Burson audio team sent me 4pcs of V7 vivid single opamps to test it in my phono preamp (i'm using t-phonum mk2 clone).
I have received them recently and tested only for few hours so maybe I'll extend this review in a while.
They come in cardboard packing, with additional extension sockets and rubber bands to hold it together with opamp. And a sticker, to make your device look more pricey )
My first concern was whether it will fit in my phono preamp casing, but luckily it fits perfectly )
How it sounds? Well that's a hard one for me because I'm comparing v7 with v5i (because I bought v5i to replace ne5534) and there is no such huge difference as it was between ne5534 and v5i.
First - the gain is a little lower than v5i and I guess that's the reason why v7 can be only applied in MM phono preamp.
Second - there is less noise in background, the difference is even bigger than the difference in gain but still they both have much lower noise level than the silent groove. Also with v5i I can hear some radio transmission (there is a cable radio line in the building), with v7 - not even a hint of it, but probably it is more gain related.
Third - V7 produce more heat than the v5, but it is just warm to the touch (casing is metal), so probably v7 consume more power.
And finally - it sounds more detailed to me, and a bit brighter in mids. So far in general it feels like low to zero feedback tube amp
I'm eager to test it in MC mode as soon as I get MC cartridge, maybe in combination with v5i to achieve acceptable gain.
I have received them recently and tested only for few hours so maybe I'll extend this review in a while.
They come in cardboard packing, with additional extension sockets and rubber bands to hold it together with opamp. And a sticker, to make your device look more pricey )
My first concern was whether it will fit in my phono preamp casing, but luckily it fits perfectly )
How it sounds? Well that's a hard one for me because I'm comparing v7 with v5i (because I bought v5i to replace ne5534) and there is no such huge difference as it was between ne5534 and v5i.
First - the gain is a little lower than v5i and I guess that's the reason why v7 can be only applied in MM phono preamp.
Second - there is less noise in background, the difference is even bigger than the difference in gain but still they both have much lower noise level than the silent groove. Also with v5i I can hear some radio transmission (there is a cable radio line in the building), with v7 - not even a hint of it, but probably it is more gain related.
Third - V7 produce more heat than the v5, but it is just warm to the touch (casing is metal), so probably v7 consume more power.
And finally - it sounds more detailed to me, and a bit brighter in mids. So far in general it feels like low to zero feedback tube amp
I'm eager to test it in MC mode as soon as I get MC cartridge, maybe in combination with v5i to achieve acceptable gain.
