OPAMP rolling

I know that people look forward to opamp rolling about as much as shaving a cat, but what have you tried out. I have not done any, but am interested as I've seen it mentioned a couple of times. Are cheap opamps put into devices that could potentially benefit from a swap, or does this often result like Purrins recent adventure with his Sutherland Ph3D phono pre, where after rolling you end up right where you started.

This was all prompted by an ad I saw on DIYAudio for a Burson opamp (link below) that I'm sure is $300 or something ridic. Anyone with any useful experience to share?
http://www.bursonaudio.com/products/supreme-sound-opamp-v5/

 

I'm interested, too. I still want to make a point to point cmoy or other simple op-amp based circuit, and think that sticking a Burson in there might add to the run/ridiculous factor. Really curious if it would actually sound better as well.

 

After scrolling down to the bottom of the Burson page it looks like they sell the single opamps as a pair for $70 and the daul opamps for $70 each.

There are a few specifications that need to be looked at before just throwing random opamps in, and designers may have already taken this into account, but could be an interesting way to play around your amps sound.

The Burson does look fun / ridiculous for a P to P CMOY.

 

I've used the Burson V5s in my H10. I have both singles and duals but I only installed the singles to experiment with how much it actually changes the sound. It's VERY subtle, but in the long term I would understand how it would be more enjoyable compared to the stock opamps.

The only difference I could tell was harder hitting bass and more depth in the soundstage. However if i'm going to be realistic and critical then the depth increase could of just been my imagination. It was kind of hard to tell with the mad dogs which was all I had at the time.

HOWEVER, after about a month of use the left channel started to pop at random times and the pops were not quiet in the least. I hadn't even put the duals in yet either. This is apparently due to the H10s voltage being higher than the V5s are capable of handling.

I've sent the V5s back to Burson so they can send me and everyone else who has been having the same issues with the H10 the new hand picked batch of op amps that can handle the 17+/- voltage. The V5s are only able to handle 15+/- V. Just thought I would share my experience so far with rolling opamps.

 

Sorry to be so rudimentary but does anyone have a good guide for how to pick and choose opamps for swapping (Explain like I am 5)? Other than reading others' experiences I haven't figured this one out yet

Also a rant: Where does the "cheap" opamp notion even come from? Manufacturers probably use cheap opamps to build to a cost but the ones I see recommended are usually $10 - $25 each and can be needed in pairs or threes sometimes. My Jolida phono pre takes 6 sockets! I couldn't imagine buying 6 opa627's for that thing. Then you also pay more for shipping from a reputable dealer who is not a Chinese ebay seller. The only opamp I've ever bought that I thought was cheap was $3 for an OP275 I bought as a backup just in case I had a bad one in my DAC but the shipping was probably $8.

 

This general approach to DIY has killed a B22, a Bottlehead SEX, and a pair of D2000 for me over the years. This is why I stick to just doing cables and maybe a little casework now. Though this might change with my point to point cmoy project.

 

Skeptism warranted, though discrete should achieve lower noise levels than monolithic by a fair margin, even at higher gain levels I would think? That said, I am not up on the off-the-shelf pricing for these things....

 

Just rolled ADA-4627's into the MCubed based on some research on the SWA builds; nothing exotic 10 a piece. Soic8 form factor only so I had to buy adapters to dip8.

I prefer the Ad8610 or opa627

 

When I had it, the AD-4627's were the ticket in the m^3!

 

I see Massdrop has Burson opamps.

https://www.massdrop.com/buy/burson-audio-v5i-opamps

Seems like a good price. Only one day left

From what it looks like, they are not fully discrete but a hybrid.

 

So... it's an opamp with a power supply bypass cap built in and possibly a resistor-bias to "class A"?

I guess if it's cheap enough off massdrop (I can't see the price) then it's not a terrible value, assuming the chip is a decent one to begin with.

 

Okay, so basically pre-biased opamps. Probably wouldn't be an upgrade to a Millett Butte

$25 for a dual
$40 for matched pair single opamps
$45 for matched pair dual opamps

 

I heavily considered it but now I wish md was offering the v5 ss ones.

I cant handle opa627s anymore but the alternatives seem to be muses or burson discrete types.

 

V5 is available. I think today is the last day

https://www.massdrop.com/buy/burson-audio-v5-opamps

 

Not super related but came across this

http://www.righto.com/2019/02/op-amp-on-moon-reverse-engineering.html

Reverse engineers a hybrid opamp used for moon landings

 

I will be rolling op amps on my WHAMMY when I get the case (shipping on Ali - slow boat from China - literally!)

I have an LM833 ($0.60) in there now. I also have:
RC4580 ($1.10) (this is the op amp that comes with the "kit" from diyAudioStore)
AD823 ($9.07)
sitting in bags ready to try.

Models I'm looking at, trying to determine if they are worth it or would work:
LM4562 ($3.11)
OP275 ($3.23)

Some have tried this interesting "DUAL Channels HDAM Full Discrete Op Amp Module replace OPA2604 LME49720" in the WHAMMY, but haven't really reported on long term sound characteristics.


And, of course, @highflyin9 has tried a the Burson V5, and he liked it in his WAMMY.