bpribadi

Very nice color av98m XLR connectors? Wow, can only connect to your own amp Cool! Which one heavier, the cable or the headphone?

Classics For A New Century Very good album, with good recording quality I like it very much

Thanks for the information!

Whoaa, looks your environment has strong RFI The neglex 2534 looks good, can you advise where can we buy it? And how much per meter?

You guys might want to check an interseting discussion here: http://www.sgheadphones.net/index.php?act=...t=15#entry43552 Bram

What you experienced is most likely due to the capacitance of the cable. For example, the Mogami Mic cable, it has a few pF capacitance / meter, and the effect is, it will attenuate high frequency. Because Mic cable is design for audible frequency, therefore it will attenuate the not necessary high frequency. But some believe that eventhough we can't hear them, the existance of the non audible high frequency will affect the harmonic frequency of the audible sound, which is true in theory. Same answer, because shieldings will introduce capacitance which to some extend attenuates high frequency. Therefore I choose shielded cable that design for high frequency, so I expect minimal high frequency attenuation. I wish that we could do cable comparison someday. If you guys interested, try this S-VHS cable, it is design for high frequency S-VHS signal. So far I'm happy with it's performance (I haven't tried the Mogami cable). It cost S$ 2.5 per meter, you get it at SLT 3rd floor, the shop besdie Kaichin (right side). For the high frequency attenuation, check page 7 from the Mogami catalog, you can see the attenuation per meter, as well the bottom chart which show the attenuation over the frequency.

Where did you use the Grado extension cable? From Source to Amp, or from Amp to Headphone? What I understand is, any cable for small power and low voltage signal, and then connected to a high impedance load, such as the Amp's input, MUST BE properly shielded. Because of the high impedance load will easily pick up all interference such as hum, RFI, EMI. These interference are low power signal, therefore will only become significant when connected to high Z and amplified by the amplifier. But for extension between Amp to headphone, especially if your headphone is Low Z, interference will not be audible, because of the ratio between the relatively high power output signal from the Amp, compare to the interference signal power. And also the low Z of the headphone make this low power signal 'powerless' to drive the headphone. For example, speaker cable. Common speaker cable need no shielding, because speaker is very low Z load. But in some places which is close to Radio Antenna, the RFI can be very strong. For this case all cable must be shielded. I ever heard that this strong radio signal can even make a metal bed frame sings

Here is the S-VHS cable I mentioned: I like to use is for: > Internal interconnect in the DIY amplifier > Interconnect between PCDP and Headphone Amplifier (1/8" jack and socket) This cable solved my hum problem previously I had with my CMoy. So it is proven effectively suppress hum Inside the cable are 2 coaxials, red and white, so the core is fully shielded. The hum rejection of this cable should be good, since this cable is designed for high frequency S-VHS signal. The size is just nice, fit tightly (sometime I need lubricant like WD40 to slot in the back spring > see foto) with the common 1/8" jacks and sockets You can buy it from the shop beside Kaichin (SLT 3rd floor), right side, for S$ 2.5 per meter. But for headphone cable, I think it is not Flexible enough. For cheap solution, you can get Daiyo cable, which is widely available at SLS (3rd floor) or Best Denki. It is flexible, and already come as a pair of coaxial, so it is easy for you to split it, cut the other ends to be connected to your headphone. It's cheap, around S$ 12.-. For expensive solution, you can browse this forum (Zu Mobius, etc.)

Shop name in SLT 2nd floor that sell cables and connectors (including the Neutrik connectors). I heard they can DIY cable for you as well.

Check this thread: http://www.sgheadphones.net/index.php?showtopic=2619 http://www.sgheadphones.net/index.php?showtopic=2592&st=15 Or go to SLS; SLT; or Best Denki, they have some nice ready to use extension.

Another one from RCA: The Ultimate Four Seasons Good quality recording, clear with good detail. Very nice variation of the original Four Seasons. Not all violins as the original versions, but there are guitars, mandolin, flute, etc.

DIY, or LHS @ SLT 2nd floor.

Yup, S$ 700.-. It sounds good, clean and natural. But, because of the small dimension it doesn't give enough bass for me. Don't get it wrong, the bass is amazing considering the small speaker size, enough for easy listening and folk music. But I prefer to add subwoofer. I like the natural sound of A1, vocal sounds good with it.

