Kategorie: OP-Amps

The OPA627AU arrived – very “warm”- not so much “digital-room/-soundstage”/ Volumio now at V2.502 / dimdim.gr

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so 😉 ,
finally the OPA627AU (as dual on one DIP-8) arrived..
and indeed, absolutely more “analogue/tube-sound” (in comparison to the AD797ANZ + LME47910-20s) here..
very “warm”, but with a lot of “body”, more “natural”, not so digitally “harsh” as the AD797ANZ (or the LME47910 of course) by example..


better for high-volumes->thought first “more right/true”->more hi-fi..(but also maybe a little bit “fatiguing/boring” due to the analogue “timbre”)
not so much “digitally room/3D” what i liked the most on the ES Sabre-Chips; very “sweet”..
The OPA627AU and the AD797ANZ are absolutely on a very similar “level”; u absolutely dont go wrong in using the OPA627AU..
but for me, i think i stuck with the AD797ANZ; more “room/clinical”, but thats really an absolutely personal impression/affection/taste..)
i think the speciality on these Sabre-Chips is this digitally room/3D-feeling + also with the great soundstage..
so i stay, as said, with the AD797ANZ (all on this “Blue” ES9038Q2M; the “Green” have a slightly different characteristic as mentioned in an earlier post..)
(Update 2hrs later: i will definitively stuck with the AD797ANZ; for me absolutely the better choice !!)

by that Volumio is now at V2.502, some minor bugfixes + Pi Kernel-bump to 4.14.71; couldnt determine any differences in the overall tune..


by that i want to suggest/introduce you to http://www.dimdim.gr again..
absolutely great site; inventor of the famous “Hifiduino-project”; a lot of very interesting infos/tips there; take a look over there !!


more to come !! 😉

HW-Volume pinlayout – ES9038Q2M + OPA627AU/AD827

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so, (another one today) 😉
found by chance a picture of the pin-assignment for the HW-Volume-control on an ES9038Q2M (its from the Audiophonics-site->Link..)(“we” knew it, but so its much “clearer”) 

by that there´s also a wonderful picture from an combined Raspi/ES9038Q2M (its from the diyaudio-forum; hope i can use it here, if not, please e-mail)->Link

(i´m lately thinking also about to include some raspi directly in such a DAC too, because (as said and also in testing here) on a raspi (over I2S) u have an absolutely superior sound comparing to any XMOS-USB-device (over PC by example)->see this post too->http://essabre-90xx-rpi.sfb2.com/2018/05/moode-volumio-on-a-raspberry-pi-vs-samsung-bluray-player-spdif-coax-impressions-src4392-beta-project-2/ and whats all about this site too 😉 ..
third, on some japanese-yahoo-auction-site they also recommend/have the OPA627AU on it; but they use it only in the dual 15V “environment”, they recommend “strong +-15V” 😉 ..in the case of a single rail 15V they recommend the AD827 (JN) (and they made a special layout for both cases)->https://page.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/q238163678

Op-Amp Diskurs: AD797A – AD797B / OPA627AU + other.. / DIY-Audio

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so, 😉
after i´ve finally got the Green ES9038Q2M (see post before) i can continue to “develop/build” the planned DIY-DAC (according to the main topic of this site->”Audio-introduction”->”..all in favor (in the way) of building „our“ own DIY-DAC !!” 😉 ..)

and as i said, i´ve got the feel that the AD797ANZ (i had no other AD797 here) is absolutely the best choice on the “Blue” ES9038Q2M (and from the Op-Amps i´ve got here so far of course) (LME47910,-20,OPA2134,Muses8920, etc..), on the Green they “sounded” for me a little bit too thin(+harsh)..
guess (it is) because of the different pcb-layouts, other voltage regulators, capacitors and so on; wonderful thread concerning this as posted million times before->https://www.diyaudio.com/forums/digital-line-level/314935-es9038q2m-board-301.html
i´ve just ordered (as planned) some OPA627AU (they should be a little bit “warmer”, but also with the wide soundstage + 3D/spacious/”airy” attitude) and hope they will fit my personal taste a little bit more (and this is exactly what it is in the high hifi-gear-equipment->from a certain level on its always/depends on your personal taste + affectations/preferences)..
so, by that, as some user said, the the AD797B is the optimimum choice for hi-fi by the AD797s i´ve found by chance a .pdf (datasheet) from original Analog-Devices->Link..


