The best sounding audio integrated opamps

[Andrea:]

Returning to the headphone amp... well I got further proof that the Rubycon ZL/ZLH sound great (burnt in). They (together with the excellent LME49721) have added tonal richness, and naturalness to my "C&C BOX V2".

[rha61]

the LME49720HA is now at my DAC output stage
it's for me the first integrated op amp that sound right , very neutral and transparent
you put it and you forget it

[Andrea:]

Originally Posted by rha61

the LME49720HA is now at my DAC output stage
it's for me the first integrated op amp that sound right , very neutral and transparent
you put it and you forget it

Yup, it's like that. The same thing for the OPA1611/1612 - you can forget it and completely enjoy music.


I think I'll put the LME49720HA inside my Pioneer..

[Andrea:]

Please take a look at what the golden ears of head-fi.org are saying right now:

The sound of OPA627 is very good compared to whatever, but it's not neutral. It sounds soft and warm and adds some kind of "life". Since many other opamps sounds thin, harsh or cold, OPA627 is perfect to use in the ground channel to balance the slightly thin and lifeless sound of other almost perfect opamps like OPA827, AD797 LME49720 or LT1028. I really love the combination of OPA827 and OPA627. It's hard to imagine anything better than this, but on the other hand there's nothing in life that's perfect.

Haha, I would've said completely the opposite! Almost:

OPA627 sterile and relatively artificial, OPA827 almost as sterile and a bit thin, LT1028 clearly has more life and magic despite being maybe a tad lean sounding, AD797 definitely more lifelike than the sterile OPA627 and almost sterile OPA827... and so on


And the most funny part is that the guy hasn't yet understood that the OPA1611 is the real deal in the latest generation of audio opamps; the OPA211 also being better than OPA827, OPA627..


...just a bit of evil mockery.

[Mooly]

Your suggestions are noted

[Andrea:]

Maybe in the Pioneer I cold put a pair of LT1028. Otherwise, I have got Browndogs with the OPA132UA, LME49720HA, LME49723, OPA827...enough to start playing.

[Andrea:]

One speaker I'm interested in is the Celestion F15. I owned the F10 and it was very musical. From reviews, the F15 seems to be better and that makes it interesting...

...also by virtue of the titanium dome tweeter (I've always preferred metallic tweeters, though the silk/polymer tweeters of my Monitor 30's are surprisingly good).

[nelsonvandal]

Andrea, since you're a notorious ground channel hater, I can't understand how you can have an oppionion on synergism between ground and L/R channels.

I always judge an (op)amp on how it colors the sound when added to a system and try to be objective.

I can't understand your negative view on OPA627 while liking eg OPA132. I think you're rather alone on this.

[Andrea:]

Originally Posted by nelsonvandal

Andrea, since you're a notorious ground channel hater, I can't understand how you can have an oppionion on synergism between ground and L/R channels.

I always judge an (op)amp on how it colors the sound when added to a system and try to be objective.

I can't understand your negative view on OPA627 while liking eg OPA132. I think you're rather alone on this.

Why ground channel? I think the head-fi guy was putting them in the proper audio channels, no? Sorry if I misunderstood?

Anyway... it's always a bit of an exaggeration when it comes to words... I don't have an entirely negative view on the OPA627. It has its qualities. On the other hand, I prefer the OPA132UA even inside a 24V-powered CMOY.

The OPA2132 (P version) is pleasant, nothing too special. I'd really prefer to use 2 OPA132UA since they sound more open and transparent..

And I recently got the OPA132U to try as well, when I have a chance

[nelsonvandal]

To mock a mocker:

I've reported about issues using LT1028 where it oscillated when "dropped" in one of my amps. That was when using a single to dual SOIC to DIP adapter.

This time I tried LT1028 DIP version "dropped" in another amp completely stable with a nice square wave when using OPA827. This is how LT1028 looks with and without proper compensating caps. Andrea, guess which channel that's not properly compensated

So, LT1028 is NOT a drag-and-drop opamp. It has to be properly compensated.

How does it sound? Not neutral. No doubt it's brighter than neutral and slightly sibilant. Details and soundstage are good. More fun and alive than LM4562 but the latter is more neutral. Not as good as OPA827 or AD797. This is with no burn-in time, but I don't really believe in burning in parts other than for a few minutes.