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Brief results of my Op Amp shoot out.

72.89.151.175

reb

Over a two month period, I experimented with Op Amps in my modified Cayin CDT-17A cd player. This player uses Dual Stereo BB PCM1792 dacs, in a true balanced circuit with tube output. For I/V conversion, the AD827 was the chip I used for the duration of evaluation.

For the balanced section, this player usese four mono chips. And Two mono chips for the single ended outputs. I tried all the chips in both locations and often the sonic results were similiar. But I generally prefered an individual chip in one specific location. ie xlr or rca.

The chips tested:

TI OPA 627AP
627BP
OPA 604
OPA 827
OPA 132

AD 797
843
847

LT 1360

LME 49710

TI NE5534 AP

Sig NE5534 S

LM 6171

The average OP Amp is a highly colored device lacking in transparency. At best, they sort of get out of the way and leave the midrange/voices with a listeneable purity. In the end, only the following OP Amps made my cut for listeneability.

In order of preference:

Texas Instruments NE 5534 AP
Texas Instruments OPA 627 BP
National Semi LM 6171

Follow Ups:

RE: Brief results of my Op Amp shoot out. - Peter H-son 15:29:50 11/26/07 (1)
The OPA 627 and AD 797 are very different and only one of them will be optimized in any given circuit.
- RE: Brief results of my Op Amp shoot out. - reb 07:04:02 11/27/07 (0)
  I am well aware of all the specifications for every op amp in my collection.
AD744 - Jon L 12:09:15 11/25/07 (1)
I find AD797 pretty colored in that overly warm way, but after trying most of the op-amps you list, I *really* liked AD744.

But you're right to point out that TI version of 5534 is a great little op-amp, especially if run in "class A" configuration.
- RE: AD744 - Dave Garretson 09:16:14 11/26/07 (0)
  IME the AD744 as used in the Merlin BBAM is clean & grainless, particularly on 12V battery power.

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