and indeed, the frame-specifications are almost the same but there are some differences..(picture is only a small excerpt)
some user said (also here in the forum->http://essabre-90xx-rpi.sfb2.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=76:
“..Category 5 – complete sound traveling in the clean air”
2x AD797BRZ – this is the op-amp truly deserving the name of the Analog Device. This one is a smoother and fuller sounding version of the AD797. Switching from the ANZ to the BRZ series is like going vinyl instead of digital. Everything is smooth to the moment your music craves for the harsh texture like aggressive violin passages, distorted guitars, or stronger double bass phrases. The readability of the furthest plans is great, without going into image sharpening effect which makes you see the details more but lose the feeling of perspective at the same time. Roughly, it’s like the AD79ANZ with all advantages of the OPA627BP added. The soundstage is nowhere limited and the sound image of whatever possible shape. This is a reference integrated op-amp for me so let me know as soon as you find better, and I will verify it.”
i will test it then, have to buy this AD797BRZ.. 😉 ..
another thing is that i now continue to find a case, look for the right torodial transformer (+15V-0–15V) and so on; Audiophonics has some there->https://www.audiophonics.fr/en/search?search_query=transformer+15v


by that, i´ve found some old “Harman Kardon HD710” (for maybe using some parts/case of it) and interesting was also the “normal” CD-Player LCD-displays which had “millions” of different display-elements (maybe to get some other ideas for “layouting” your own display)..


(but i will continue to post raspberry-things, audio-distros (software), ESP32-things and so on, no worry)
gr.. 😉

Volumio at V2.457 / Dietpi V.6.16 / mympd / upgraded ES9038Q2M decoder board I2S

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so, 😉
after searching today for some new ES9038Q2M-boards/-infos, i´ve found also this “Upgraded version of ES9038Q2M decoder board I2S input OPA1612+AD8397ADRZ” (it was also mentioned in these diyaudio.com-forum)->Link

it costs only about 42$ (incl.shipping), and interesting is (besides all the disadvantages like the 5V-9Vplug, the only-headphone 3,5mm jack and so on) that they use “OPA1612” for the AVCC-section and some “AD8397ADRZ” for the “output”-section..

i´ve googled immediately for “AD8397ADRZ” and according to this post/article->https://www.head-fi.org/threads/audio-gd-discrete-op-amps-reviewed-opa-earth-opa-moon-opa-sun-v-2.397691/ its only in the “Category 2 – nice but incomplete sound” 😉  (posted the link+excerpts also in the forum here->Link)

the author there also said, that for him (and thats interesting for me) the AD797BRZ (i have the AD797ANZ here) are the only ones in the “Category 5 – complete sound traveling in the clean air” 
“..roughly, it’s like the AD79ANZ with all advantages of the OPA627BP added” and as u know, i just wanted to buy lately an OPA627 (the “Bugatti Veyron” on the OP-Amps) to “finalize” my op-amp-experiences..
so i guess i have to check-out these AD797BRZ some time too 😉

another thing is that they are now at Volumio V2.457 (PI Kernel bump to 4.14.69 and some fixes), i´ve tested it immediately with the ES9038Q2M and the “Allo-Katana”-setting, and it was, as said in an earlier post, “massive” (ES9038Q2M+2*AD797) again !!

