out with pliers pulling straight up.
 
Don't forget which side the dot is on.

Spend the small amount of cash to buy a proper chip puller

 

[groucho69]

  Amp rolling is easy with the Walnut. It can also be used with its half case (top side) open, so comparing several op amps is a snap. Just be sure to turn it off before changing...
 
My next wave of comparisons will be the BB series - OPA2107, OPA627, OPA1612A, OPA827 - but I have a feeling the AD825 will stay. It is still the best sounding op amp in my old cmoy.
 
And one word of advise: At first my Walnut has generated some very strange 'spiky' sounds now and then. It turned out the (new) SanDisk Ultra 32Gb I used is a fake one and not Ultra at all. I purchased it from Amazon. Changed to a genuine Toshiba Micro SD and - works!

Fake stocked by Amazon or from an Amazon seller?

 

[Thomas De Brito]

Spend the small amount of cash to buy a proper chip puller

http://www.ebay.fr/itm/272206286850 something like this?

 

[bzfrank]

I don't remember, will check. But they get the card back anyway... 8GB usable from 32GB and slow as a snail on Valium.

 

[Brian Coffey]

http://www.ebay.fr/itm/272206286850 something like this?

Yes that should work well.

 

[macky112]

  the postman finally arrived, and now I have my walnut v2!
 
I first charged it up like a good boy and then went straight to try out some RMAA unloaded charting.
 
disclaimer: all DAPs have EQ off, and their volume roughly at 80%, and laptop mic-in at 100%
 
first up, Walnut V2 with volume pot at 12 o clock position (assuming off is at or close to 6 o clock position), this is so loud that I had to adjust my laptop's mic-in volume to 20% from 100% to avoid clipping.
 

 
 
 
next, Walnut V2 with volume pot at 9 o clock position (mic-in volume back to 100%), does this mean I get a channel imbalance at 9 o clock position?  however, I am not hearing any channel imbalance like the chart shows.  and as a reference, the 'nut at 9 o clock is same loudness as my Fiio X3ii volume at 60 mark.
 
 

 
 
 
next up, Fiio X3ii, volume at 85 mark and laptop mic-in at 100%
 
 

 
 
 
next up, AGPTek M20 (aka Benjie S5), volume at 18 and laptop mic-in at 100%
 
 

 
 
 
finally, Ruizi X02 (aka AGPTek A02), volume at 3/4 of that full circle, laptop mic-in at 100%
 
 

 
 
 
in regards to the Walnut's roll off, unfortunately, I have to say that at comparable volume, and bass quantity and quality aside as I am still not very good at describing sounds yet, my Fiio X3ii has more bass than the 'nut =(
 
edit: some1 please help me with attachments?

 
i am also hearing a very low noise in the background regardless of where the volume pot is, is that the noise floor?  i hope it goes away with burn-in...
 
and FWIW, here is the comparison table from RMAA software for those that can understand it.
 

 

[T.R.A.N.C.E.]

Tried some opamps today: 
 
AD826
AD746
LT1364
TLE2072
TLE2082
 
Most were surprisingly nice. Least favorite was AD746, really neutral, kinda dull and thin. LT1364 sounds like a better version of AD746, keeping the neutral and thin nature but doesn't sound dull.
 
AD826 has attack and texture, bass extends deeper than the others, many AD opamps have deep bass it seems, like AD827 as well. The mids are actually not as recessed as AD827, the sound is forward in nature, maybe lacking nuance but making up with the high energy this opamp puts out. AD827 is more refined in general.
 
I found new favorites for mids, TLE2072 and TLE2082 are actually both very nice, pretty similar, but TLE2072 edges out the mids, and TLE2082 is like TLE2072 but slightly less focus on the mids with more treble and bass extension for more all rounder sound. Nice easy going natural sound, not in your face like the AD826, these TLE opamps will suit any genre (particularly TLE2082).
 
I can recommend AD826 and TLE2072, TLE2082, all very enjoyable.

 

[dennisopk]

  JRC2114DD sounds slightly more tubelike than NE5532, but is also a little less revealing. The mids and treble sounds a bit darker than NE5532, but it has a very thick overall sound and to my ears sounds like a nice warmed up 6N6P, if the NN5532 is something like a nice 12AU7. Of course, this is all not exact, but the closest comparisons I can come up with in my mind. 
 
