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In Reply to: RE: Listing of Opamps for Eastern Electric Minimax DAC Plus... posted by Doug Schroeder on January 24, 2012 at 11:26:39
I owned the EE DAC before and am using the new EE DAC Plus now.
I tried OPA627 on U6/U7 & AD8599 on U1/U2 with significant improvement in every aspects.
The Newclassd discrete opamps are even better.
The size fit perfectly in DAC Plus.
The background is blacker, resolution higher, frequency extensions wider yet equally musical.
They KO the tube output despite I am using a very good NOS Valvo 'pinched waist' E80CC.
I will try pulling out the tube soon.
(Give Lars Clausen of Newclassd an email. He's very friendly & probably will give you a discount if you tell him you are referred by Peter of Hong Kong.)
Follow Ups:
I am sure you are correct. The Dexas would beat any normal op amp. However, the circuit it way too long. If you knew what you are doing you could use just one Dexa single per channel with a coupling cap soldered directly to the ouput jack. This would sound worlds better. I use a single output device with no coupling cap for even more pure sound. Also, all the parts used in the output stage (even if very simple) still need to be upgraded to give the best sound that fits the player. Also the regulators are ordinary in the minimax. I use cascoded current sourced discrete shunt regs on my circuit. Better regs equal better sound. The potential of the EE DAC is tremendous......of course, you would want better regs on the DAC and clock and a better clock, etc.
Edits: 01/28/12
Hi Ric,
Many thanks for your suggestion!
I have similar tweaking plan : better IEC socket/coaxial jack/clock/capacitors/regulators...etc. Stepwise upgrade & tweaking is fun.
May you show us some photos of your fully tweaked DAC Plus? Have you compared yours with other DAC and what's the result?
Thank you again.
Peter
I have never modded an EE DAC. I know what can be done and how the sound will be because I have modded the Oppo 95 that uses the same DAC chip. I have been interested in modding the EE and just tonight put the info on my website with pricing. The mods will be basically the same as what I am doing in the Oppo 95 (not quite as totally involved, but that may change). I just now posted a pic of the underside of the modded Oppo 95 board on my site, so one can see the hand made wild stuff I do. First person gets 20% off.
Edits: 01/28/12
Peter,
Are you using the Newclassd discrete op-amps in the dual, and single position?
regards
Bob
Yes, two dual-Newclassds and two single-Newclassds.
They fit perfectly inside the DAC Plus chassis/circuit board.
The photo
Hi Peter,
That is good they fit under the cover. :) What about when you use the tube,sound wise? Still much better than the 627 + tube? I think they also do not draw as much current as the Burrsons.
regards
Bob
Hi Bob,
Previously I used OPA627BP at U6/U7 (for SS output only) and AD8599 at U1/U2 (for both SS & tube output).
The all-Newclassd configuration is better the AD8599+tube configuration in all aspects except that the latter sounds a bit sweeter.
Top grade opamps such as OPA627SM or OPA128SM are very expensive. They are also difficult to find with many used ones or faked ones in Hong Kong.
I purchased the Newclassd together with a few audiophile friends so as to share the shipping cost. My set of 4 Newclassds costs < USD200. IMHO the Newclassd discrete opamp is better & has much better C/P ratio than all other integrated circuit opamp upgrade. Strongly recommended!
Cheers,
Peter
Hi Peter,
Just curious, have you ever tried all OPA627s? Why did you use the AD8599s? I have not tried them.
I really enjoy the OPA627s in both single and dual positions.
regards
Bob
nt
Some of these discrete Op-Amps suck up current up to multiples of usual op-amp being replaced. I have read posts where putting in something like Burson discrete in the wrong position makes EE DAC Plus sound like "AM Radio" (from recollection).
Yes, Burson's discrete opamps suck up a lot of current so I choose Newclassd's instead.
The 4 Newclassds are running faultlessly in my EE DAC Plus for about 50 hours already and the sound is still improving.
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