One thing is already clear to me after testing these opamps. The opamps that i find the best in this application won't be Burson V5. I find already OPA2132P and LM4562 better, of which OPA2132P is just more fun and seductive and LM4562 produces better all-around sound. Both produce wider sound stage and better spatial information.
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OPA2132P: (Mouser unit cost for 1 = £7.66)
GBP: 8 MHz
CMRR: 94dB
equiv Input Voltage noise density (1kHz): 8nV SQRT(Hz)
current noise density (1kHz): 3 fA
LM4562: (Mouser unit cost for 1 = £1.83)
GBP: 55 MHz
CMRR: 120dB
equiv Input Voltage noise density (1kHz): 2.7nV SQRT(Hz)
current noise density (1kHz): 1.6 pA
AD797ARZ: (Mouser unit cost for 1 = £6.21)
GBP: 110 MHz
CMRR: 130dB
equiv Input Voltage noise density (1kHz): 0.9nV SQRT(Hz)
current noise density (1kHz): 2.0 pA
Perhaps the OPA2132P is reassuringly expensive despite its poorer specs.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reassuringly_Expensive
And some other light reading:
http://www.nanovolt.ch/resources/ic_opamps/pdf/opamp_distortion.pdf
GBP: 8 MHz
CMRR: 94dB
equiv Input Voltage noise density (1kHz): 8nV SQRT(Hz)
current noise density (1kHz): 3 fA
LM4562: (Mouser unit cost for 1 = £1.83)
GBP: 55 MHz
CMRR: 120dB
equiv Input Voltage noise density (1kHz): 2.7nV SQRT(Hz)
current noise density (1kHz): 1.6 pA
AD797ARZ: (Mouser unit cost for 1 = £6.21)
GBP: 110 MHz
CMRR: 130dB
equiv Input Voltage noise density (1kHz): 0.9nV SQRT(Hz)
current noise density (1kHz): 2.0 pA
Perhaps the OPA2132P is reassuringly expensive despite its poorer specs.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reassuringly_Expensive
And some other light reading:
http://www.nanovolt.ch/resources/ic_opamps/pdf/opamp_distortion.pdf
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Thanks! That second link is interesting. However, i find opamp rolling quite inexpensive compared to amp rolling 😀. I really don't care if it is a blob of snot that makes the amp sound better to me.
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Have you heard the Burson V5 yet or are you assuming that won't like it so much.
BTW where did you get the LM4562 from. I assume you are using it in the Nord uprated buffer.
I have used the Burson V5 for a month by now. Not much room for assumptions when it comes to opamps, it seems. Gotta hear it in the application to have an opinion about it. I ordered the LM4562 from Partco Oy. Yes i am using the Nord buffer board.
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Here is my notes on LM4562 and Burson V5.
Burson V5
Overall it is quite good, but i am not sure if it is the best fit for the nCore input buffer. There seems to be a lot of upper bass but something is missing in the low freqs. The mids are very detailed and powerful tho. Especially drums are great. They seem to have extra punch. Highs are ok too. But i think the sound stage is lacking spatial information is it not especially wide and its kinda "messy" overall. Maybe this is because all the little details sounds as separate components but they dont integrate so well into one working art piece. This opamp is missing the fun in this application compared to some less expensive options.
LM4562
Well balanced sound. But, after listening to all these options it is maybe little dull. While listening to this opamp i constantly want to change the opamp, even tho there seems to be no apparent reason 😉. However, if i had to demo for instance the capabilities of my speaker, this opamp would would be a very good candidate, since there seems to be no apparent downsides either that needed to explain to my guest ("its not the speaker that have this kind of sound, but the opamp in the amp's input buffer"). It produces quite wide sound stage, good spatial information. Jack of all trades, but master of none.
and OPA2132 notes too:
OPA2132P
Magical mids and highs with wide sound stage! The sound stage is so wide i had to tune toe-in of my speakers, to get better center focusing. This one also has mid freqs that i want to listen to hours and hours more. However, there seems to be a bit lack of attack in the rhythmic side. Mellow music with singing sounds fantastic, but drum heavy jazz can sound little laid back. Definitely worth a try, just because of the beautiful mids and highs. Mids that can make a man cry 😉.
