The best sounding audio integrated opamps

[Andrea:]

Originally Posted by qusp

ok, not actually the same chip, but look at datasheets, its basically a lower power and cheaper version, I find them identical sounding. there is talk of it simply being the cheaper 'soundplus' version. both are pretty fast and require some sort of bypassing of the power pins to sound their best in most circuits IMO. the OPA827 is 'too good' in some circuits and can sound a bit uninvolving, I found that using a more musical chip (OPA627) in ground on my 4 channel amp this one is amazing

The OPA1611 is cheaper because it has more relaxed DC specifications, but it's improved in AC performance, and that must be why they label it "SoundPlus"

Identical sounding, not at all. As if (BTW) they didn't each sound like its numbers..

The OPA827 is "too good" to you maybe. For me, the LT1028ACN8 has superior sound quality (with similar sonic colors).

Finally, for my ears, the OPA627 (BP) is one of the least musical FET opamps around (excluding that nasty AD8066). I prefer BB's (much more musical) OPA132UA, and quite predictably their new OPA1641/1642 too

[Andrea:]

Originally Posted by danielwritesbac

Analytic, boring flat soundfield, and slightly raspy treble? The feedback resistor figure is at least twice too much. Lowering all resistor figures (proportionately, of course) can stop that noise. Of course that also increases the load on the source device.

Feedback resistance was low enough, slightly above 5K as far as I can remember. It was driving (in another headphone amp) some LMH6654 opamps used as output current buffers.

Not all that analytical, anyway... just rough in the mids, and colorless. The AD8620 (not the most natural or musical) was better (smoother and more colorful) in the same circuit.

Your information is really really good. To me, it means that these opamps. . . need a preamp. So, I don't need to buy either of those for preamp use.

Don't know if I completely understand, but... you're welcome

[Andrea:]

I had a Monster Cable M350i which I had surgically deprived of its shielding foil a few years ago...

Well I just revived it as I was curious. Inside it has two tightly-twisted solid copper conductors, composed of two solid copper wires each. It seems to have some nice kind of (transparent) dieletric material too.


Why had I removed the shielding? I don't remember OK I do...because I thought the shielding foil was damaged, which I'm not sure was the case.


Anyhow...removing the screen must've lowered the cable capacitance, and since the Super Pro DAC has near 0 ohm output impedance, the unshielded-but-twisted geometry could've worked well.


And it does. I'll have to listen a bit better (at higher volume) to hear what's changed from the Audioquest King Cobra. But I can already appreciate that this "customised" Monster M350i sounds really interesting

[Andrea:]

It seems like this cable (whose sound quality - before the surgery - I'd forgotten by now) sounds warm and full as appropriate, but quick in the bass and detailed in the treble too...much like the Audioquest. Maybe it's got a slightly warmer midrange.

[leeperry]

ok I've just soldered some 827/1611, gonna try them in a bit!

[Andrea:]

OK



Anyhow the Monster is definitely warmer than the probably more transparent and surely more open sounding Audioquest, but it's not such a big difference. It sounds what I'd call slightly euphonic

[leeperry]

I like Monster, they always give OK or good SQ...maybe you can get "better" for more money, but you can also easily get "much worse"...still for more money

damn the 797B>1028A sounds so amazing, I really don't think the 1611/827 will be able to replace 1028A

[Andrea:]

I agree that they're decent cables. The M series was their better series, when I bought it, although my M350i is the low end of that series, IIRC.

I like it...at least it doesn't sound worse (customised I mean) than the VDH I have.

[Andrea:]

Guess what...my liking of the "custom" Monster M350i is increasing. Changing CD has revealed that what seemed less openness with Leonard Cohen's The Future, is actually a silkier treble presentation, which doesn't lack extension nor subtlety at all...pretty fascinating. Makes me want to listen more

So it looks like the Audioquest, while certainly a quality interconnect, isn't the end of the road


I should break out my VALab 6N stranded silver interconnect... which however has real chunky plugs...not sure the Super Pro would appreciate.

[Andrea:]

Originally Posted by leeperry

ok I've just soldered some 827/1611, gonna try them in a bit!

So?