The best sounding audio integrated opamps

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#1,541
u116540 said:
John,

My reason for using the 827 at that location was the fact that it is a FET input and has a much higher input impedance than the 1611 which is a bipolar input type. The 827 is at the input stage before the volume pot and is in a voltage follower config. thus ideally you want the highest input impedance possible. My hobby is building main amplifiers. This is my first time playing around with a preamp. I have been reading through a lot of Andrea's post as I think people that experiment with headphone amps would have some very valuable input. I originally placeed dual 627's in place of the 2604 and although this was an improvement, it didn't impact the sound nearly as much as this last change.
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Ah then if it's before the volume pot, given how high also the OPA1611 input impedance is (practically speaking), you can comfortably use it there too...

Just to see if you maybe prefer the sound 🙂 although I'd try the AD845KN too, due to its musicality and naturalness, keeping a high resolution.
 
#1,544
When I originally set up my current system, I was pretty happy with the OPA2604. The preamp it was in preamp was the weakest part of the system replacing a High end preamp processor.(I never got into surround sound.) Mixed with a Quality amp and Magnepan speakers, I thought the 2604 took away a little of the edginess that sometimes accompanies an unattenuated Magnepan. Yet after a little experimentation I would have to say that I am quit pleased with the newer designs.
 
#1,549
Hi Christian,

How funny you should mention the 1632. I printed out the datasheet at just about the same time as you were writing your post. It looks very impressive, and useful too. I came to it as a recommendation on the TI website, having been looking at their new Class D power amps 300 and 600W.
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I noticed that the 1632 is used by TwistedPear in several designs, including an GainClone like Amp. Maybe interesting to look at their Designs?
 
#1,550
For instance, the AD845KN is very nice, but even inside a CMOY driving a Sennheiser HD238 headphone, the better refinement, resolution, control, of the OPA1611 could be easily appreciated.


I suggested the AD845 above because it sounds good and numerically it'd go well with the OPA1611, as I don't believe that using the same opamp in multiple stages is a good idea (and numbers fully agree).
 
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#1,552
hey Andrea, I'm really hot for the NG27 😀

HA INFO - HA INFO NG27 - Amplificateur casque USB - Ipod - DAC PCM2702

do you think I can replace the op-amps by AD797B/1028A? BUF634 is used to drive the headphones apparently? it's meant to be used as a 4580 to flood the headphones w/ current apparently?

some reviews: http://forum.lowyat.net/topic/1212815

and a friend of mine sold his STX after receiving it, it does ASIO/KS

from the reviews above, I won't be able to swap the BUF634...but I could ditch the dual opamp for 2*1028/797
 
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#1,553
You can't swap the BUF634 for another buffer easily...but you can always (if you like) "stack" two of them.


I like it except that I don't expect all that much for the BB PCM2702. Maybe it's better than I think. But I'd still prefer to go with the upper model with CS4398 or AD1852 DAC chips (and coaxial/optical inputs too) 🙂


Anyway... if you're inspired... and the PCM2702 will pair well with the OPA1611 (though the BUF634 less so). 🙂
 
#1,555
leeperry said:
yeah ok, we'll see...coz I really need 24/192 anyhow...16/48 is a deal breaker
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Ah well, the USB input implemented with either the PCM2702 or the PCM2704-5-6-7 is limited to 16 Bit 48 KHz anyway.

You need to get a Super Pro 707, which is equpped with the C-Media CM108, to get a higher sample rate USB input, still for cheap 🙂 diykits

Or for exclusive computer use, even better would be that Musiland USB thingy, which has a discrete buffered headphone amp, too...
 
#1,557
#1,559
Anyway, I think I've found my next speakers! The Italian made "Indiana Line Tesi 260" (the "Musa 105" being a little too expensive). It's so new it's not even in shops yet. I heard the smaller, and less recent "Tesi 204" recently and it performed very well too (better balanced than that twice as expensive B&W DM686), though I prefer how this new model looks, and that it's bigger 🙂

untitl13.jpg
 
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