Replacement for NE5532 opamp in preamplifier ?


I'm compiling information to upgrade a Sony TA-E80ES stereo preamplifier.

Among the recommendations I've gotten so far (see: www.thevintageknob.org/SONY/sonyes/TAE80ES/TAE80ES.html), is to replace the stock M5238 opamps with NE5532.

However, I find (for example in the catalogue at www.percyaudio.com) that there are now numerous recommendations for replacing the NE5532 opamp.

Can anyone suggest, from the many Burr-Brown and Analogue Devices opamps, which would be a suitable replacement for both the M5328 and the NE5532?

Many thanks for any tips.

Joel.
dr_joe

Showing 1 response by porchlight1

Wow!  You have a Sony TA-E80ES too?  I love mine!  Bought it new in 1990 along with the matching tuner, CD and cassette deck. The pre and tuner I couldn’t bear to part with. Right off I did change the audio coupling caps;  just 4, 2 on the phono board and 2 on the single-ended outputs.  I used Wonder Caps, the best that were available at the time.  Never changed the NE5532 in the phono board though.

Over the years I compared the Sony with more than a few megabuck preamps.  I remember spending time with Krell, CJ, Audio Research, etc, but none were really better, maybe slightly different. The Sony was certainly more quiet than the tube models. I always thought the Sony had one of the best MC phono stages that I have heard with my LP12/Troika vinyl rig in those days.  With that unassuming 5532 in the signal path. It took a high-bux Luxman to shake that Sony loose and get demoted to the den where it shines with a lovely pair of rebuilt Heathkit EL84 monoblocks.