S$ 37.72 per IC (5% GST included), at Farnell. Means S$ 75.44 per pair. Not sure if Huangyong can help us to get it cheaper from TI China. If he can, we can start a group buy for OPA637/OPA627. No problem, I can help you with it. Thanks!

Has anyone came accross a mini system that plays SACD? Something like JVC EX-A1, but unfortunately the A1 doesn't play SACD. http://www.jvc-asia.com/sg/exa1/story/index.html

I would say the Grados Most people I met, when they try Grado for the first time, they said something similar... They said they hear more detail which they never heard before on their familiar tracks. Some reviewers also said the same thing. If you love bass, and lively sounding headphone, try the Grados.

I read that Tropicalrips also found that this OPA2228 sounds good: http://www.sgheadphones.net/index.php?showtopic=2400&st=90

Nope, only the AD8620 had been 'burnt-in' for more than 24 hours. The rest are fresh from Farnell Warehouse I got no time to have them all burnt in properly But according to experts, Op-Amp doesn't sound much different with burning in, but the rest of the components in the amp that will give significant change with burn in. I'm glad I got friend in my findings Yeap, the OPA2228 is the most tube like sounded compare to the rest that I have tried. I haven't tried OPA627 or 637. I guess the OPA2227 and OPA2228 will have the same sound characteristic, since they are in one family. I didn't buy the OPA2227 because of the slow slew rate, and my amp gain is 6.6, so just nice for OPA2228. For CDP tweak, since we don't know the gain, I think it is wise to use OPA2227 for the affordable solution. For the expensive solution porbably the OPA627 is the best. Av98m, do you mind to share how's the OPA627 sounds compare with the OPA2227? Thanks! I'm waiting for AD8065 (single) and AD8066 (dual) from AD, will update this thread once I've tried them

Just FYI about the price, Farnell price after GST for the Op-Amps in my review (price for less than 25 pcs): OPA2134 : S$ 4.57 (order code 791039) OPA2604 : S$ 7.63 (order code 205047) OPA2228 : S$ 7.72 (order code 3323808)

I have a few, you borrow it from me before you buy it You can also try other Op-Amps that I have. Please check my small review of those op-amps: http://www.sgheadphones.net/index.php?showtopic=2628

Just update my small review with OPA2134 Thanks for your interest! Bram

Nice fotos, but I would use wide angle for the public phone foto, position the camera close to the most right phone, focus on the second from right phone, and set the aperture to 2.8. It will create nice perspective and sense of distance Just my 2 cents

You better try other op-amp first before buy it

Sure! that's cool I don't have the OPA627 or OPA637 yet, because they are expensive But since I'm going to make Mini PPA for my brother, I have somebody to finance for the OPA637 I probably will buy them once my Mini PPA board done. My plan is to finish it by end of October or around November. But I would love to try in my Pimeta before I buy though Thanks a lot for the offer !

