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Supreme Sound Audio Op-amp upgrade


BursonAudio

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OPA rolling is fun and dare I say a possibly more astute purchase for SQ improvement than a flash name brand cable, sorry had to throw a bone  :P

 

 

Sets so far run in the ASUS Xonar sound card

"APA211ID's, 4 in total,  as pairs in parallel one under the other, per I/V socket, 2 x OPA627SM's in the LPF position"  

 

My favourites, lovely.

" LME49720HA's x 2 one per I/V socket and AD827SQ in the LPF.

 

In the process of obtaining a new replacement for the Dual OPA2134, for the phono pre the  "Mimic" by @@mwhouston. Actually really enjoy listening to the BB 1324 ripper of an OPA and hope to find some improvements, but keep it's character of a dead silent noise floor. It's performance improved when recently placed on the house 24v 285Ah Sonnenschein Tube plate gel battery. 

 

 

:D

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G'day all, this is all very interesting but I strongly suspect that nothing would better the OPA2134 in your Mimic!  Regards, Felix.         

Dear @@catman

 

Don't know about that, but we will see (hear) and a very brave statement :thumb: . I am endeavoring to have 3 options to listen to for my Mimic. Likened to tube rolling me thinks in the valve realm, pulling the cheapies and installing better ones. Even placing graphite dampers on the chip have heard differences in response tones.

 

I'm champing at the bit to get my hands on "an improvement" over the BB OPA2134PA (even though it is a sweet thing)  from experience with rolling OPA's on my STX sound cards it is worth the effort

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Dear @@catman

Don't know about that, but we will see (hear) and a very brave statement :thumb: . I am endeavoring to have 3 options to listen to for my Mimic. Likened to tube rolling me thinks in the valve realm, pulling the cheapies and installing better ones. Even placing graphite dampers on the chip have heard differences in response tones.

I'm champing at the bit to get my hands on "an improvement" over the BB OPA2134PA (even though it is a sweet thing) from experience with rolling OPA's on my STX sound cards it is worth the effort

Usually with my Mimics I stick bituminised Heavy Al (flashing) foil in the lid. The effect of the foil is astonishing. I have always done this practice with power amps, preamps etc. enclosures etc. I had never tested it. So one day I losely suspended a lid from a 1U 19" rack mount enclosure and rapped the centre of the lid with my knuckle. It rang like a bell. I then ran a wide strip of flashing down the inside and did the knuckle test. All I got was a dull thud. This type of damping works not only well with metal lids but all components.

125dbMonster, buy some Bear brand flashing from a hardware store and cut a tiny piece to fit on top of your OPA2134. You may pickup a diffence.

Edited by mwhouston
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@@mwhouston

Yes noted in particular my treasured  "Mimic" the enclosure is treated (by you) as well as the board suspended on adhesive foam nylon pillars sitting on top of the foam/foil treatment.

Components and their enclosures can ring, very true. Have played around with a few things, stubby lids, lead, aluminium and the best so far, graphite as seen above post.

 

Definitely going to treat my Holton amp enclosures (Al Flashing) without impeding air flow and see if the OPA's in the miniDSP 2x8 can be changed.

 

Cheers

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This is the critter I would like to sink some love into although SMD reworking would be involved, under a microscope 

The miniDSP 2x8. I believe the 4 little 8 legged chips are the op amps for the unbalanced line outs used for my system  :P

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You can use a heat gun and apply enough heat on the SOIC 8 opamps and use tweezers to remove them while the hot air is blowing away from you.

Here is an example with a heatgun, careful soldering going from the stock JRC4556 to LME49720HA's I did on a then "TOTL" Pioneer dvd player. (Have also done it to my Creative sound card years back to single channel LME49990 I can take a picture of later on)

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Anyway here are some pictures of my opamp rolling adventures. DIY/Retail DAC's, Amp's and whatnot.

DAC getting a redesign to circuit, has LME47910 for headphone output section, 47920 for I/V conversion and gain.
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Matrix M-Stage headphone amp (love the 47920 in this position but the OPA627 for class a bias is good too)
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I use the LM4562, AD8599 on adaptor with tantalum cap bypass, LME49990, LME49720HA, LME49710 (single), OPA627AP on adaptor, AD823 and few others I can't remember off the top of my head (need to check personal stash) where I can as I rate these very highly. For standard replacements the OPA2604 and JRC4556 are very hard to beat.

I've also tried almost every after market opamps out there (Audio GD Moon, Sun etc range), Burson opamps and few others based off a FET/JFET design from Japan and the US. But at the end of the day I rate the LME49720HA (can version) very highly for what it does compared to market competition.

