This double AK4497 DAC is too expensive...
If you are looking for a great DAC / Preamp. Take a look at my review of this AIYIMA, once more a nice bargain for the price !
Full Nichicon caps 4 AOP inside, remote control etc it really shines !
[REVIEW] AIYIMA Tube Pream MC33078 / T5. Pictures inside
I know, I made a mistake while writing...
I am actually using a 35V / 220W PSU. It works great.
Hi amigos,
I just finished my test with the AIYIMA TPA3251 + AOP Burson V5i versus AOP 1622
SoundStage > Winner : Burson V5i, a bit more detailed, best instruments separation but the difference is not so incredible either.
Treble / Bass / Medium > Winner Burson V5i, the perception of bass is more tense and more obvious with the Burson V5i, especially at higher volume. Trebles are softer with the Burson but AOP 1622 still has good performance. Mediums also perform better on Burson V5i.
If we consider the price difference $25 vs $75 for the Burson V5i. I would say that the good forward is not so considerable. As a reminder : $75 is more than the price of the Amplifier itself...It almost doesn't make sense ... but it's a reality)
Do you need to upgrade ? If you already have a pair of OPA 1622, keep it.
I just finished my test with the AIYIMA TPA3251 + AOP Burson V5i versus AOP 1622
SoundStage > Winner : Burson V5i, a bit more detailed, best instruments separation but the difference is not so incredible either.
Treble / Bass / Medium > Winner Burson V5i, the perception of bass is more tense and more obvious with the Burson V5i, especially at higher volume. Trebles are softer with the Burson but AOP 1622 still has good performance. Mediums also perform better on Burson V5i.
If we consider the price difference $25 vs $75 for the Burson V5i. I would say that the good forward is not so considerable. As a reminder : $75 is more than the price of the Amplifier itself...It almost doesn't make sense ... but it's a reality)
Do you need to upgrade ? If you already have a pair of OPA 1622, keep it.
daniboun,
I received my OPA1622 op amps on DIP8 adapters today and installed them in the Aiyima TPA3251 2.0 amp after listening to some reference tracks with the stock NE5532 op amps in place.
Wow! The OPA1622 op amps really made a significant improvement. The music now has greater presence and the soundstage is noticeably deeper with better defined imaging and space between musicians. I have to admit I was a bit skeptical about the op amps, but I can now hear it with my own ears. Thanks for the recommendation.
I received my OPA1622 op amps on DIP8 adapters today and installed them in the Aiyima TPA3251 2.0 amp after listening to some reference tracks with the stock NE5532 op amps in place.
Wow! The OPA1622 op amps really made a significant improvement. The music now has greater presence and the soundstage is noticeably deeper with better defined imaging and space between musicians. I have to admit I was a bit skeptical about the op amps, but I can now hear it with my own ears. Thanks for the recommendation.
My pleasure 👍 changing preamps it is the best way to improve your amplifier at fair cost.
You will notice a bigger difference if you burn it some hours
I don't understand all the hype about the Aiyima TPA3251 other than the very affordable price for what you get.
I received one of these about a week ago.
The first thing I did was rip out all the 10uF coupling caps, around the op-amp sockets, and replace them with Silmic II caps.
Next I tried about every dual op-amp known to man inside the Aiyima, including the OPA1622 that you claim to sound so good above, and finally went with some older Linear Technology DIP offerings. The AD827 was a close second in terms of sound quality.
Even with these changes, it still does not "sound" as good as a properly implemented TPA3116 design, power ratings aside.
Perhaps slightly better bass with the '3251(probably because of it's higher power output) and that's the only positive I could come away with.
FWIW...I also have the infamous "3E" TPA3251 board that so many on another thread here claimed to sound so great.
After adding a volume pot in front of its SE inputs, I honestly think it sounds worse than the Aiyima. You have to turn the volume up significantly higher with this board with its 21dB or so of gain.
Bottom line...I personally think the TPA3251 just plain sucks and isn't for me.
Hope everyone else's experience here with this line of T.I. ICs is more positive than mine.
For now, I certainly will NOT be replacing any of my commercial amplifiers containing Hypex modules for any amplifier/PCB using these inferior-sounding T.I. TPA325x chips.
Last edited:
See, DIYS is not for anyone and this is absolutely OK. Most of us are poor, ear less looser that can not afford some commercial hyped amp.
I am sorry for your bad experience with TPA32XX chips... I do not share your experience since I get very great results with these chips.
I also own a Tripath and high Class AB amplifiers... I keep on saying that TPA32XX amplifiers are huge competitors and perform so well )
“Different strokes for different folks” applies to audio. I’ve been at audio meetings where I thought the sound was horrendous and others thought it was superb. I gravitate to a warmer tone with midrange density and I like spatial detail that recreates space in the soundstage. Accurate tone is a must as I can appreciate the tone and timbre of various vocals and instruments. That’s probably why I prefer my rebuilt McIntosh MC240 tube power amp. It has this alluring musical quality.
That said, I am still impressed with this little amplifier, and even more so with the installation of the OPA1622 op amps in place of the NE5532 op amps. As daniboun had reported before, the amp has a larger, deeper soundstage. The separation between vocals and instruments is improved with accurate placement of the musicians within the soundstage. I’ve found the same with my TI TPA3255EVM amp when used with a great tube preamp like my Audio Research LS7 line stage. The music floats in the air and my Klipsch speakers just disappear in my listening room. A well mixed recording versus a poorly mixed recording comes through with this amp.