 

this time had the chance to test it before with the ES9028Q2M-option (in Volumio) and some minutes before also with the i-sabre-k2m option in Dietpi V6.16..

last time i thought it could also be by the changed footprint/pi-kernel-bump but today i would say the “Allo Katana”-overlay is more specialized on the ES9038Q2M-core->

finally, at present, i must really say that i have the best sound (on all distros) with the newer Volumio (V2.452 and up) + “Allo Katana”-settings on an ES9038Q2M+2*AD797 !! (okay, its really tight between them but Volumio is absolutely easy to handle at present)

DietPi is now at V6.16, i just wanted to set up the new “mympd”-(fork of ympd), ran into trouble, theres a workaround now and its fixed in DietPi V6.17..(“Allo Katana” works NOT on DietPi (with the ES9038Q2M) but with the “i-sabre-k2m” overlay i got 32/384..)

more to come, greets for now 😉

 

OP-Amps: finally the AD797s arrived / a lot of room / fine-tune / laid-back sound / not such a “revelation”..

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so 😉 ,
today my long awaited AD797s arrived..


first impressions:
a lot of “room”, almost “a laid-back”-sound, misses a bit the “liveliness” from OPA2134, the “contur” from the LME49710s and the “harmonics” from the Muses8920 😉 .. (not so “spectacular”)
but again a bit less distorted and with more dynamics-(range)-THD..
in this case (at this level) i think its also very important in which different “devices” u use the different-OP-Amps; voltage-wise and so on..
i´ve tested all the OP-AmPs on an ES9028Q2M (and some on the ES9038Q2M) with Volumio (on a pi) at full volume (no software-mixer)+ some with a Skysong-USB-bridge..(Win)
i think these needs more “burn-in/play-in”-time than the other..very “fine/high-resolution”-tone..
(i will then maybe post an update..)..
Conclusion (for now): not such a “revelation” as the other (Muses8920, LME49710, OPA2134) but very fine, room, laid back sound..
if i had to choose between these 3 OP-Amps (Muses8920, LME49710 ,AD797) it would be really a very very difficult “task”, because they are really very “close/tight” to each other with different advantages/disadvantages..
hmm..
the best for u would be, you order all the 3 (4) 😉 and get this “different-OP-Amp”-experience too..really..it was such a fun to “hear-out” the differences, where others say that they even wouldn´t exist ..
fabulous, so much fun 😉 ..
so, i guess i would stick with my “allround” Muses8920; guess its the best for now on this “cheap-manufactored” chinese-boards..on more high-end equipment the AD797+LME49710s could be the better choice..
(but as also said,very very difficult to choose, maybe i´ll swap then again 😉 )..

so, another “building-lot” is my combined ESP32S Bluetooth/Webcontrol now with the 4-port-relay for the filter settings + the MCP4131 (Digi-Poti) for the stepless HW-volume-control..
I´ve attached today my Mega2560 with an 3.5″ display via hardwareserial to it (rx,tx)(because i havent got the right libraries+pins+connections to set it also up on the ESP32s..)


i will have just to work out the right display/layout/font-settings (a lot of work anyway)..maybe i will also display some track-information on it->like Artist,Title, fileformat , length and so on..in Moode by example u can use a python script to send out some metadata-info…
a lot of possibilities and by the way, i don´t want to miss my HW-volume-control via Digi-Poti since some days anymore..
u have, as said, again a more finer/better option to adjust the overall volume..absolutely fine with these HW-volume control on the ES9038Q2M..


more to come, many greets and stay “tuned” 😉

Op-Amps: LME49710 vs. Muses8920/LME49720/OPA2134 ->more “contur”

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so, 😉
got finally today my Dual-Dip 8 converter (1,45€ Ebay) LINK->

that i can use my bought, nice “LME49710”-s (they are single)->

first impressions:
a lot of “contur”; more than the Muses8920; but no so “lively” as an OPA2134 for example (or the Muses.)
i guess its absolutely because of the lower distortion; also a little bit “cold” (all only my impressions; some would feel maybe different about it)..
but its also a “high-class”-duo/OP-AMP ; see this table again->

(and curiously absolutely exact my impressions about them; in only hearing them “out” here..)

