The Best Sounding DUAL opamps

[paba]

Originally Posted by Andrea:

You had better try the OPA1612, trust me.

so does someone sell this one mounted on a DIP adapter so we can try it?

thanks
/paba

[Andrea:]

Originally Posted by paba

so does someone sell this one mounted on a DIP adapter so we can try it?

thanks
/paba

No as far as I know, sorry! Unfortunately at Browndog they don't seem to have noticed these chips (OPA1611/1612) yet. Why not solder it for yourself...it's easier and less 'risky' than it seems.

[paba]

yeah I checked there and also Auzentech but no luck...
maybe I give it a try myself then...

ok I'll give you one suggestion that is not too common... but don't laugh until you try it because it cost so little and is a few years old.

NJM 2122 ... but careful the supply has to be max +/- 10V and careful on what load you present to it don't go below 1k.
I give you a hint on why it sounds good... single-end output not the usual push pull output stages in 99.99% of op amps... look at the diagram.


cheers
paba

[Mooly]

Originally Posted by paba

yeah I checked there and also Auzentech but no luck...
maybe I give it a try myself then...

ok I'll give you one suggestion that is not too common... but don't laugh until you try it because it cost so little and is a few years old.

NJM 2122 ... but careful the supply has to be max +/- 10V and careful on what load you present to it don't go below 1k.
I give you a hint on why it sounds good... single-end output not the usual push pull output stages in 99.99% of op amps... look at the diagram.


cheers
paba

An interesting device but obviously intended for very specific applications.
It appears to be unsuitable for low gain applications and must not be used as a voltage follower (buffer).

[Andrea:]

Originally Posted by paba

yeah I checked there and also Auzentech but no luck...
maybe I give it a try myself then...

ok I'll give you one suggestion that is not too common... but don't laugh until you try it because it cost so little and is a few years old.

NJM 2122 ... but careful the supply has to be max +/- 10V and careful on what load you present to it don't go below 1k.
I give you a hint on why it sounds good... single-end output not the usual push pull output stages in 99.99% of op amps... look at the diagram.


cheers
paba

This is interesting, I'll have a look at that NJM2122 datasheet if I can find it. The LT1057 (single: LT1056) being another FET opamp with single-ended output stage, that sounds really musical as a consequence.


However, I'll suggest that the LME49723 is a great low voltage (or not so low) opamp. It sounded really excellent at 12V, better than its pricier siblings.

[Mooly]

http://www.datasheetcatalog.org/data...io/ae04034.pdf

[Andrea:]

Originally Posted by Mooly

http://www.datasheetcatalog.org/data...io/ae04034.pdf

Thanks, but had already found it.

Well... 3.6uA of bias current... certainly for very specific applications...


I'd say try the LT1057 (with its FET inputs and no limitations of max supply voltage), or the Intersil CA3140 (MosFET inputs and claimed to be musically good - still have to try it though I have a couple; only good for low output loading applications though).

[paba]

Thanks for mentioning LT1057, I will look into it?

just curious has anyone played with the LM6172? I read in another forum some folks like it , except it is tricky because it is so fast.

/paba

[Andrea:]

LM6172, surely... Cold, thin... I've read that its input stage would be class-B...


LT1057ACN8, give it a try!

[nelsonvandal]

Originally Posted by Andrea:

LM6172, surely... Cold, thin... I've read that its input stage would be class-B.

It's not class B, it's class AB, and it's probably biased to operate in class A under all conditions. LT1357, LT1363 etc also have a class AB input stage. Again, we tend to disagree. I don't find LM6171 cold and thin. I think it's on the warm side but in an artificial yet pleasant way. I like to balance the thin sound of eg LM4562 with it, but it doesn't have the radiance of OPA627 or OPA2132.

LM6172 isn't as cranky as it's rumour, but the bias currents are exceptionally high and has to be dealt with. If normal care is taken with decoupling caps in close proximity to the power pins etc, it's quite unproblematic.