[rab10]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jon L NE5534 Class A biased-- "NE5534A" ... when you crank up the volume with Ety4S, something you can't do very much with something like OPA637 or AD744 class A. After a certain loudness level (pretty loud actually), a lot of recordings, even of decent average quality, become too grating.

Great write up!

I totally agree with the Ety's and the increased volume.
I heard that exactly and wondered what was going on. I had not read
anybody mention this before.

Still the SM-3, OPA637 (etc.), and
Ety's still sound good together (I agree to their above shortcoming), and
there are still other opamps that outperfom. What Great Options!

My SM-3 came with the NE5534 opamp originally. I liked the NE5534 alot, but
it was too warmish for my likes. But the BASS, I have never heard my ETY's
with that much bass ever!

My Question: How does the NE5534 Class A biased sound in comparison? You
said that "Once again, class A biasing seems to burn away a good amount of
veil and haze. Transparency improves as well as detail. Treble becomes less
soft and bass more tight and slamming."

* Does the TREBLE Highs Brighten significantly?

You should try the AD8610. I liked the AD8610 alot for vocal music, Beautiful
Vocal Resolution! But IMO the bass was not resolved as well, boomy bass shy
with the Etys.

Jon L, where did you get your AD744 at? Analog.com or Digikey? (Sample
Availability?) I have to try the NE5534 Class A biased, and AD744 Class A
biased in my SM-3 now.

Thanks!

Ruben
(rab10)

 

[pkshan]

Every sm3 user should get a pair of onsemi SE5534AN or SA5534AN!
http://www.onsemi.com/
the best 5534 in the world & the best sound ever(working under class A) !
I tried many ops(over 40 kinds,included many $$$$ ops),se/sa5534 are the best.
the sound is as live as 797,but more neutral,airy & clarity,
It just sounds magnificent!

Ti ne5534 is the worst,very grainy.
627/637 are so lifeless,muffle mids.why they cost so much?damx
797 sounds too fat & heavy with my k240m.

I was a big fan of 797,now I have found my new lover!

my op collections

 

[12796]

try the ad843 - I think you wil be impressed!

 

[dafiiid]

Quote:

Originally Posted by biovizier try the ad843 - I think you wil be impressed!

Seriously, I also think that 843 is a wonderful opamp for Supermacro 3!

 

[Spektrograf]

Jon L,

Thanks for a phenomenal, detailed, and organized writeup! I'd pretty much agree with you right down the line (save the AD7xx and THS4061MJG, since I've never tried those). I ordered mine installed with the 627's, but later tried rolling the 604's, 227's, AD8160's, and NE5534's as well using HD580's and definitely ended up staying with the OPA627's.

Honestly, I think it's mostly because I just got used to its sound signature and can't bear losing the detail and speed. It's the only setup where backup vocals and instruments are presented with so much distinct clarity and separation that I can mentally focus on any of the parts as opposed to the normal effect of having them mesh into a collage in the background.

Thanks again for sharing!

 

[Jon L]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spektrograf Jon L, Thanks for a phenomenal, detailed, and organized writeup! I'd pretty much agree with you right down the line (save the AD7xx and THS4061MJG, since I've never tried those). I ordered mine installed with the 627's, but later tried rolling the 604's, 227's, AD8160's, and NE5534's as well using HD580's and definitely ended up staying with the OPA627's. Honestly, I think it's mostly because I just got used to its sound signature and can't bear losing the detail and speed. It's the only setup where backup vocals and instruments are presented with so much distinct clarity and separation that I can mentally focus on any of the parts as opposed to the normal effect of having them mesh into a collage in the background. Thanks again for sharing!

There's NOTHING wrong with OPA627

Opamp rolling can be an obsession like tube rolling, and I've done entirely too much of both in my lifetime. Anyway, I still have AD829, AD843, SE5534 pending evaluation. Also, I will be receiving my AKG K340 in the mail this week, as well as AKG K1000 adapters for SuperMacro in the works, so I will be updating my impressions with these different 'phones in the future. There's just not enough hours in the day, especially with these 80+ hour work-weeks..

 

[12796]

I have ad829 on order. I wil be surprised if you dont think the ad843 beats the op627. Also the ad8065 is pretty good! Maybe better than the ad843 in a cmoy. I am using akg 340. I have a wna headamp arriving enxt week and will try a few opamps there too. Should thrash the cmoy.

 

[Jon L]

Review updated with SA5534 class A and re-evaluation using AKG K340 and AKG K1000.

 

[goto2003]

To my ears, ON SA5534AN's have fuller mid and bigger sound in general than OPA627's . OPA627's push singer a few rows away from the listener while 5534's throw a closer feeling. After testing those most popular Opamps (627/637, AD8610/797/825, OPA227/604, Ti NE5534 and ON SA5534), I keep SA5534AN (Class A) as default as they really make music alive.

 

[Jon L]

Quote:

Originally Posted by goto2003 To my ears, ON SA5534AN's have fuller mid and bigger sound in general than OPA627's . OPA627's push singer a few rows away from the listener while 5534's throw a closer feeling. After testing those most popular Opamps (627/637, AD8610/797/825, OPA227/604, Ti NE5534 and ON SA5534), I keep SA5534AN (Class A) as default as they really make music alive.

Can you crank up the volume pretty high on the Senns w/ SM v.3 without clipping? SM v.3 doesn't quite have enough power for my AKG K340 when fun really gets going..

 

[goto2003]

No clipping even my ears start to blood

 

[jamato8]

For my HD650's the V3 supplies more than enough power. I have used the gain switch a couple of times with some heavy rock and there was way more than enough.

John

 

[Jon L]

Updated with AD743 impressions.

 

[TURBO]

You guys should try the AD843. I am super impressed with this one. I just ordered the OPA627 for comparison. I heard that these are very similar. Next week I will find out.

 

[12796]

I have done quite a few comparisosns of opa627 with ad843 - I think the ad843 is ahead in my apps by a significant margin.