GoldenSound

Interesting. Thanks!, posted on January 2, 2022 at 12:43:26
AbeCollins Audiophile Posts: 46306 Location: USA Joined: June 22, 2001 Contributor Since: February 2, 2002	I'll have to pay more attention to this guy. What he says about the TEAC UD-501 pretty much mirrors my experience. I had one several years ago and although it was OK, it lacked resolution. It was warm and robust but lost a lot of detail going through this DAC. My TEAC UD-501 a few years back:

As is, posted on January 3, 2022 at 11:15:43
E-Stat Audiophile Posts: 37666 Joined: May 12, 2000 Contributor Since: April 5, 2002	It was warm and robust but lost a lot of detail... everything I've heard using 5532 op amps in the output stage.

Dang! You Had to Say That!, posted on January 3, 2022 at 14:47:51
Jonesy Audiophile Posts: 3157 Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba Joined: September 1, 2005 Contributor Since: March 1, 2018	Recently I was yet again considering replacing the 5532 op amps in my dac until I talked myself out of it after reading varying opinions. Now you had to put that "bug" in my ear again. Sheesh! Back on the to do list it goes. Sigh. Jonesy "I know just enough to get into trouble. But not enough to get out of it."

A layer of subtlety is lost, posted on January 3, 2022 at 17:14:07

E-Stat
Audiophile

Posts: 37666
Joined: May 12, 2000
Contributor
Since: April 5, 2002

with virtually every op amp based component I've ever owned - or happily still own. Their design requires copious amounts (40-60db) of corrective feedback for linear output. And I know exactly what's it like to directly replace good ones with discrete FETs. I posted about upgrading the garage DAC a few years back. It took the 25.3 a step closer to the wonderful transparency of the zero feedback class A JFET output stage of the ARC DAC8 in the music system.

Having said that...

The best op amps are excellent devices that are solely responsible for making very good audio incredibly affordable. Everyone with a smartphone and IEMs automatically has a very good system. My iPhone8 and Shure 535s with custom fit sleeves do a wonderful job when I'm traveling. My HT components are op amp based (TL072 for processor and 5532 for BluRay) and present smooth, if not fully transparent results. As an aside, TL072s were upgraded replacements to the original Harris chips on the servo amps for my Acoustat X stats in '77. I know them well.

At the end of the day, I'll take zero feedback class A JFETs or triodes (or both as found in the SP20) instead.

RE: A layer of subtlety is lost, posted on January 3, 2022 at 19:41:24
Jonesy Audiophile Posts: 3157 Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba Joined: September 1, 2005 Contributor Since: March 1, 2018	OK. Thanks for this. I now recall reading your posts on opamp experiences and will spend some time rereading it all. Could be an order of opamps in my future. Jonesy "I know just enough to get into trouble. But not enough to get out of it."

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