Of course op amp make a difference. If you want to use an ic because of price or power draw of your specific board design, very clearly the best one is opa1656. You will have to buy it mounted on a dip 8 adapter because it was intended to be soldered directly onto a pcb. I don’t know why so few people know about it, i don’t know why TI didn’t make it available in dip 8 factor, but it has remarkable performance in sound applications, wide voltage range, low power draw. It’s about 15 bucks mounted on dip8 adapter. Give it a shot.
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.
With the onslaught of a variety of inexpensive class D amps that feature op-amp interchangeability, I've found that changing out and experimenting with various op-amps can really make a difference. Of course, in the end, the age old adage of, "you get what you pay for," really holds true here. Yes, discrete op-amps like those from Burson and Sparkos Labs (I believe there are one or two other legitimate brands) can run as much as these amps cost themselves. At first, I was hesitant about investing the extra cash in the Sparkos Labs versions (i.e. SS3602 dual channel versions), however, once I made the move, the sonic upgrades - in my opinion - were quite noticeable. As a result, I've upgraded the op-amps in all of the amps I currently own - those being the Aiyima A07 Max, the Fosi V3, BT20A Pro, and ZA3 - with the Sparkos Labs versions, and in each case, the sonic improvements on my system were distinct. By distinct, I mean to describe greater depth, fuller sound, wider sound-staging, smoother highs, being more immersive, etc. Now contrast this with a few folks out there (and they'll argue the point with you) that all op-amps basically sound the same because "their measurements" don't bear out sonic differences. And there's nothing you'll be able to do to convince these folks as they consider their opinions superior to yours, and in some cases even have a condescending view of your opinions.
The current audio 'measurements' do not coincide with human listening perception. You won't be able to tell the difference between 0.1% THD and 0.01% THD.
The best example of Op Amps taking things up a notch is the Geshelli Stuff using Sparkos Op Amps. 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.
I swapped in the Burson V7 Classic op amp into my Geshelli J2s DAC and have been very pleased. It was a big step up from the Burson V5i that came with the DAC.
I recently purchased a pair of sparkos opamps. When I first installed them, I was not impressed. Actually I couldn't hear a difference. As more and more time passed while listening to every track detail by detail. I noticed how every single facet of the audio I was hearing improved tremendously (Soundstage, depth, imaging, transparency etc.). At first I felt let down after coughing up $160 for a pair of the sparkos SS3602. I am more, and more impressed every day with the Sparkos. I am so happy with my purchase. Well worth the cost. I have an EQ that has 12 replaceable NE5532 Opamps. I am thinking of replacing them with Sparkos SS33602, and the Burson V5i Opamps. I do like the NE5532 Opamps a lot. I just like Discrete Dual Opamps a lot more. CHEERS!
Replacing an op amp is more likely to add distortion as the Fosi is designed around the opamp inside. Most people don't have enough electronic knowledge to do this. Making a difference doesn't mean better, Every mixing desk in the audio chain has gone through hundreds of NE5532. So you put in an unsuitable OPamp in a little box in your living room, you hear some high frequency noise and think it sounds better because you paid more for it, Unless you can test an improvement you are probably making things worse.
It’s not worth talking about built quality, there are two types discrete (like sparkos) and most common IC (small chip based like all the small ones you had there). Two PCBs because it’s a dual version opamp (two channels), ss3601 has one PCB because it’s a single. The bottom part is just the most regular cheap dip8 adapter that you solder the PCBs to, the IC opamps for the size have legs going directly out of them. It’s a context thing, not really build quality It’s a question of what size and cost you can accommodate. Discrete opamps are a lot bigger, the sparkos ss3602 you have there is one of the smallest discrete ones on the market and that was the goal. They offer a normal better one that is 4 times the size Sparkos Pro. Also Burson v7, sonic imagery labs ticha, etc. are the normal sized op amps made in discrete way
Man same setup with Emo T0's. I switched a V3 to Muses02 and a 48v 5a GaN ps. Curious how you are testing, looks like you are taking notes? I don't think that's how you do it. 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, "punchier bass and full vocals and all that. But I wasn't. It's was as good as random guesses.
Now here's something different. I use two V3 amps to bi-amp my speakers. is it possible best sound is a certain opamp for highs and different one for lows?
This is the video I needed to find. Every other 'comparison' was a recording played through each amp, but it still is being heard through my computer system. The explanation helped me make a decision for a future project. The old Ibanez GTA15R 15 watt guitar amplifier uses two 4558 chips, and I've been wondering if changing them out for SS3602's would make a difference in sound quality, along with swapping diodes and maybe control pots. Now I think I know enough to put it in the "strongly consider" category, along with the diodes, and a speaker upgrade. Something to do...
Hmmm.. interesting topic. I've often wondered this myself. Sounds like from the other posts it does, but you're not going to get anything better, probably worse goong the, let's just say 20.dollar and below, especially for a pair or more. I'm also wondering if different DACs make a noticeable change to another DAC? Like this DAC with a particular opamp sounds noticably better with one DAC, but less difference using s different DAC running to the same qmp.. Or if it's just stick to these brands, well engineered , better quality parts and probably hand soldiered,, so price is higher due to lower demand so the company has to due to lower sales plus obvious beter quality hardware. If you got the money and it's something noticeably more oleasing to the ears, then it sounds like they would be worth it. Unfortunately like most audiophile stuff, those brands are usually in a completely different orice category.
Yeah, I’m not sure how much sense it makes to just swap cheap ones, but it might be a fun experiment, which is what a lot of this ends up being. Not sure that it’s a “high value” thing, but that doesn’t mean that it isn’t enjoyable, especially if you’re curious.
