The Best Sounding DUAL opamps

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mudihan

Member
Joined 2004
What are the best sounding dual opamps (plural due to subjectivity)? Preferably in DIP-8 package.

I have always enjoyed OPA627/37. However, due to space constraint, I can not use them in my headphone amp (the browndog couldn't fit). Currently, I have AD826, OPA2604, and LT1364, all of which are excellent but not in the same league as OPA627. Any suggestions? (and where I can get them, if they are hard to find in the US). Thanks!
 
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mudihan

Member
Joined 2004
pwan said:
Different opamp sound different, but doesn't mean it sounds better (well, that's quite subjective)

To me I prefer OPA2132 than OPA627.
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raromachine said:
http://www.tangentsoft.net/audio/opamps.html

Might be helpful - has package and min. rail-to-rail voltages :)
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Thanks for the link. I had read it many times before posting this threat. Tangent didn't mention AD826 and LT1364, which are my best choices.

Yes, it's a very subjective question, so what I am looking is the highest class of sound -- In my opinion, also as said by Tangent, the openness and the cleaness of OPA627/37 put them into a higher league that OPA2604 and LT1364, both of which are very musical, do not belong. The only one that comes close is AD843 (again I agree with Tangent), but it is a single-channel one. I have yet to try OPA2132.
 
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SoNic_real_one

Member
Joined 2008
LM4562 is better than OPA2132. To drive headphones you might want to look at buffering the output with someting like BUF634.
 

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Andrea:

Banned
Joined 2009
Currently my favorite duals are the LME49723MA and the LME49720HA.

I also like the OPA2132P as a third favorite.


Generally, I don't like the LM4562 nor the LME49720NA (nor the LME49860) as much as all the above.

I might have to add to my list of favorites the OPA1612 and the LME49725 soon (i.e. as soon as I try these too).
 
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Andrea:

Banned
Joined 2009
Regarding the Linear Technology duals, I believe the LT1358 and the LT1469 could be considered the best overall, with the possible addition of the LT1124 that I have yet to try.

The LT1358 can sound excellent, more enjoyable and with a better transient response than the LM4562, give it a try...
 
nelsonvandal

nelsonvandal

Member
Joined 2006
I prefer AD8599 to LME49720. I has a more appealing sound. It's not on par with eg OPA827, but I think it's a damned good opamp. I'm sorry I haven't heard any LT chips, but quite a lot of the AD, and some of theTI and National chips, and amongst them I think it's the best dual opamp.
 
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Andrea:

Banned
Joined 2009
nelsonvandal said:
I prefer AD8599 to LME49720. I has a more appealing sound. It's not on par with eg OPA827, but I think it's a damned good opamp. I'm sorry I haven't heard any LT chips, but quite a lot of the AD, and some of theTI and National chips, and amongst them I think it's the best dual opamp.
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Have you tried the LME49723 and the LME49720HA ? I think the LME49720HA in particular sounds superior to the OPA827.

The LME49720NA is indeed not too appealing... that's why I prefer the two above.


Edit: It's a bit contradictory to me that you should find the LME49720NA not appealing enough when you seem to like the OPA827 that much. I find that the latter has an even duller tonal character.
 
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Andrea:

Banned
Joined 2009
The OPA2228 is pretty good; but the OPA2227P too isn't nearly as bad as certain people claim.

The AD8620 and (even worse) AD8066 don't sound natural to my ears. The same for the AD746 (without external biasing), but here it's just because it's quite cold sounding. The OPA2111 is OK, but nothing extraordinary. The OPA2211 has tonal issues (tonally it's limited, plainly; like the OPA827) just like the single version; my hope is that the OPA1611/1612 would have fixed this (I won't know until I try).


At present most universally good sounding dual opamps are those I mentioned from National... LME49723, LME49720HA, probably LME49725 when I try it too.
 
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