@audiosteve: did not find the 49720s deficient and did not state that -- rather that after listening to both on consecutive days I decided to go with the 2068. Did have the thought at that time that I will try the 49720s again and have them around for that eventuality. That was 4 months ago and the only memory I have is that the 49720 did everything well but I preferred the 2068.
Thanks @Craigl59. OK. I'm trying to understabnd why the choice was made. So I am hearing that no huge reason was found but there was enough of an impression to stick with the 2068s. More of a marginal thing at the time than a slam dunk? I need to try the 2608 as well and see for myself. I have a few but have not checked them out yet, Thanks.
@audiosteve: as a lifelong musician I aim for a "live" sound in my audio preferences (note the Direct Impact speakers). This is one of the reasons I have preferred the 2068 -- it is very "live" sounding. Others could find this unpleasant (harsh or edgy). All of these IC opamps are inexpensive and you should try the 2068s just as I need to revisit the 49720. Your assessment that it was not a slam dunk is completely accurate.
One point brought up by Boydk refers to designing the circuit board for a particular opamp. This is not my area so I do not know how universal opamps are. But it makes sense that individual opamps would conform to a circuit design better or worse. Care to comment 6L6?
BTW am listening to the ss3602 this morning and starting to reverse some of my negative reactions voiced earlier. Suspect that, as a discrete transistor device, it takes some time to break in. Again, will post final thoughts later this week.
6L6 has noted that opamp rolling is fun and, as usual, he's right...
One point brought up by Boydk refers to designing the circuit board for a particular opamp. This is not my area so I do not know how universal opamps are. But it makes sense that individual opamps would conform to a circuit design better or worse. Care to comment 6L6?
BTW am listening to the ss3602 this morning and starting to reverse some of my negative reactions voiced earlier. Suspect that, as a discrete transistor device, it takes some time to break in. Again, will post final thoughts later this week.
6L6 has noted that opamp rolling is fun and, as usual, he's right...
I've used the V5 and V6 Vivid and Classic. Right now I got the V7 Vivids in the Burson Swing DAC. That was on version 1 of the P3 prototype which had some noise. Currently getting version 3, which should be the final version, and I think I'll get the V7 Classics and Vivids for it too.
Unfortunately, I can't find my notes from the P3v1 go around.... but the P3v3 is so much quieter than I figure around the beginning of the year I'll start the second round of listening to op amps in the P3v3.
It's getting expensive...
I wonder if I should use the Maggie 1.7 or the Audio Notes.... for this. Perhaps I ought to drag out the AE1s are those monitors are the most accurate...
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For this op rolling task, I'm gonna use two LPs.
The MoFi 45RPM Dire Straits of Brothers in Arms
The MoFi of Supertramp Crime of the Century
I also got some super Clapton and Eagles Unwired. Might dig out the old Lt Kije from Chesky Records...
I took out the V6 Classic out of my Burson Swing and put in the V7 Vivid in it. I also have the V6 Vivid.. and V5 of course...
Not looking back.... so now I'm stuck. I originally bought the V7 for the P3.... Don't waste your time on the V6 Vivid.
The Swing is pricey, needs two duals and two single. And now I need four more V7 op amps.... I think I'll start with the V7.... oh... well...
I just dug this.... I've had it for a very long time. At one point Burson made it for comparing the sound of op amps... they called it "Supreme Sound Lycan".
6moons actually reviewed it. https://6moons.com/audioreviews2/supremesound/1.html
I don't think they made any money on it. The parts, fit and finish are impeccable. I used to use it as a headphone amp.
6moons actually reviewed it. https://6moons.com/audioreviews2/supremesound/1.html
I don't think they made any money on it. The parts, fit and finish are impeccable. I used to use it as a headphone amp.
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Tony - don't forget to try some of those "basic" opamps in the blue box and let everyone know how they stack up.
🤣 🤣
Some of us (with Maggies) have a saying: "Maggies don´t lack bass. It´s peoples amps, that lack power/current."
