how's the opamp bulks going? macam slow jer... 

Just finished reading this thread. Thinking hard about Zero DAC but i have few queries as below: -
My current HIFI setup is as follow: -

a) Cambridge Audio 540A CD player (wolfson WM8740 24-bit/192kHz DAC) -> Cambridge Audio 540A Amplifier -> Sonus Faber Concertino Domus

Question (a) - is Zero DAC (Burr Brown OPA627)better than Wolfson DAC?

b) Slim Devices Squeezebox 3 Network Music Player (Burr Brown 24-bit DAC) -> Cambridge Audio 540A Amplifier -> Sonus Faber Concertion Domus

Question (b) - Not sure what model Burr Brown DAC used in Squeezebox 3, is it better than Zero DAC?
My music taste is towards classical, new age, jazz, easy listening, is OPA627 suit my music taste?
Cheers!

My current setup is:

PC > Zero DAC (OPA 627 in DAC section) > Denon Amp PMA 500-AE > Wharfedale Diamond 9.1

Currently experiencing some unrefined bass where the bass will sound hollow as in a "Doong" sound which will sound overwhelming till it drowns out the other parts of the song.. An example would be Duffy's Mercy also experienced the same for other songs in flac format playing using foobar...

I'm suspecting that the synergy is not there cause there's no such problem when I'm listening out through the headphone amp...

Just my experience with hooking it up to an amp and bookshelf speakers.. doesn't mean the same thing with other setup as it depends on the synergy with the other components...

Hi Kwek,

Can I borrow your LT1361 and LT1469? I am in Cheras, I can meet you anywhere in KL.

I dunno why Lawrence recommended AD797 since it is not unit gain stable. I felt missing out AD797 since this chip is widely used in MBL DAC.

besides i am looking for
1. 1x LT1028
2. 1x DY2000 (ceramic or metal)

how to find above ??

recently i switch back to stock OP2604 as I changed my tube to Mullard, meant for vocal, laid back listening. I found i am able to listen longer using tube like opamp.

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i have order these

Part Number Description QTY
LT1028ACN8 Ultra Low Noise Op Amp 2
LT1057ACN8 Dual Precision JFET Op Amp 1
LT1361CN8 Dual 4mA 50MHz 800V/uSec OA 1
LT1469CN8 Dual 90MHz 16-Bit Accurate OA 1
is it correct part number ?

when is the big day. may be someone interested to come and test. is kwek still in.

hoooorray!!!!
the poison is ready for collection!!!!
when when when???? cant wait for that!!!!

012-2121260
Sim

mostly when is da COD?? need to arrange my time.
time square area is da best!!!hahaa

currently my setup is

PC > PSC805 > Aego M
PC > PSC805 > HP1000(ordering)

Do i still need to pass by PSC805 from PC to Zero DAC?
or just directly PC > Zero DAC > Aego M ?

Hows the meeting up ? is it this weekend. hopefully some good news on delivery. After more opamp rolling, I am focus on OP2604, LT 1364 and DY2000..

I go back to OPA2604 and found the sonic quality is more to my liking.

for those who follow the zero dac, u may want to come for a tt at puchong area. please refer the bulk thread zero DAc. We can audition the zero dac with mcintosh and harbeth loh.

____________________________

The TT goes on as planned. very interesting though. a budget DAC makes it to the HIFI world. Rolling of DAC section still ongoing. looks like another opamp comes out in the Penchuum forum as well.
http://www.audioasylum.com/audio/tweaks/me.../15/155776.html

I have always been searching to upgrade and improve the ZERO dac.

I will be getting this in 1 or 2 days. Do let me know if u want to buy as well. if u are into stereophile and valve tube amp, u may like this.

Analog device DY2000 (dual, ceramic)
Price: US$15
Comment : These chips makes the sound more valve like than the tube sound ever did if that can possibly make any sense! Melodious, slightly laid back and warm yet it brings out every last bit of detail from a recording. Overall a very nice sound. A kind of hybrid valve and solid state mix which gives the best of both worlds. Nice smooth valve like mids and highs with lovely solid state bass oomph . This is the Op amp for those who prefer a valve like sound but would also like a solid state bottom end delivery. With this Op amp you can have your cake and eat it. Smooth as silk.

chua u can get this DY2000 because i cant find it ??? where to buy

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Added on June 5, 2008, 10:20 amermm soo long not yet arrived ... mine already arrived liow but no time to test on chua DAC ....

let me know fast. Abel has confirmed 1 unit of DY2000. by the way, is your Marantz 5001 a reclock version? any upgrade on power supply.
does the zERO need any reclock?

this is non profit buy. will let u all know once the seller give me the best price.

