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DAC Opamp Upgrade

I'm considering upgrading the Opamps in my MusicHall 25.3 DAC. Burson Media from Australia seems to make a good fit. Anyone has any experience doing this and what was the outcome ? I have replaced the original tube with a 1965 Mullard 6922 and I feel that was an improvement. 
zipiv
auxinput
2,920 posts
 

I just replaced the Dexa output buffer op amps with some remaining Sparkos I still have. So now I have all Sparkos in both DAC and preamp. (3 stages in DAC and 2 stages in preamp). The sound is now the best I have heard it. I think it may need just a little bit more snap, but 5 stages of Sparkos definitely sounds great!

One thing I would advise, if you had the ability :

http://s824.photobucket.com/user/ainami/media/electronics/AD797_Sparkos.jpg.html

I have found that soldering a 47uf Nichicon Muse (50V) plus a 0.1uf MKP directly to the +/- power pins of the op amp significantly improves the sound quality. It gives more punch, smoother response, and removes the frizzy highs. It just sounds better.

zipiv OP
8 posts
 
Hey Auxinput 

Pardon my tardiness. I have and not to my surprise decided to keep the OpAmps. I feel I gained so much more soundstage up and to both sides. I have also spent a couple of bucks on treating my room. Curtains and DIY panels. I would almost go as far as saying as I feel I have a new system. Thanks for your input.
decoryder
1 posts
 
I specifically created this account to be able to thank auxinput for sharing his experiences on the topic of opamps. I've been using his comments as a 'guide' of sorts and have been using it for the last 1.5 years. His comments are spot-on, and have saved me a lot of time and aggravation. Anyone looking to swap opamps should look to his post for guidance.
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 
zipiv OP
I’m considering upgrading the Opamps in my MusicHall 25.3 DAC

Pardon my tardiness. I have and not to my surprise decided to keep the OpAmps.


The tube seems to be the output buffer stage from what I saw in pictures, any opamps will most likely be the I/V stage (current to voltage stage) after the dac chip (a hybrid Burr-Brown PCM1796), and you shouldn’t mucking around with those opamps unless you know what your doing, do something wrong here and you could say goodbye to the PCM1796 dac chip because it’s output hooked directly any opamp I/V stage, from what I’ve seen it’s the TI OPA2134, which makes for a fine I/V stage, YBA uses them as their I/V opamp with the PCM1796 also, and YBA are no fools.

Cheers George
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