Used as a stand-alone integrated amp with my KEF LS50 monitors living room, the amp is really musical and just as fun as in my main system. I use Sony ES SACD/DVD/CD players in both systems. The disc player in my living room is a 4K Blu-ray player with high resolution streaming, so I can enjoy music videos like Jeff Beck performing live at Ronnie Scott’s, or Carlos Santana playing with Wayne Shorter and Herbie Hancock in concert.
That said, I am still impressed with this little amplifier, and even more so with the installation of the OPA1622 op amps in place of the NE5532 op amps. As daniboun had reported before, the amp has a larger, deeper soundstage. The separation between vocals and instruments is improved with accurate placement of the musicians within the soundstage. I’ve found the same with my TI TPA3255EVM amp when used with a great tube preamp like my Audio Research LS7 line stage. The music floats in the air and my Klipsch speakers just disappear in my listening room. A well mixed recording versus a poorly mixed recording comes through with this amp.
Used as a stand-alone integrated amp with my KEF LS50 monitors living room, the amp is really musical and just as fun as in my main system. I use Sony ES SACD/DVD/CD players in both systems. The disc player in my living room is a 4K Blu-ray player with high resolution streaming, so I can enjoy music videos like Jeff Beck performing live at Ronnie Scott’s, or Carlos Santana playing with Wayne Shorter and Herbie Hancock in concert.
Hi Rich,
I'm interested in your opinion of this amplifier. I'm curious as to how you would compare it to the Weiner amp that you enjoyed a while ago. I have a Weiner board myself, and read through that thread all the way, and now wonder if you feel the Aiyima is a step up, and if so, to what degree and in which areas?
Any incite gratefully received. Thanks
Dave.
I'm interested in your opinion of this amplifier. I'm curious as to how you would compare it to the Weiner amp that you enjoyed a while ago. I have a Weiner board myself, and read through that thread all the way, and now wonder if you feel the Aiyima is a step up, and if so, to what degree and in which areas?
Any incite gratefully received. Thanks
Dave.
IMO, the Aiyima TPA3251 2.0 amp and the TI TPA3255EVM are both improvements over the TI TPA311x-based Class D amps. The bass is stronger, which provides a more balanced frequency response. I really like the Weiner PBTL amp, and I still have mine. What is impressive to me is the relatively simpler implementation of the TPA325x amp in the Aiyima amp that sounds great, especially with rolling op amps. For any audio enthusiast that isn’t comfortable assembling a complete amp, the Aiyima TPA325x amps are a bargain.
Have you heard any news about ready to GO amp from 3e audio ?
TPA32xx All in One Amplifier | 3e Audio
or allo tpa32xx amp ? Raspberry Pi audio DACs, Digi and amplifiers someone told me they planned to produce some tpa32xxx amps this year.
I am still searching for some upgrade of my small tpa3116. Maybe I should just buy AIYIMA amp because new chinna products might be delayed due to CoronaVirus.
TPA32xx All in One Amplifier | 3e Audio
or allo tpa32xx amp ? Raspberry Pi audio DACs, Digi and amplifiers someone told me they planned to produce some tpa32xxx amps this year.
I am still searching for some upgrade of my small tpa3116. Maybe I should just buy AIYIMA amp because new chinna products might be delayed due to CoronaVirus.
Last edited:
Hi Rich,
Thanks for posting comments regarding the Aiyima compared to the Weiner amp. I've decided to place an order, at this cost it's a no brainer. Any plans to mod it? I too really like the Weiner board, when I first got it i was really impressed. My main amp is an Aleph J, which better's it by a distance though imo, as it should!
Dave
Thanks for posting comments regarding the Aiyima compared to the Weiner amp. I've decided to place an order, at this cost it's a no brainer. Any plans to mod it? I too really like the Weiner board, when I first got it i was really impressed. My main amp is an Aleph J, which better's it by a distance though imo, as it should!
Dave
The only mods I’ve made are swapping in different op amps like the OPA1622 and OPA627AU op amps, and changing the speaker binding posts hook-up wire to Duelund DCA16GA wire. I’m going to keep the OPA627AU op amps in there for now, but it is tempting to try a pair of the Burson V5i-d op amps.
I like the Mean Well LRS-200-36 switching power supply and I added a DC power cable made of AWG 16 Silver-plated Copper stranded wire and a Switchcraft 2.5mm x 5.5mm DC power connector.
I don’t have an Aleph J, but I do have the Pass DIY Sony VFET amp, and even though the Aiyima amp is not as good as the VFET amp, it offers a similar warm, musical presentation and it runs cool.
The Aiyima TPA3251 continues to amaze me from day to day )
My Burson Audio V5i AOP shine on it, after a few hours of running in : the sound is really amazing for such a small amplifier.
I am waiting for a pair of OPA1656 as well. I will let you my opinion as soon as I test it.
Something is sure, my double AK4497 dac equiped with 2x OPA1622 + 2x Muse 03 + TPA3251 / 2x Burson Audio V5i = an incredible combo )
My Burson Audio V5i AOP shine on it, after a few hours of running in : the sound is really amazing for such a small amplifier.
I am waiting for a pair of OPA1656 as well. I will let you my opinion as soon as I test it.
Something is sure, my double AK4497 dac equiped with 2x OPA1622 + 2x Muse 03 + TPA3251 / 2x Burson Audio V5i = an incredible combo )