As for after market 3rd party opamps I liked the old Burson in the output stage in some CD players but I found it boring sounding at times, no engagement with the listener, some incoherency in vocals. I do like it in a few headphone amps but the market is full of low cost opamp's that can do a better job for little $, as a tube/opamp roller lets see if the new Supreme sound op-amp can change my mind.

Would upload more pictures but it may be viewed as spam.

Edited by DefQon
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I agree on the assessment of the LME`s being very good but every opamp range from the big 2 manufacturers has its top stuff people like.

From Texas Instruments hands down the best would be the above mentioned and the opa627 and 2604 are amongst the favourites of many people (musical, syrupy/warm sounding compared to the clear and neutral resolving lm4562 and lme4972**/ 9990).

From Analog Devices the ad823-5 are good in i/v converters of dacs and also as a gainstage buffer. The ad845`s, ad8599 and 797`s are also highly rated and definitely amongst some of the best from AD.

At the end of day its what suits the listener and the system synergy.

Edited by DefQon
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@, you are clever  :P

Looks like the miniDSP is a "do able" prospect then and the JRC opa's in position can be changed. Thanks for posting, very cool.

 

Better order in a heat Gun for SMD re work and start practicing on some old junked boards 

 

Cheers

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Have ordered and going to try  ADA4627-1brz converted to dual op amp and OPA2227pmdrep in the Mimic Pre amp to replace the BB2134, when they come in from Tiwan

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@, you are clever  :P

Looks like the miniDSP is a "do able" prospect then and the JRC opa's in position can be changed. Thanks for posting, very cool.

 

Better order in a heat Gun for SMD re work and start practicing on some old junked boards 

 

Cheers

 

Definitely doable and you have lots of space clearance to work with. Just get a $20 heatgun from Bunnings.

 

Here is my sound card. JRC4556 to LME49720MA's.

 

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It's a good thing you ordered the 4627BRZ, the ARZ I've had have always been a little unstable with oscillation in multiple circuits I've tried in. It's a nice opamp and definitely amongst the best from Analog Devices.

Edited by DefQon
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Good afternoon guys,

 

Thank you for all the entries and photos. What a party we have here! :)

 

We have got the first round of result selection. We will be PMing members in the next couple of hours.  Once we receive confirmation from all the members we will announce them here.

 

In this round we have not select any SMD opamp project, because we are working on a custom SMD connector for the V5. When the new SMD connector is ready we will select SMD project. Meanwhile please keep posting your photo here. Once the first round of participant come back with their feedback and result we will select the next round of project.

 

Thanks again for all your supports:)

 

Dennis 

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Have ordered and going to try  ADA4627-1brz converted to dual op amp and OPA2227pmdrep in the Mimic Pre amp to replace the BB2134, when they come in from Tiwan

 

ADI 4627-1 brz is in the price raange of the OPA 627, however you are going to notice with the 4627-1 brz that its absolutely reveiling compared to 627, its hyper detail retreval on steroidss, airy and tranparent, not was veil like the 627.  Dont say i didnt warn you  :P

 

The OPA  827 i got as samples, IMO will outdo the OPA 627 and its cheaper,the OPA 1612 and OPA 1642 are IMO better than the 2134 but like i posted, no matter which opamp i try the LME devices always wonders back into the circuit,  so will these new Burson opamp remain there permanent?   :P 

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ADI 4627-1 brz is in the price raange of the OPA 627, however you are going to notice with the 4627-1 brz that its absolutely reveiling compared to 627, its hyper detail retreval on steroidss, airy and tranparent, not was veil like the 627.  Dont say i didnt warn you  :P

 

The OPA  827 i got as samples, IMO will outdo the OPA 627 and its cheaper,the OPA 1612 and OPA 1642 are IMO better than the 2134 but like i posted, no matter which opamp i try the LME devices always wonders back into the circuit,  so will these new Burson opamp remain there permanent?   :P

I built a preamp with OPA627s I must dig it out.

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@

Have you tried the ASUS Xonar STX ? Impressions ?

 

I liked it the Xonar STX but sold them because my Fatal1ty Pro card gives me a few features I use with competitive gaming (when I have time). If I was shopping in for a dedicated HTPC or Music server I'd get the Xonar STX.

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Thanks for everyone's entries. We got all the reply back and the follwing member has been selected for this round of trial out:

 

Battery Boy (Matthew)

Ozcall (Gordon)

Betocool (Alberto)

Defqon (David)

 

All samples will be ship out via Express post tomorrow. Please keep posting your project photo if you want to take part in the next round of trial out. :)

 

May the force be with you  :thumb:

Edited by BursonAudio
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