Best sounding op-amp


I have a stock Music-Hall CD-25 that I'm planning on doing some 'easy' tweaks on. One of tweaks I had in mind was changing the op-amps. It currently has a pair of Burr-Brown OPA2134PA's, but I was curious if anyone had any experience/suggestions on other op-amps that might produce a little 'warmer' sound. Possibly considering one of the Analog Devices op-amps like the AD823 or AD827. Any feedback or recommendations would be appreciated.

thanks.
jwha

Showing 1 response by chillysalsa

Well, I've 'rolled' the opamps in my headphone amplifier, and came to the following conclusion after a few days to a week with each one:

OPA2134 - flat and lacking soundstage, but decent overall since it didn't do anything wrong in particular, just failed to come through in those areas.
OPA2227 - similar, but warmer overall, slightly larger soundstage
OPA2604 - more detailed than either of the two but slightly cold sounding. Very wide soundstage though.
AD823 - punchy bass, but so detailed in the highs it sounds grainy. Constricted soundstage at times.
AD8066 - comparitively warm and lush, and not as detailed as the 823, but still very good. However had distortion when the input or volume as above a certain leve, like there was a 'step' in the volume knob - I don't think the voltage supply was correct. Upon going back to it the second time it let out a faint stream of smoke and was dead, maybe I plugged it in wrong though...
OPA627 - had to wire pair of these to work as a dual-channel, but by far the cleanest, richest sounding of them all, with the largest soundstage. Details are all there, but not offensive. It's staying.

Another one I may try: AD825.. and of course the AD8620 - I've heard some prefer it to the OP627.