The only one, that didn´t do well in my living room was the MMG.
My monoblocks provide 600watt into 4 ohms. That´s proven satisfactory for both the MG12QR (which I lived happily with for many years),
and fare excellent with the 3.6´s too. Perfect fit for the low sensitivity. My sound level limit is reached, just before they start clipping. For more
medium level listening, the amps are switchable to 80 watts Class-A, and is a perfect sonic match. Only drawback is current energy prices.
Close to 1KWh power draw doesn´t do anything good to a government pension 😆😆
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Heyyy Mark..... I did that, and if you remember, was also one of the first to comment on the surprise, that most people chose
the cheapest, oldest and slowest as their preferred opamp in the listening shootout 😉
@Boydk: Of course it is the MMGs that are in my garage. Also have their famous center channel which was considered one of the worst ever made. The pair started me using subwoofers and that caused compatibility problems with dynamics and timbres. Led me down the road to full-range towers. The soundstage with Maggies is, of course, unsurpassed -- except, perhaps -- for Bose 901s set up properly. The problem with the 901s is, even after good setup, you still can't tell whether it's an oboe or clarinet playing...(LOL)
@mhenschel: have frequently had them recommended but after looking at them have not found a pair that fit into my high-sensitivity requirements.
Also, have found that large orchestral scores require a lot of air to be moved. This can be done by a few speakers working very hard, or a lot of speakers working more easily. The Tekton designs are based upon a very large number of speakers and that's one of the reasons they are so high in sensitivity. What's more, they are built using professional audio drivers that are good quality and available over the shelf. Have bought all four driver types and keep them around for those calamities that can happen.
Also, have found that large orchestral scores require a lot of air to be moved. This can be done by a few speakers working very hard, or a lot of speakers working more easily. The Tekton designs are based upon a very large number of speakers and that's one of the reasons they are so high in sensitivity. What's more, they are built using professional audio drivers that are good quality and available over the shelf. Have bought all four driver types and keep them around for those calamities that can happen.
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Excellent choices, Tony. Have a number of versions of the Dire Straits as it was, as you probably know, one of the first digital masterpiece recordings. The 20th anniversary edition that won the Grammy for engineering is the best 5.1 SACD I have heard. Unlike most, all five channels are used for content purpose and the production makes you want SACD to succeed -- which, of course, it didn't (I know, DSD is still around...).
Have a number of the Chesky reissues of Reiner with the CSO and they vary in quality -- haven't heard your Prokofiev version. Reiner is loved by the vinyl community but his style doesn't work for me. Prefer the original analog recordings and when you can get a good copy of the Mercury release of Respighi's Ancient Airs and Dances (Dorati & Philharmonica Hungarica) snap it up. The sonics are so good it is a true visceral pleasure. Also available on R2R and its even better there...
Yep.... they're all in the box. Waiting for the "other" balanced cable and then I can get serious about it.
Come to think about it... I could even compare the SE audioquest cables with the balanced quad Mogami / Neutrik. Thank God the Canare / Neutrik are only 6 feet tall... Hmm... I do have long enough SE MIT cables too.
After this... I doubt if I'll have any grey hairs left... 🙂
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You know, I think I got all of the Chesky and all of the Classic and Mercury reissues. I subscribed to those. The trick will be finding them.
Also, the mid 70s Warner pop records are also pretty good quality. And the, well, there will be Zappa at the Roxy. The soundstage is actually quite good.
I haven't tried the surround versions.... even though my 7.0 HT is actually very good sounding.
The A5 drive the 12 quite well.
The A2 drive the 1.7s really well.
Then. then... you gotta hear what the Iron Pre Bal -> BA3 -> bridged F4s do.
Whereas the A2 drive them very well, the B-F4 drive them with balls. In fact, it feels a lot more than 200 wpc.
48 cents per KwH. In the summer I got to be careful.
I like the 3.xx but they would likely overwhelm my room, both in size and sound.
As an aside... I wonder if the 1.7X upgrade is worth it. It sure is a LOT of money.