The best sounding audio integrated opamps

[Andrea:]

Do I change my mind every day? Please don't confuse the search (linear thinking is abstraction - man has a contradictory nature) with the finding...

I have come to the same conclusions with two different DAC's and at different times. The LT1028 is a keeper for me.


BTW, lately I read in a popular audio magazine's news section of a high-end, expensive UK-made DAC that uses the LT1028 for its analog stages..

[Andrea:]

Besides, I believe that always sticking to one's judgments is alone a solid proof of stupidity.

Speaking of opamps... well every (properly working) opamp has something to like! And since every plus is different, and every minus is too, then it's impossible to establish a truly reliable hierarchy of sound quality! And this even forgetting of the sonical and electrical synergy with the rest of the device!

So it ends up being a matter of mood or state of mind, or compatibility with certain music, what you prefer or not... I mean it's all continuosly changing... and you are changing yourself...

Life is like that... Changing your mind is staying true to life. Never (or almost) changing your mind is sign of intellectual rigidity i.e. a form of stupidity.



Sorry for the rant

[Andrea:]

What nelsonvandal doesn't seem to grasp is that, overcompensated or undercompensated, every opamp has a definite and invariable sonic character with respect to sonic timbre (color). Since I look for musicality, I very much (though certainly not exclusively) judge by this parameter.

When the primary condition is satisfied, I start considering if it sounds too round or too spiky...

[leeperry]

hey Andrea, would that work? Linear Technology - LT1227 - 140MHz Video Current Feedback Amplifier

it's even beefier than a 1364 apparently...but current feedback is no good, right?

[leeperry]

ah well, when I was comparing OPA-Sun V2 and LT1364...Sun was missing the holographic stereo stage(too dual mono to my taste, very poor stereo coherence) but the sound was just a lot cleaner and clearer....now I kinda find the 1364 "dirty", all it has for itself is the stereo stage...but trebles are distorted

I'll roll the 1361 for the hell of it

[Andrea:]

Originally Posted by leeperry

hey Andrea, would that work? Linear Technology - LT1227 - 140MHz Video Current Feedback Amplifier

it's even beefier than a 1364 apparently...but current feedback is no good, right?

Yup, current feedback does (for once) need a dedicated circuit. That opamp wouldn't work properly in circuits made for the voltage feedback opamps.

I still think that the LT1632 would be worth trying. Distortion wise it's an improvement over the LT1364.

[leeperry]

good point, I asked for that one ages ago..but they never sent it to me :/

humm 2nd/3rd order THD is lower on the 1361 than on the 1364, time for a roll!

and I want some *******' AD797BN...maybe I've found a seller

[leeperry]

humm, maybe I'll try LT1213 again...I kinda liked this one

[Andrea:]

Originally Posted by leeperry

humm, maybe I'll try LT1213 again...I kinda liked this one

Another one worth trying and comparing to the LT1364. I'm curious, though not as much as I am about the LT1632.

At any rate, the LT1028 remains the best LT opamp.


There's also the LT1122, FET opamp with a similar sound to the LT1028, a little less transparent, but quite 'grainless' for a FET opamp. It has what many would call tubey mids. I like it as much as the OPA132UA, even though they have different tonal characters.

[Andrea:]

Regarding the now-popular-on-head-fi OPA827, I tried to enjoy it but it was a bit too aseptic for my taste. I would insist that the LT1028 is a better opamp for audio