First off I have to say that all my knowledge base is in building tube gear, and my solid state knowledge is pretty basic.
I need a gain of about x2 or x3 between the output of my AK4490 DAC with NE5532 output, and my 300b SE two stage amp. Obviously I want the cleanest most transparent solution possible and I'm open to a solid state device, rather than a transformer.
I have no knowledge how to implement this, so I'd be extremely grateful if you could point me in the direction of what I need. I can build circuits and PSUs, though I haven't worked with SMDs. Thank you in advance.
I need a gain of about x2 or x3 between the output of my AK4490 DAC with NE5532 output, and my 300b SE two stage amp. Obviously I want the cleanest most transparent solution possible and I'm open to a solid state device, rather than a transformer.
I have no knowledge how to implement this, so I'd be extremely grateful if you could point me in the direction of what I need. I can build circuits and PSUs, though I haven't worked with SMDs. Thank you in advance.
That op amp is a filter and the gain cannot easily be changed. You can add another 5532 stage
with a gain of three after it. An inverting topology would sound better, if you can accept the
polarity reversal (or reverse the speaker connections).
with a gain of three after it. An inverting topology would sound better, if you can accept the
polarity reversal (or reverse the speaker connections).
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Thanks guys, it's great to get feedback. I have a tiny 5532 gain stage which I can add after the DAC. I'll hook it up and see what it sounds like. I have some transformers I can try as a comparison, like 1:2. LL1540 sounded pretty bad, but I have a pair of LL1544 which may be better.
I've been reading up on NE5532 and NE5534 and using opamps. I should have knowledge of these essential solid state building bricks.
I don't see my particular AK4490 PCB on eBay any more, but there are similar ChiFi ones there.
I've been reading up on NE5532 and NE5534 and using opamps. I should have knowledge of these essential solid state building bricks.
I don't see my particular AK4490 PCB on eBay any more, but there are similar ChiFi ones there.
Ah... tubes. Well, one way to get more gain is to use my present trioded 4P1L driver in pentode mode. I'll build that and see if it is a solution.
Update - I never completely finished the pentode stage with the 4P1L so put it back into triode and looked for an opamp solution out of the AK4490 DAC, adding a stage to give more than 2v out, like maybe 4-6v out. I have a tiny chinese PCB with just one NE5532 on it and this has been the best sounding solution so far - in fact it sounds quite transparent. Now I'd like to improve on that with a simple single opamp stage with x2 or x3 gain. Ideas? A friend suggested a Burson device, but not sure which:
Products – Burson Audio
I don't know if that would be a big step up from a NE5532? Or something else?
Products – Burson Audio
I don't know if that would be a big step up from a NE5532? Or something else?
Id love to have the circuit but I don't - just an eBay buy or maybe ALiExpress. NE5532 is socketed but everything else is SMD and I haven't even tried to reverse engineer those devices. I'm not familiar with SMDs. I could build a simple circuit with leaded components. The AK4490 DAC is also a socketed NE5532 and the rest is SMD. I get that the gain could be adjusted but I can't work with SMD.