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asus stxII with sparkos discrete opamps

Hi And thanks for reading this thread.
Just replaced the stock muse opamps in my asus stxII soundcard with sparkos discrete opamps, and it sounds awful.
The muses are so much better.
I heard something about 100 hours burn in time is required for the sparkos, it will have to be a big improvment to warrant keeping them.
Have you heard anything about this. What is the difference in sound quality with muses compared to sparkos. Is it a subtle difference or something more profound.
Thanks!
johnny121
johnny121 OP
11 posts
 
I have found plenty of posts comparing sparkos against burson audio opamps, but nothing concerning muses vs sparkos.

What is your opinion of the muse opamp, it is expensive but is it audiophool expensive, or genuinely high performance.

Usually when i upgrade components, if the new component is better i can hear it straight away, so am not a big fan of the burn in theory.
Might be something to it, or maybe not. What do you think
auxinput
2,920 posts
 
Both the Sparkos and the Burson op amps are very demanding on the power supply.  The newest Burson are less demanding, but still require a good amount of capacitance around them and good strong and smooth voltage from main power supply.  This is something that the computer PS just cannot provide.  I'm not sure why so many people think that Bursons sound good on this card -- maybe a placebo affect??  Without a good power supply and closely mounted larger size capacitors, these discrete Class A op amps can sound bright/thin.

I once tried one of the MUSE op amps and the sound was very full, but a bit dull on the high frequencies. (can't remember if it was MUSE01 or MUSE02)  I attributed this to the very slow slew rate.  It may work out in some situations, but not others.

The best op amp I would recommend for a card like that are the single channel OPA827 SMD opamps mounted on a "single-to-dual" adapter.  Cimarron Technologies will sell these with the op amps already mounted/soldered onto the adapter for $33.50 each.  Just make sure you choose the "Pins are installed" option.

https://www.cimarrontechnology.com/browndog-020302-single-to-dual-op-amp-adapter

You can have him install other op amps onto the adapter, but I have found the OPA827 is the best compromise of resolution and FET sonic signature.  These monolithic op amps are also not as demanding on the power supply and work well on many platforms.

As far as burn in, yes, any electronic component will require a level of burn in.
johnny121 OP
11 posts
 
Thanks!What do you think of analogue devices, is one of their opamps suitable.
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