The best sounding audio integrated opamps

[Mooly]

Originally Posted by Andrea:

I seem to have a particularly acute perception of sonic colors (timbres). Of course I don't know the "color" the recorded music originally had (before passing through microphones etc. etc.); and if I based my fine tunings on a single record I would surely and hopelessly be deceived. The trick is to find the opamp that plays all the records the most emotionally... when this happens (or comes close), I know I'm on the right track. Music should move you, no? Well, this is all that I look for. The difficult part is getting all the different styles of music (and recordings) to be done an equal justice... and the genius lies in achieving this


P.S. When I say "fine tunings" I mean not only opamps, but cables (interconnects, digital too, and speaker cable), even speaker supports (e.g. wood sounds different than metal spikes) ...

Exactly

Whether through accident or design... I like to think design... is what my amp achieves. It all comes together as a whole... I have heard nothing to better it, every last nuance and emotion is revealed. Every aspect of the design, the distortion each stage produces all comes together to create a sonic delight.

FET input switching... must add it's own distortion characteristic to the result.

The use of correctly implemented OPA2604's in virtual earth configuration, which consistently seems to sound better to me.

The single ended input stage lateral FET power amp run at a "lean" class AB bias.

Result... the best sonics for "musicallity" I have heard.
If I had heard something I liked better I would want it, crave it, desire it... I haven't

Circuit details here in the first few posts,
My MOSFET amplifier designed for music.

[ratza]

Originally Posted by danielwritesbac

Whether discrete or chip, an op amp works like: "Input + Power = Output," so, do you have the best power?

It works this way for any design: discrete, chip or tube.

[Andrea:]

Originally Posted by Mooly

Exactly

Whether through accident or design... I like to think design... is what my amp achieves. It all comes together as a whole... I have heard nothing to better it, every last nuance and emotion is revealed. Every aspect of the design, the distortion each stage produces all comes together to create a sonic delight.

FET input switching... must add it's own distortion characteristic to the result.

The use of correctly implemented OPA2604's in virtual earth configuration, which consistently seems to sound better to me.

The single ended input stage lateral FET power amp run at a "lean" class AB bias.

Result... the best sonics for "musicallity" I have heard.
If I had heard something I liked better I would want it, crave it, desire it... I haven't

Circuit details here in the first few posts,
My MOSFET amplifier designed for music.

So, as the final step... why not try to replace the OPA2604 with 'modules' with two LT1028ACN8 on them? Of course you'd have to pay attention to the (moderate) input bias current of the LT1028.

[Andrea:]

Originally Posted by danielwritesbac

That sounds just like a description of: "repair at the wrong spot."

No no, because each opamp has a piece of sonice perfection...the problem is just to put all the pieces together.


I will try LME49725 (dual) and OPA1611 (single), and see if I like them even better than the LT1028

[Mooly]

Originally Posted by Andrea:

So, as the final step... why not try to replace the OPA2604 with 'modules' with two LT1028ACN8 on them? Of course you'd have to pay attention to the (moderate) input bias current of the LT1028.

I am more than happy with it all as it stands... and thoroughly enjoy the musical experience it provides.

[Andrea:]

Originally Posted by Mooly

I am more than happy with it all as it stands... and thoroughly enjoy the musical experience it provides.

I perfectly understand. I had a headphone amp which had two OPA2134UA in the signal path and sounded quite good... I replaced them with "more advanced" stuff, trying combinations of different opamps, but I couldn't stop and finally the amp went to the trash bin



Regarding the formerly mentioned unreliability of acoustic memory... well that's precisely the reason why it's crucial to become addicted to the sound of a certain part (here: opamp) before replacing it to try something else. When I used to switch opamps like I was in a state of frenzy... I kept knowing nothing, so patience is key.

[Mooly]

Post number 50

My reference
Why does Class A distortion increase with frequency?

[Andrea:]

Post 51:

I'm going to order adapters for dual opamps, so that I can try both the LME49725 and the (dual) OPA1612. Unlike what someone says, I don't find the good dual opamps compromising of sound quality vs. the good singles.

[Andrea:]

Well, meanwhile the LT1363 asks for my attention... as with Hollywood Town Hall of the Jayhawks it sounds even nicer (slightly fuller + more presence) than the LME49710 of my other DAC. It's a very good opamp for sure.

[Andrea:]

Finally I ordered half adapters for duals and half for singles.

So I will try OPA1611, LME49725, maybe the LME49722 again, maybe the THS4051, ...