Choosing of best sounding OP AMPs for the lowest possible THD+N -really the best Way?

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#701
I'd definitely recommend taking a look at the discrete Op Amps, both from SparkoS Labs.
https://sparkoslabs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/SS3601_SS3602.pdf

and also the Sonic Imagery Labs. Model 994Enh-Ticha Dual Discrete Op Amp
https://www.sonicimagerylabs.com/products/Model994DiscreteOpAmp-Ticha.html

Thx1326 said:
Have any of the technical guru's here tried or listened to the discrete opamps such as the Burson's or Sparkos? Does anyone have comparative specs or real life experience with these being used in an audio chain?
Click to expand...

It was mentioned earlier in the thread, but careful improvement of the power supply should go hand in hand with any thoughts on rolling the Op Amps.
If your equipment uses monolithic regulators there are some excellent alternatives available:
https://sparkoslabs.com/discrete-voltage-regulators-audio-power-supply/

Some additional information here.
There is some very good advice and information, especially in the first part of the thread. Ultimately I tried it for myself and obtained great results with both an integrated amplifier pre-amp stage (On Semiconductor MC33079P) using the 994Enh-Ticha and also a CD player output stage (NJM2114) where the SparkoS SS3602 is exceptional.
Andrew includes his own comparison against a selection of Op Amps on page 13 of the spec sheet, along with a very robust set of measurements. He's also a stand out guy.

The Burson's are also good, ultimately I preferred the Sonic Imagery Labs. devices in the pre-amp stage.
 
#702
SMERSH said:
Hello. In our country, a hybrid amplifier is called an amplifier made of heterogeneous components: opamps and transistors, and a composite amplifier is assembled from opamps.
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Thanks! I noted down the precise language for future.
It means that for LM3886 variants I made a composite amp (opamp+opamp), and for MOSFET circlotron variants I made a hybrid amp (Opamps + discrete MOSFET).

My requirement for TD+N was 0.001%. The LM3886 versions cannot meet it. I guess only 0.01% was its best result (mostly TD contributions bothered me, not the noise).
 
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#703
Maybe this summer I will look into this and try your suggestion.
Right now the setup was left in parallel bridged DC-servo constant current mode and when I see the 15Kg big brick I still have nausea 🙂
But, I promised myself to take courage and power it once again.

I think this qualifies as off topic, Sorry, will stop.
 
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#706
Supplement to post #2:
Check out also the attachment in post #631 (explanation "THD" from 1938) under
A

Thread 'Are there any excellent inexpensive Chinese DACs?'

I’m not a big fan of digital and prefer distorted and noisy sound of vinyl to compressed sound. I was struggling with digital for 20 years and went through dozens of speakers and similar quantity of amps and at least half a dozen of preamps, CD players and similar quantity of DACs but once I switched back to vinyl I hardly change anything and I’m happy with my analog sound, indeed every time I listen to it I’m impressed.

I do like convenience of streaming music for background listening and have been using Tidal with iphone10+ Dragon Fly black. Dragon Fly does not measure well and does not...
There is to read: "The total harmonic distortion is not a measure of the degree of distastefulness to the listener and it is recommended that its use should be discontinued"
(quote from the magazine Electronics September 1938, page 20 "Combination Tones in Non Linear Systems" Author: D. Massa)
https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Electronics/30s/Electronics-1938-09.pdf
also of interest:
http://www.gedlee.com/Papers/The Perception of Distortion.pdf
B

Post in thread 'Help me start my measuring tools'

Before buying high tech stuff it is helpful to do some numbers.
For instance the cheapest DVMs nowadays have an accuracy in the ballpark of 1%.
A audio level deviation of 1% corresponds a variation close to 0.1dB.
So, you will never ever need a 6 digit DVM for audio measurements.
I will encourage you to push the equipment already at your hands to its limits.
This means you have to learn use them effectively at first.
After reaching these limits, you may expand with more sophisticated stuff like the victor oscillator. T-filtering etc.
 
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