Conclusion (Ranking Op-Amps at present(for me)):
1. still the Muses8920, but really tight behind-> ((update 2hrs later: i don´t get it; everytime i plug the Muses back-in again, i´ve got everytime the feel:”thats really hifi !”; such warmth+musicality..so “harmonic” (must have something to do with the 2nd and 3th grade harmonics and so on))
2. LME49710; about 4-10% (IMO 😉 (more “clinical”+”contur”; has also its advantages))
3. OPA2134 (because of its “lively/airy attitude”)->10-15% back (to the LME49710)
4. LME49720 (for me a little bit to thin; but also very good in the “highs”) ->2%-5%

and very interesting would be how the AD797 were “performing”; i had an AD1988 as soundchip and as i hardly remember they were absolutely “sweet” in the highs; never had such a fine resolution (mainly in the middle/highs)..
+ the “Bugatti Veyron”(->Link) of the OP-Amps, the OPA627 😉 ..
so, at present i will stuck with my “Muses8920” although the LME49710s are absolutely close to them (maybe better in some “scope”)
greets for now 😉 (and thats all only my impressions; they are all very close and it depends really on your personal taste !!)

Again: The “..there are no differences between Op-Amps”- fable !! (OPA2134-NE5532-Muses8920)

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so, 😉
again: i´ve changed the NE5532 on the ES9018K2m today to an “OPA2134” and i hear absolutely great differences..
The OPA2134 is very “airy”,”lively” (in comparison to the NE5532) see this post:->http://essabre-90xx-rpi.sfb2.com/2018/04/op-amps-ne5532-vs-opa2134-vs-muses-8920-02-essabre-link-dietpi-6-5/
and has (brings back) a certain “glance” in the high-middles/highs..and this is all too because its very less “distorted” than a NE5532 par example..
okay, it misses a little bit the “push” from a NE5532->all said and written in the above mentioned post and some other..
(update: for me also too “thin”; but for this we have our lovely “Muses8920” 😉 )
but the main fact is that there are absolutely great differences; okay i have here a Cambridge Audio Azur 540A amplifier and some phenomenal Mission-Cyrus-speaker; so more “monitor/neutral/british”-sound..
but i dont get it, why some people say (like in my “praised” diyaudio.com-forum too) they hear almost no differences and “..there is to be cleared if its to hear at all”
???
are they (some) completely stupid there or what ? 😉
and such crap i´ve read also as i started to read/buy/change the Op-Amps on our lovely essabre-boards too and this “comments” almost hindered me to start it at all..
so, to come back to start:
upshot: there are great differences by the different OP-Amps and u can hear it loud and clear !! 😉

Wonderful pics -> DIY-project by Terry (ES9038Q2M+Kali reclocker) + LME49720 impressions + ESP32S

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first, 😉
here is some beautiful pic by “Terry” again on his DIY-audio project (an ES9038Q2M+Kali reclocker i guess); wonderfulst !!
also the attached TFTLCD-solution->the layout of the screen and so on..
a treasure chest on ideas for other user in building their own DACs !! fabulous !! so many thx again !! (we´ll maybe get more pictures in future !)

second,
the LME49720 just arrived; i tested it here on an ES9028Q2M (DietPi-ympd, I-Sabre-k2M overlay):
for me too “thin“; it had a lot of air and liveliness/agility but absolutely, as said: “thin”..
after i put my Muses8920 back in i´ve got the feel: thats really hi-fi (with the Muses.)
but meanwhile thats all “whining” on a high level and it really depends on your personal taste (on this high level->one wants to have more “push”, prefered more “rock”, the other one prefered more “classical” music/tune and so on..)..
but nevertheless i would prefer the Muses8920 in comparison to the LME49720 by 15-20% 😉
(had not the possibility here right now to check it against the OPA2134/NE5532)..

third,
the Geekcreit ESP32S arrived here yesterday (Link) (5,50€); 2 cores, wlan b/g/n, bluetooth on board, 4 !! spi-s and so on..think about how to use it for the DAC-control (spi-display,source-selection,filter-settings, HW-volume etc.)..

greets for now 😉

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