OPamps still inferior to discrete circuits?

To take a slightly more concrete example rather than a theoretical one, I have not yet heard a phono stage based on op amps that could equal a discrete-component design for refinement and sonic magic. I'm thinking of the best phono stages I've heard, the Audiomat 1.5, the Ensemble Fonovivo, the SimAudio Moon LP5.3. The op amp designs cost less, and it shows in their sound.

I haven't heard the Burson, though. It certainly intrigues me, and it's not too high-priced.

Don't forget that discrete components(capacitors/resistors/rectifiers/transistors/etc.) have advanced in materials, manufacture and design over the years also. Much of what is considered "High-End" now days not only is built with discrete components, but is hard-wired(point to point) as well. OP amps are quite impossible to avoid when considering digital equipment though(unfortunate, in my opinion).

>Yes - quality op amp packages can have outstanding performance. The only reason to use discrete components is for building output side of power amps. This is because of the high heat.

You get better thermal tracking and lower cross-over disortion with transient signals when the bias diodes are on the same die as the power transistor.

You could use the ONSEMI Thermal Traks, but parallel LM3886 or other power op amps work well and make for a decidedly clean board layout.

The Rowland Model 10 ($8K MSRP) is six LM3886s per channel.

HI.
I replaced the original OPA 627 opamps in my ASR Emmiter amplifier with Burson discrete opamps. The improvements were major and all across the board: clean, more tuneful bass, amazing midrange purity, clean treble, more dynamics, a deep and wide soundstage and specially a more musical delivery.
I could not hear a downside. My only complaint is that Burson does not make a tube based opamp.
Highly recommended, though it requires a bit of DIY skill (one needs to find a suitable nearby signal ground point and solder a ground lead there).
The Burson opamps have worked flawlessly for about 18 months and do not become too hot (the OPA 627 needs a heatsink and stays too hot to touch).

Casouza - Jeff Rowland uses, in great sounding Capri linestage, fully differential high speed op-amps OPA1632.

OPA1632 has:
0.00002% THD
0.00005% IMD
1.3nV/SQRT(Hz) noise
180MHz bandwidth

discrete amp like that is not a trivial task (layout!). Can you imagine the cost?