Do OP-AMPS make a BIG Difference? Possibly...

Comments · 74

• SB

  @sbraithwaite · 5 months ago

  You should do a blind test of OPA1612 and LM4562 and the stock NE5532 and see if you are not being influenced by knowing which op amp is installed.<br>Don&apos;t forget that speaker cable also make a difference and you can have 6 different set-ups with just an additional pair of speaker cables and those 3 op amps.<br>And run each op amp for at least 20 hours, when new, before making your evaluation.

  2

• KE

  @kerryvanderkamp5051 · 2 years ago (edited)

  Nice topic. Coincidentally, I just upgraded the opamp in my DIY WHAMMY amp earlier this morning. I’ve always used Burson opamps and just got the new V7 classic.

  3

• JT

  @JTB-- · 2 years ago

  The best example of Op Amps taking things up a notch is the Geshelli Stuff using Sparkos Op Amps. &nbsp;Their JS2 DAC and Archer 3 Pro Amp with the Sparkos Op Amps makes them sound like products costing 2X to 3X their asking price.

  6

• IV

  @ivolol · 1 year ago (edited)

  I&apos;d suggest if you can get any technical partner to help, 4 sets of opamps, and construct a list of different pair comparisons. You then need the partner to mix up the list, then go from top to bottom through the mixed up pairing list, putting in the specified opamps, and randomising which opamp they put in a left or right amp. There should be one or two duplicate pairings, so that at some point you would hear some of the pairings twice. There should also be one or two where both opamps inserted on both sides are just the same.<br><br>Then obviously they record exactly what they put in where and when , and you go through noting general properties of sound each time and which side sounded better. If things are properly distinguishable, then you should end up with a semi-consistent comparative ranking at the end, notes should be similar when looking at the same opamp, and also be consistent which you preferred when the duplicate pairings were unknowingly encountered.<br><br>As an addendum, in cases where you yourself do not have the ability to verify the parts are genuine or not, I would NOT source audio opamps off amazon. Common but expensive opamps are one of the most heavily faked parts in the IC grey market, and Amazon is by no means a licenced distributor. It could be any &lt;nationality&gt; drop-shipper sending you any part that&apos;s been sanded and labelled as &lt;X&gt; on the top plastic. Many times if the parts look cheap as hell but they&apos;re supposed to be a luxury spec... well, someone is getting hooked. Unfortunately you&apos;d need to usually pay the shipping cost of a good distributor to make sure you get true parts- digikey, mouser, farnell, RS-online, LCSC, etc.<br><br>Common modern(-ish) IC opamps: OPA2134, NE5532, OPA2604, OPA1656, OPA1612, LME49720, OPA2828

  1

• RA

  @rancosteel · 1 year ago

  Unless you want to buy a full discrete Class-D amp like an Orchard Audio Starkrimson Stereo Ultra DMC 2.5 for $4,249.95 USD the Sparkos are the best economic solution.

  3

• SA

  @salookie8000 · 1 year ago

  In the end, you should stick with one op-amp type on all Fosi amps bridged or non-bridged. Doesn&apos;t make sense to spend a lot of money on that. Better to buy another Fosi and split channels for my output.

  2

• WA

  @wallstreetcrash1 · 1 year ago

  Glad it worked out for you..<br>🇬🇧👍

• AL

  @altops4490 · 1 year ago

  Ive watched other channels acclaim these op amps, after &nbsp;Danny&apos;s recommendation from GR-R i did the deed and i got ear candy results in an ole free Sony 2ch stereo. and no other hacks. stock crossover, cheap hardware wires, TV ear out via RCA for source, and very wow. i got everything Danny sez, if only i got all thee other hacks how much greater would it get? crazy good.

• ST

  @Stefandejager01 · 2 years ago

  So how many op-amps (excluding balanced outputs) for the ZA3 - 2? Is that right?

• MA

  @mattmiller4978 · 2 years ago

  Man same setup with Emo T0&apos;s. I switched a V3 to Muses02 and a 48v 5a GaN ps. <br><br>Curious how you are testing, looks like you are taking notes? I don&apos;t think that&apos;s how you do it. <br><br>I AB switched after listening to full tracks, and inter track between a stock V3 and this upgraded one, I thought for sure I was picking out the one that sounded better, &quot;punchier bass and full vocals and all that. But I wasn&apos;t. It&apos;s was as good as random guesses.

• SE

  @seba_diaz90 · 5 months ago

  aiyima a80 + opa1612 great 🤘🏼

• SE

  @seanmangan2769 · 1 year ago

  What was the music in the background? I would like to get it.