Hardware: Nord One Up, MSB Analog Dac, Marten Bird 2, PC.
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Tbh, i don't care if the snot is mine or the next random person's, pope's, God's, Obama's or Bruno's as long as it makes the amp better 🙂.
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Fortunately, i already know the amp can be pushed more to my personal taste. Snot is not the most likely option anymore. So called "better options" are still on the way, so more fun is to be had later 😀.
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You will note that 3lviz seemed to think that the LM4562 was a good choice for all round performance in his system thats why I think you should try it first then try others like Burson V5.
In my system I prefer the Burson over the LM4562 but it will vary from system to system. I am changing my DAC later this year and it may be that I will no longer prefer the Burson but I wont know until then.
Maybe this tweak with Bursons v5 can be useful (and with op-amps too).
Head-Fi The Opamp thread - Page 338 by pelopidas
Head-Fi The Opamp thread - Page 338 by pelopidas
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Thanks for sharing.
So, say a 3-way active system, the OPA2132P would be a great choice in your opinion as op-amp for the midrange-amp-input-buffer and likewise for the IB/amp for high frequency area, isn't it. Because we all want to cry 😀
Combined with ANOTHER op-amp for the bass/sub-bass amps.
How about that? 🙄
You can take the information and use it as you please. However i am not saying to mix different opamps. I am not claiming anything. OPA2132P is very good opamp, i think that is the one i am going to use if nothing better is discovered.
I wanted to know if anyone is actually trying out some different opamps. Seems that many are not that adventurous :/.
I wanted to know if anyone is actually trying out some different opamps. Seems that many are not that adventurous :/.
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At this moment I am not able to do such thing, but in time I might play this game at little costs. Hence my interest in opions now.
My remark about your favorite OPA2132P for MF/HF combined another one of different taste for LF can be seen as if you are using a 300B bulb on MF/HF and class-A for LF, trying to use best of both worlds (if you like such thing).
Boggit, out of interest where do you source your chassis feet? If you don't mind sharing. I purchased a bunch from here but they weren't cheap so I would welcome ideas as to alternatives.
P?ístrojové no?i?ky
Yours look similar albeit perhaps highly polished rather than a satin finish?
P?ístrojové no?i?ky
Yours look similar albeit perhaps highly polished rather than a satin finish?
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Having read through this entire thread, I'll add my two pennies in that I started a similar project over a year ago with the UcD range - building multichannel power amps used mainly for high-end home cinema. I might have posted a few photos in the "show us your amps" thread.
Anyway, I've also embarked on a similar journey to Colin in making my own monoblocks. Using the SMPS1200, NC500OEM and building my own input buffers.
I've designed a case that's not dissimilar to what Colin has done, except that I've added a power control module to allow remote powering and a soft-start microswitch button rather than a clunky mechanical mains-rated button.
However, it's not for me to tread on Colin's efforts and his thread (he did post in mine on AVforums, so this is my tongue in cheek riposte 🙂 ). What I will say is I think it's great Hypex are opening up the world for people to integrate their awesome NCore technology in whichever way an integrator sees fit. So for what it's worth, I'll give Colin my thumbs up too 🙂
Anyway, I've also embarked on a similar journey to Colin in making my own monoblocks. Using the SMPS1200, NC500OEM and building my own input buffers.
I've designed a case that's not dissimilar to what Colin has done, except that I've added a power control module to allow remote powering and a soft-start microswitch button rather than a clunky mechanical mains-rated button.
However, it's not for me to tread on Colin's efforts and his thread (he did post in mine on AVforums, so this is my tongue in cheek riposte 🙂 ). What I will say is I think it's great Hypex are opening up the world for people to integrate their awesome NCore technology in whichever way an integrator sees fit. So for what it's worth, I'll give Colin my thumbs up too 🙂
I probably will, Mike. My NC500 monoblock cases are being manufactured by a Broadcast precision sheet metal fabricators company as we speak. But it's not for me to post in Colin's thread, so I might start my own at some point 🙂