I would like to try different flavors of sound for 'My Modified Pimeta Clone' headamp (it is not Pimeta, just like Pimeta circuit diagram with PPA jfet cascode). So I bought some Burr Browns to be compared with the Analog Devices. I can’t rely on Tangent’s Notes on Audio Op-Amps too much, because he tested those Op-Amps in CMoy circuit. They might sound differently in my headamp, because of the Jung’s multiloop configuration (like in Pimeta) and jfet cascode class A biasing (like in PPA). Another thing, I might have different taste than him http://www.tangentsoft.net/audio/opamps.html The power supply for the headamp is regulated using LM2941 and LM2991 set at precisely +7.2 and -7.2 volts (14.4 volts rail to rail). I will try more Op-Amps as times and budget permits Amplifier : 'My Modified Pimeta Clone' DIY HeadAmp Source and Headphone : Panasonic PCDP SL-CT810 and Grado RS-1 CDs : Ultimate Demonstration Disc from Chesky Records, Women of Song from Chesky, Best of Audiophile Voices, Jennifer Warnes – The Hunter, and some other CDs. So, I tested them with bright, lively sounding, and very revealing headphone. And for my taste of music, vocal is very important. I like thick and warmth midrange. There is no exact measurement to describe how audio equipments sound. All measurements are subject to personal taste, so this Op-Amp comparison is only sharing of my experience with those Op-Amps, with hope there will be readers benefit from it. The Result: AD8620 Very bright and lively sounding Op-Amp. The treble sounds a bit too dominant. Very good detail and imaging. I love the transient and impact of the AD8620. My only complain with this Op-Amp is the treble, a little bit too sharp, and the color tends to the metallic sound. The good : Bright, very good detail, lively sounding, the most transparent sounding so far. The bad : Treble can be sharp and harsh with bright headphones. Application: Not to be paired with bright headphones. You might get ears fatigue. Probably good for Senns, but not for Grado. I still can enjoy it with my RS-1 though, but only for certain recordings. Very good detail and resolution will reveal recordings flaw. So, this Op-Amp is only for good recordings. OPA2604 Sweet, but veiled sounding Op-Amp. It’s sounds the other way of AD8610. Not bright, veiled, with poor detail. There is no way you will get ears fatigue with this Op-Amp, but you might get bored. It is not a lively sounding Op-Amp. It is not bad, it has a nice color of sound, just a bit mellow with strong Burr Brown’s laid back signature. Some people might like it. The good : Sweet, warm, never sound offensive, good for long hour easy listening. The bad : Poor detail, veiled, mellow, far from lively. Application: To be paired with very bright and lively sound headphones. For those who like long hour easy listening, this Op-Amp might be the choice. As it will hide many details, it might be good to listen poor recording with this Op-Amp. OPA2228 Very nice natural sounding Op-Amp. I like its treble. Not too bright, just nice. It has the laid back Burr Brown sound, but light not as strong as the OPA2604. It is not very bright and lively, but not heavily veiled either. For Senns it might sounds analytical, but for the lively sounding Grado, it makes the Grado sounds well controlled. I can use this Op-Amp for a long hour listening with Grado without getting ears fatigue. Good detail, but not as good as the AD8620. The midrange and bass are slightly thicker than the AD8620 which are nice. Overall, I like this Op-Amp in my headamp paired with Grado, it sounds natural and really ears friendly. I can feel a lot of 'air', like listening to the singer in open air. When you listen to my amp with this Op-Amp, it is not a WOW, but its sweet, and you might wear the headphone longer. I just miss the lively sounding and transparancy of the AD8620 a little bit. The good : Natural and sweet. Very nice treble, good midrange and bass. The bad : Not as detailed as the AD8620, and slightly slow in transient and impact. Application: To be paired with bright and lively sound headphones. Very nice for long hour listening, better than the OPA2604. As it is not highly revealing amp, it forgives flaw in recordings. I might put this OPA2228 permanently in my ‘Pimeta like headamp’, it is very nice to be used for listening my ‘non audiophile’ CD collections. OPA2134 Putting this Op-Amp in Pimeta doesn't change it's sound characteristic a lot. Just a tad more transparent (only a tad) compare to CMoy. I would say that this Op-Amp has the worse imaging than others that I have tested. Very narrow, narrower than my PCDP output. Very narrow space between the singer and the musical instruments, sometime feel like putting my head in a bucket. It only good in bass, nothing else. So for some music from MIDI, which doesn't need imaging at all, this Op-Amp is fine. It has big bass and thick midrange, which is good. The treble is a bit 'short', means bell's sound will sound shorter than the AD8620 or OPA2228. Ok, I have no intention to make it sounds like a bad Op-Amp. OPA2134 is a good Op-Amp, very DIYer friendly, and they have nice sound color of which I like. My complaint is only the