I would say give it some listen with the stock opamp. If you think it sounds a little digital for your tastes, the JRC is a good one, but it's only available from one seller in China on eBay, and I took mine off a PCI sound card from 2010. So, I don't know if they are not made anymore or something. If you want a smoother sound but don't mind (or want) less bass energy, try an OPA. 
 
Burson opamps are expensive but not all fit - V5i will fit, just barely - sound is amazing  but nothing at all like tubes. From what I have heard yet the JRC is a great tubelike candidate but I need to try more before I make any final statement on the matter...
 
I can not comment on  any LMA or AD, not tried them yet.

Noted, Thanks again.

 

[dennisopk]

Is the opamp JRC2114DD=MJM2114DD they could be found here
 
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/New-original-NJM2114DD-high-performance-dual-operational-amplifier-JRC2114DD-DIP8/1694852433.html?spm=2114.30010308.3.26.uUFE6A&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_4_10065_10068_10000009_10084_10083_10080_10082_10081_10060_10062_10056_503_10055_10054_10059_10099_501_10078_10079_10076_10000012_10103_10073_10102_10000015_10096_10052_10053_10050_10107_10106_10051,searchweb201603_1,afswitch_3_afChannel,single_sort_0_default&btsid=b83f3007-5cb4-4652-8326-81a4a08c8e6a

 

[T.R.A.N.C.E.]

NJM2114D is the actual name of that opamp, you can find it at any major electronic outlet like Mouser, RS online, Digikey. I also tried NJM2068D, again is warm and tubey but lacking detail.

 

[groucho69]

http://www.ebay.fr/itm/272206286850 something like this?

That'll do it

 

[dennisopk]

  Tried some opamps today: 
 
AD826
AD746
LT1364
TLE2072
TLE2082
 
Most were surprisingly nice. Least favorite was AD746, really neutral, kinda dull and thin. LT1364 sounds like a better version of AD746, keeping the neutral and thin nature but doesn't sound dull.
 
AD826 has attack and texture, bass extends deeper than the others, many AD opamps have deep bass it seems, like AD827 as well. The mids are actually not as recessed as AD827, the sound is forward in nature, maybe lacking nuance but making up with the high energy this opamp puts out. AD827 is more refined in general.
 
I found new favorites for mids, TLE2072 and TLE2082 are actually both very nice, pretty similar, but TLE2072 edges out the mids, and TLE2082 is like TLE2072 but slightly less focus on the mids with more treble and bass extension for more all rounder sound. Nice easy going natural sound, not in your face like the AD826, these TLE opamps will suit any genre (particularly TLE2082).
 
I can recommend AD826 and TLE2072, TLE2082, all very enjoyable.

Thanks, noted

 

[dennisopk]

  NJM2114D is the actual name of that opamp, you can find it at any major electronic outlet like Mouser, RS online, Digikey. I also tried NJM2068D, again is warm and tubey but lacking detail.

Thanks, noted

 

[LaughMoreDaily]

  I've waiting for someone to try AD. Sold a s*****load of AD back in the day. Always had great results in audio applications. But I'm still waiting for my Walnut from Mr Tao. Who would have thought that when I place an order with Gearbest a week after the Mr Tao order that the Gearbest order would get to me first?

Gearbest definitely seems on top of the world as for running their company. Shipping is almost immediate. It's amazing!

 

[music4mhell]

  Tried some opamps today: 
 
AD826
AD746
LT1364
TLE2072
TLE2082
 
Most were surprisingly nice. Least favorite was AD746, really neutral, kinda dull and thin. LT1364 sounds like a better version of AD746, keeping the neutral and thin nature but doesn't sound dull.
 
AD826 has attack and texture, bass extends deeper than the others, many AD opamps have deep bass it seems, like AD827 as well. The mids are actually not as recessed as AD827, the sound is forward in nature, maybe lacking nuance but making up with the high energy this opamp puts out. AD827 is more refined in general.
 
I found new favorites for mids, TLE2072 and TLE2082 are actually both very nice, pretty similar, but TLE2072 edges out the mids, and TLE2082 is like TLE2072 but slightly less focus on the mids with more treble and bass extension for more all rounder sound. Nice easy going natural sound, not in your face like the AD826, these TLE opamps will suit any genre (particularly TLE2082).
 
I can recommend AD826 and TLE2072, TLE2082, all very enjoyable.

Could you please share Aliexpress links ?
I am new to Opamp rolling, but i wanna try it, it seems to be fun.