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Topic: new opamp (Read 6952 times) previous topic - next topic
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new opamp

Please, with sugar on top, Can anyone please recomend a drop in replacement for the opamps tlo72cp and the opa2604, something which does not require additional work on the surrounding components, the very best upgrade option please.

Many thanks in advance. John.

new opamp

Reply #1 –
I have never seen any controlled testing to substantiate the claims that changing opamps changes sound quality in an audible way.  If you look at opamp datasheets, all the ones commonly talked about on audio forums are able to amplify the signal in a transparent manner.

All we have is a bunch of people saying "I changed the opamps and my amp sound different now."  It's not really any different than "I changed my cables and my system sounds different now."

new opamp

Reply #2 –
Quote from: odigg on
All we have is a bunch of people saying "I changed the opamps and my amp sound different now."  It's not really any different than "I changed my cables and my system sounds different now."


Quote
Well, when I changed opamps in my guitar pedals I noticed quite a difference ....


for example.

new opamp

Reply #3 –
Samuel Groner has done a detailed measurement shoot-out of 59 op amp IC's commonly found in audio circuits. (434 page 35MB pdf)
Along with the measurements come a description of the test setup and an op amp theory primer.

Replacing an opamp can be relatively easy, but remember that a change in sound (if any) doesn't automatically imply an improvement. I'd always ask a competent EE for advice. Why do you want other opamps ?

new opamp

Reply #4 –
Hi. Many thanks for the reply.

Guess i want a new opamp out of curiosity. Here is the article that did it for me: http://www.rock-grotto.co.uk/opamp.htm
What do you think. It appears the reviewer is simply snapping in new opamps and comparing the differences in sound quality.
Don't know if that is actually feasible in real life as i know that the opa2604 and the opa627 are not pin for pin compatiable, also the opa2604 runs on 18 volts which is very high for a modern opamp.

Just the article got me thinking and i can pick up the opa827 which is the latest incarnation of the opa627 (highly rated) for about £5 so not too much money to worry over.

Many thanks.

new opamp

Reply #5 –
Sighted evaluation of sound quality is not reliable.

Make sure you read our terms of service:
http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=3974

Pay special attention to #8:
http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/index....974#entry149481

new opamp

Reply #6 –
Quote from: john11 on
Hi. Many thanks for the reply.

Guess i want a new opamp out of curiosity. Here is the article that did it for me: http://www.rock-grotto.co.uk/opamp.htm


Quotes from the above:

"on some high notes the LF 353 can produce ear bleeding harshness"

"OPA2604 sounded very warm, very laid back and very easy to listen to but slightly veiled in the detail department. "Chocolaty" and "syrupy" though a good easy to listen to Op amp but not my cup of tea as I prefer a greater insight into the mix."

"These chips makes the sound more valve like than the X-Cans ever did if that can possibly make any sense! (I couldn't detect any sonic differences between the 2227 & 2228) Melodious, slightly laid back and warm yet it brings out every last bit of detail from a recording. Overall a very nice sound. A kind of hybrid valve and solid state mix which gives the best of both worlds. Nice smooth valve like mids and highs with lovely solid state bass oomph."

"OPA 2132  Smooth, highly analytical, warm, uncoloured, laid back yet all detail is present (and then some) Very electrostatic quality to the sound with that super solid state bass underpinning the proceedings without overwhelming them. Start and stops are followed by an inky black silence and the timbre of the drums is very realistic indeed. Something that is very evident with this op amp is it's inherent ability to provide accurate timing which I really do like! There is no bass overhang, the drums start and stop as they should and, as a result, the timing is pretty much spot on. This is like listening to music with a stethoscope with the metronome ticking away in the background but it also adds a touch of valium to make the experience very bearable and extremely enjoyable."

"It (AD 823 AN) provided very similar results to the OPA 2132 but each component of the sound was treated to an additional air of realism and effortless delivery that was immediately evident. Easy to listen to, easy to pick out every last detail and ever so natural. There was an ethereal quality to the sound that I have only ever heard on high quality loudspeaker based systems."

"A "Very" revealing chip, similar to the AD823 but rougher around the edges. I don't know if the roughness was on the actual recording or if it was attributable to the AD712 but I found this chip gave out "way" too much information for my liking. It is analytical to the point that certain pieces of music can become impossible to listen to, especially bad recordings, it reproduces every last detail / imperfection with microscopic accuracy which, at times, can be detrimental to the overall enjoyment of the music."

"Two words sum this chip up........ "absolute class" This is the only single chip in the test (the rest all being duals) and it was necessary to fit two single channel 627's onto a single to dual Browndog adaptor which Adapts two single-channel DIP-8 op-amps to a dual DIP-8 pinout.  These 2 single channel op amps absolutely trounced anything that had gone before them in this test..... the width of the soundstage, the clarity and the sheer presence make this my choice of op amp for use in the Chiarra without a shadow of a doubt. The sound is just so "clean", so "natural", so "musical" and so "detailed" with the 627's on board."

Quote
What do you think.


Sheerest BS.  I've done op amp listening tests, and the quotes above are overblown totally beyond any chance of reason. I've also done bench tests of op amp swap and found that finding measurable differences can be very difficult.

Quote
It appears the reviewer is simply snapping in new op amps and comparing the differences in sound quality.


If he's even doing that.  Look at the poetic prose - its all derivative from decade after decade of high end gobbledygook.

The Linsley Hood Chiarra Class A single ended headphone amp is based on an op amp with some transistors tacked on to increase its ability to drive low impedance loads. The op amp needs a gain of 10, which is hardly taxing for any of the op amps listed above.

new opamp

Reply #7 –
Hi. Thanks for the reply.

What do you think the reason was for the rock-ghetto review. Is this guy just trying to mislead people, perhaps get them to blow up their hi-fi equipment in a shower of multi-coloured sparks and screams with: " Oh no, dad's going to kill me now."

new opamp

Reply #8 –
Quote from: john11 on
Hi. Thanks for the reply.

What do you think the reason was for the rock-ghetto review. Is this guy just trying to mislead people, perhaps get them to blow up their hi-fi equipment in a shower of multi-coloured sparks and screams with: " Oh no, dad's going to kill me now."


Nothing of the sort.  The person who wrote that review probably really believes (s)he can hear an audible difference between opamps.  All sorts of claims have been made in audioland.  Some people claim that they can hear audible differences when they change fuses, or even between the different types of solder.

Without controlled testing there is no way to verify the accuracy of such claims.