narrow imaging, that's all. The good : Big bass and thick midrange. Nice color of sound. The bad : Poor imaging. Application: I think this Op-Amp need bright, transparent, and wide imaging headphone to balance it's narrow imaging characteristic. This Op-Amp is a NO NO for people who demand good imaging, probably another good alternative for those who like music from MIDI / electronica, and like BIG bass. AD8066 This Op-Amp dethrone the OPA2228. It sounds much better than the OPA2228. It has the AD signature, bright and fast. What I like most from AD8066 is the BASS. It has excellent bass, bigger than the OPA2228 and AD8620, and it goes lower. It has very good low bass. For comparison, OPA2134 also has good bass, but more to the mid bass, while AD8066 has better overall bass. My headamp is DC coupled, so it takes all frequency from DC. If yours is AC coupled, you might not be able to hear or feel the excellent low bass from the AD8066. Try 'The Hunter' from Jennifer Warnes to test the bass. If OPA2134 'KICKS' then the AD8066 'KICKS' and 'SHAKES' This AD8066 is not only good in bass. It also has excellent imaging, about the same as the AD8620. I love the treble which is a tad smoother, more 'airy' than the AD8620 which I often feel a bit sharp. So the conclusion is, excellent Op-Amp, very neutral, excellent bass, crystalline clear mid and treble (very good transparancy), excellent imaging, fast and detailed. The good : Excellent BASS, fast, detailed, good imaging, with a pleasant 'airy' feeling. This Op-Amp really brings music to life. The bad : Depend on personal taste, might be too bright for some people. Application: Eventhough I think this Op-Amp is an excellent general all-purpose audio Op-Amp for any headphone, but it tends to sound bright. With good recordings (non-metallic treble recording), this Op-Amp sounds very good with my RS-1. AD8066 is very revealing, you will hear any flaw of poor recording. For poor recording, OPA2228 might still preferable. OPA637 I agree with most of the DIYers that said that this OPA637 (and OPA627) is one of the best Audio Op-Amp. It is the most expensive as well . I didn't have enough time to listen to it, just a few tracks of Chesky Demo Disc, so my comment here will be based on mine and my brother comment (I bought the OPA637 for him). I use this Op-Amp in the amp I made for my brother, which in theory has the same circuits as my headamp. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v294/bpr...mp/IMG_6693.jpg It sounds Very Very Very natural. Almost no coloration, very musical with high listening pleasure. It has thick bass and midrange, with just the right level of treble for my Grado RS-1. The imaging is excellent. Comparing with AD8066, the AD8066 is a tad brighter, and slightly has more space in between the singers and the musicians, but the different is subtle. The OPA637 has the laid back Burr Brown sound which I like, but it is very minimum comparing with other OPAs. The good : Very neutral and musical. Thick bass and midrange with transparant treble. One of the best Audio Op-Amp. The bad : Probably a little dark for dark Headphone, slightly laid back sound which might not suit some people. Application: The best general Audio Op-Amp. Highly recommended for Grado users, or other bright sounding headphones. For Senns users, please audition before you spend the money for this Op-Amp. OPA2107 If you like Burr Brown sound but OPA627/637 is way out of your budget, try OPA2107. It has the color of the expensive OPA637. So far amongs the other OPAs I tested, this is the one that is close to the OPA637, but it doesn't have the superb detail and the good imaging of the OPA637. It has a natural-dark sound, with very good bass and midrange, the treble is fine, but not as transparant as the ADs. It also has the BB laid back signature, more laid back than the OPA637 and OPA2228. I rolled back and forth with OPA2228 (which I like for being very warm and sweet), OPA2107 sounds more natural, faster, with more accurate and better imaging. But it is a bit darker than OPA2228. So for it's price, between the OPAs, it sounds right. More natural & faster than OPA2134, OPA2604 & OPA2228. Compare to the AD8066, I prefer the AD8066 for having better imaging and more transparant treble. The good : One of the best Burr Brown Audio Op-Amp for the price. Natural-dark sound good for bright headphone such as Grado. Excellence Bass and Low Mid, very tight and thick. It sounds musical and enjoyable, good for long hour listening The bad : Dark sound not good for dark Headphone. Laid back sound which might not suit some people. The imaging is narrower than the AD8066 (but wider than the OPA2134, OPA2604 & OPA2228). The treble is a bit too dark for me, not as transparant as the AD8066. Application: Good general Audio Op-Amp for it's price, recommended especially for those who like the dark and laid back Burr Brown sound. Recommended for Grado users, or other bright sounding headphones. Now I'm still using the AD8066 in my Amp, so far it is the best sounding Op-Amp for me. Thanks for reading this long post Happy listening! Bram ------------------------------------------------- Flavors of Audio Op-Amps