The best sounding audio integrated opamps

[leeperry]

well, I think I'm only gonna go 2*single DIP(1028ACN8/1363CN8) on adapters instead of SOIC8 chips on browndogs...these adapters just stink IMO, at least in a PC case...they catch EMI like you wouldn't believe.

I'll use a bunch of additional DIP8 sockets to rise some of them, if need be.

these adapters look much better: 10pcs Dual SOIC to DIP-8 Convert PCB Adapter SMD OPA627 - eBay

he clearly says that browndogs suck

DIP8 is much better shielded anyway...now I need good quality adapters, the hunt begins!

[peranders]

Have you seen my adapters?

[Andrea:]

Are you saying that the browndogs work like antennas, while those 10 cm (or so) long extensions of the Audio-GD opamps don't?

I have no problems using browndogs, personally. BTW, the DIP8 and SOIC packages are equally unshielded from the outside world.

If interference is such a problem for your application, the LME49720HA should by far outperform anything else... no?

Oh, anyway, do try the LME49720HA soldered on the dedicated browndog. I would swear it wasn't just my imagination when I thought that with the proper TO99 adapter in between (not grossly sticked on a DIP socket) that chip sounds better..

[leeperry]

well I've asked Kingwa, and he said that he's added caps to avoid oscillation and that the op-amp is properly shiedled to ground anyway.

I can't honestly hear any nasty artifacts...but for the hell of it I've ordered twice shorter extensions(5cm instead of 10). I've also enabled Spread Sprectrum on my mobo, so that helps too.

the issue is the poor shielding and general design of the browndogs...read that ebay ad, he's pretty clear that he tried to do things better.

yep, I did try the 49720HA(bent ), and well, what is there to say? it's like a 49720NA with better bass?

as majkel put it: Audio-gd discrete op-amps reviewed: OPA-Earth, OPA-Moon, OPA-Sun v.2 - Head-Fi: Covering Headphones, Earphones and Portable Audio

LM4562 – just a lesser version of the LME49720. Its midrange is on the warm-bright side instead of neutral, overall good and rich presentation, unfortunately too obviously defined hence predictive and limited sometimes.

I've grown tired of that LME sound, it sounds artificial, trebles are whiney..the SS is just dull, the SS on the 1364 is very natural and on the Earth it's full 180 degrees..or maybe a bit more actually, that's what a friend of mine thinks anyway

Originally Posted by peranders

Have you seen my adapters?

got anything like these by any chance? Single-to-dual Op-AMP Adapter - DIP version (p/n 021001)

[Andrea:]

I don't think that the LME49723 and the LME49720HA sound all that artificial. Especially the LME49723. I hope also the LME49725.


The LT1363 is very good but I don't know, sometimes it doesn't have that ultimate definition. The LT1028 has that ultimate definition - but, you know, sometimes it doesn't have that relaxed presentation.

My best hopes are directed towards the OPA1611 and the OPA1612...

[leeperry]

I don't know what your setup is, but chaining op-amps is the best way to mix all their good sides...1364>Earth sounds miles better than the opposite, I wouldn't be that impressed by either of those alone...it's only mixed together that they make up for some totally mind blogging SQ

yeah ok, within 10 days or so I'll try the LT1028ACN8 on adapters...I wonder if it'll give the same holographic vocals as the 1364, I kinda doubt it though.

[Andrea:]

Vocals with the LT1028 can sound both better and worse than they sound with the LT1363, depending on the record. Meaning that the LT1363 tends to make them always pleasant, while the LT1028 tells more truth.


By the way... I have placed my good old AD845KN (on adapter) inside my "cmoy" headphone amp, with 24V power supply, and I love the sound! Sounds better in this application than OPA627BP, LT1363, LT1360...

[Andrea:]

Yes I agree, pairing a couple of different opamps can be the best way to get the most balanced sound both spectrum wise and timbre wise.

"Unfortunately" though my DACs both have only one opamp in the signal path. So I must try hard to find the most 'universal' sounding opamp, as I said before.

[leeperry]

..so you must find something with more swappable op-amps to play with!

2*2 is great, 2 to process the DAC output and 2 to color it even further...so you can make a nice combo, there's no such thing as a "perfect" op-amp IMHO. instead of searching for something that does not exist, get a better DAC that allows for more advanced op-amp fiddling? if it's based on an AK4396, it'll be a win-win as this DAC sounds fantastic(mandatory 128X oversampling at all sampling frequencies, yeah babe!!)

well that's what I like about vocals on the 1364, they sound surreal! if I want flat and boring, I can put more Earth's, but I don't want it natural and flat. I want it exciting, grasping, emotional

[Andrea:]

Who said that the OPA-Earth sounds natural?