My NAD C515BEE is finished.............

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I went for what Brent at Audioupgrades recommends, the 4562's.

It is not a bad opamp, for sure. Although I couldn't bear it in my DAC for a long time, just where I've found the LT1028CS8, OPA132UA, and LME49723, to be the best sounding together with the LME49720HA. And I included OPA211 and OPA827 etc. in my testing.

The LM4562 always remained one step behind (even two steps when referring to the LT1028). It was a bit lean (leaner than the LME49723), a bit rough in the midrange, and a bit lacking treble sparkle (not presence...but sparkle) and overall sonic 'intensity' (the LME49723 sounded more intense, like the LME49720HA).
 
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It is not a bad opamp, for sure. Although I couldn't bear it in my DAC for a long time, just where I've found the LT1028CS8, OPA132UA, and LME49723, to be the best sounding together with the LME49720HA. And I included OPA211 and OPA827 etc. in my testing.

The LM4562 always remained one step behind (even two steps when referring to the LT1028). It was a bit lean (leaner than the LME49723), a bit rough in the midrange, and a bit lacking treble sparkle (not presence...but sparkle) and overall sonic 'intensity' (the LME49723 sounded more intense, like the LME49720HA).

4562 or OPA2604??
 
It is not a bad opamp, for sure. Although I couldn't bear it in my DAC for a long time, just where I've found the LT1028CS8, OPA132UA, and LME49723, to be the best sounding together with the LME49720HA. And I included OPA211 and OPA827 etc. in my testing.

The LM4562 always remained one step behind (even two steps when referring to the LT1028). It was a bit lean (leaner than the LME49723), a bit rough in the midrange, and a bit lacking treble sparkle (not presence...but sparkle) and overall sonic 'intensity' (the LME49723 sounded more intense, like the LME49720HA).

Doesn't it all depend on the rest of your sytem? do you mind me asking what you have?? I wouldn't have thought there would be a huge difference when afterall it's a budget setup and there are other areas which aren't upto scratch.
 
Doesn't it all depend on the rest of your sytem? do you mind me asking what you have?? I wouldn't have thought there would be a huge difference when afterall it's a budget setup and there are other areas which aren't upto scratch.

Mine is also a budget setup and there was a "huge" difference, like I tried to describe. Anyway, it's that CS4398 DAC I mentioned to you before.

Certainly, there's a degree of partiality in my findings as in anyone else's recommandations. What I can tell is that, if you want less brightness but keeping an audiophile quality sound, I think the OPA132UA would be the way to go.
 
Mine is also a budget setup and there was a "huge" difference, like I tried to describe. Anyway, it's that CS4398 DAC I mentioned to you before.

Certainly, there's a degree of partiality in my findings as in anyone else's recommandations. What I can tell is that, if you want less brightness but keeping an audiophile quality sound, I think the OPA132UA would be the way to go.

In the amp?
 
In the amp?

In the amp... you have to consider that you have the LME49720HA in the CD player.

In my amp I have (as I mentioned) a NJM4570 as the preamp, so a musical and not overly analytical opamp.

I believe that LME49720HA (player) + LM4562 (amp) isn't one of the finest combinations in terms of resulting sound quality. I would keep the better LME (the 49720HA), and change the 4562 with something more complementary with the former. But maybe I'm thinking like a nut :spin:
 
In the amp... you have to consider that you have the LME49720HA in the CD player.

In my amp I have (as I mentioned) a NJM4570 as the preamp, so a musical and not overly analytical opamp.

I believe that LME49720HA (player) + LM4562 (amp) isn't one of the finest combinations in terms of resulting sound quality. I would keep the better LME (the 49720HA), and change the 4562 with something more complementary with the former. But maybe I'm thinking like a nut :spin:

I'm new to this so looking for advice on the best available for the least cash. I'm going to try mikesnowdons advice first though, it was ok until the caps.

How about the 2604 instead of the 4562?
 
Well with opamps the best result doesn't come from chaining the same opamp in different stages, even if it's considered very good, simply because no opamp (save perhaps the LT1028?) is transparent. If you chain two opamps that sound the same or almost, like in your case, you come off with twice the coloration.

The OPA2604 could certainly help a bit and pair decently with the LME49720HA you have in the CD player. However, it isn't per se that big of an improvement over the NE5532 (if an improvement at all). And yep, opamp upgrades are tricky stuff...
 
Well with opamps the best result doesn't come from chaining the same opamp in different stages, even if it's considered very good, simply because no opamp (save perhaps the LT1028?) is transparent. If you chain two opamps that sound the same or almost, like in your case, you come off with twice the coloration.

The OPA2604 could certainly help a bit and pair decently with the LME49720HA you have in the CD player. However, it isn't per se that big of an improvement over the NE5532 (if an improvement at all). And yep, opamp upgrades are tricky stuff...

Got you. Do you consider opamps as the most important part of a system?

Do you listen to music for the music or for the tone of the opamps, seems you have changed between quite a few.

Don't take this the wrong way but it seems you are a bit of a 'pusher' of various opamps, Personally I'd go with the majority of folk and choose bursons then leave them be. I couldn't be doing with listening to the opamps rather than the music and changing them to another, then another, then another and maybe trying another etc etc.

I'm not after 'transparency' here, just dynamics
 
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