| Originally Posted by Funky-kun /img/forum/go_quote.gif Talking about opamps, I think I've ended my quest for the perfect ones. Here are my impressions. All testing done through HP out with HD650s. JRC2114 (default) : I actually think the default opamp for the card is a really good choice. Had it not been for the bassy and dark signature of my cans, I would have kept these. They actually sound the best with my HD595s. Bass is very deep, with perfect extension, just a bit too much in quality for the HD650s. The highs tend to be a bit rolled off, and the soundstage is pretty wide, but not deep and high. I imagine these would sound fantastic with headphones like K701/2 or DT880, but is too heavy for my current cans. LT1364 : I didn't like these very much. Bass seems neutral, but lacks punch. Mid and highs are well balanced, but soundstage isn't that much better than 2114. Detail is improved. Sounds too weightless. OPA2134 : Disappointment. As Alienns stated, the default opamps are just better. These have more bass, but the quality is degraded in comparison. With these opamps the bass on 650s sounded like the one on my HD212. (read: boomy) Highs are also rolled off. The soundstage isn't impressive, but opens a bit after burn-in. Sounded "dense", in the sense that all the sounds are too close to you and without good positioning. LME49720 : All I can say is these babies ROCK. Bass lacks just a little bit of extension, but is very natural sounding and punchy. Highs are brighter than average, but that cancels out with the dark signature of my headphones well, resulting in an overall neutral tonality. Soundstage is absolutely awesome. You can easily position instruments in direction and distance. Has the depth other opamps are missing. All details are clearly present, but the sound is a bit distant due to the soundstaging. My current and final choice. LM6172 : These are very close in sound to the LME49720. Biggest difference is that they aren't so distant sounding. That means less soundstage and a bit better bass. I didn't find the trade off worthwhile. Still a very valid choice. I hope all of you find the perfect opamp match for your headphones. I have done it. 
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| Originally Posted by chinesekiwi /img/forum/go_quote.gif Sorry to quote this again but mmm..looking at these comparsions, looks like the DT880 might fit well with the LM6172. That said, I might get 2 LME49720's and 3 LM6172 to do a nice comparison. Anyone done a 2 LME 49720 + 1 LM6172 buffer or 3 x LM6172 comparison? |
| Originally Posted by kuben /img/forum/go_quote.gif I have this card for one day and i cannot hear BIG difference between stx and my onboard card i use latest asus drivers foobar+hdj-2000 win xp, many flac's,320's so whats wrong? I need to burn-in? Change headphones? Enable ASIO? Clear my ears? Go to hell? |