OK,

altogether 4 units of DY2000 plus myself. But to warn first, the DY2000 is a used unit.

rgds

ccschua x 1
Abel x 1
Godluvsxs x 1
Stormspider x 1

--------------------------

Guys,

a message from Eddie Wu that the DY2000 is not as good as LM 4562. Eddie is frank and open about it, below is the email from Eddie. Eddie said LM4562 gives more pronounce mids, more sweet sounding and slightly more dynamic and control than DY2000. u may refer to Penchuum head-fi thread, post no 1.

''''''''''''''''''
Hello Mr. Wu,

Just to let you know that I received the LM4562 chip and it's better than my DY2000! Thanks! I'm using it on the Zero DAC and Yulong AMP4780. Can you tell me if the Poppulse is better than Zero DAC with LM4562 and Yulong AMP4780 because Poppulse use also LM4562? How much does it cost the shipping to Brazil? How long does it takes to arrive here?

Regards,

Adrian
'''''''''''''''''''''
I am still waiting for some pro to reply, so I hold on first and let me know your preference.

today testing some opamp at chua DAC with my system , i test this DAC without go thru my tube preamp , we just try on the DAC section opamp , for headphone not sure how is performance.
my opamp list :

LM4562 - not bad , vocal is presentable sounding quite dynamic.

LT1507 - compare all my LT range consider the best one most balance low to high sound not very harsh , bass is tight n control wide sound dstage vocal is quite forward.

LT1361 - sound harsh n thin , but detail is very good

LT1364 - sound less harsh than LT1361 vocal quite presentable and warm sound , staging is not bad quite wide , better than LT1361

LME49720 - ??? i almost forget how its sound quite similar with LM4562 but the sound stage is narrow for me is the worst one hhehee

OPA827 - very similar with OPA627 but the detail slightly lesser than opa627 and the sound not soo forward .sound more relax compare opa627.

Chua opamp list :

OPA627 - sound very wide fast n dymanic , bass are tight and fast feel like i using floor-stand and sound very detail but for vocal side is thin abit bright sound.

OPA2604 - come with the DAC i think no need to say much sound slow n laid back, stage are abit backwards.
this just my own preferable n my own ear maybe some of the opamp suite to ur taste n music.
now i waiting chua DY2000 ,and godluxsxx DAC and also waiting the LT1469 to arrive

I was with Abel to try out the different opamp. Although the ZERO DAC is budget level, the sound is definitely not entry level, given the good quality compenent used in ZERO DAC.

I agree with the different sound characteristics written by Abel, up to certain stage, we were confused due to too many swapping back and forth.

However those audition are based on initial swapping, with each individual opamp not yet run in.

Now for my setup, I stick with LT1364, still running in the LT 1364.  I found the LT 1057 and LM 4562 to be rather special. will keep posted regarding the sound characteristics.

So by today I will order 2 units of DY2000.

-----

the order for 2 x DY2000 is on.

I also placed an order for the LT1358, still waiting....

According to the Head-fi thread, the HDAM replica from China costs only USD80 compared to the Australian's Burson Audio USD150. I'm waiting till the guy gives a complete review of OPA627 and HDAM before deciding

both are different character opa627 more to dynamic those for listen rock , trance is more suitable for vocal i prefer LT1364 and LT1507 and LM4562

that day we try on .... Marantz CD-63 (KI edition) with Zero sound not good bcoz the CDP sound are better bcoz the Marantz CD-63 is runing on 16bit normally 16bit the vocal will sound thicker n forward compare to 24bit

those who use low end CDP + this DAC will give a huge improvement for my CDP it also give improvement actually also depends on matching .... maybe some is good some are not

Hello, I'm new and I've got some questions:

1) After having upgraded Zero's OpAmps, could it sound better than an Auzentech X-Fi Prelude or a M-Audio Audiophile 192 PCI sound cards?

2) What is HDAM? Why many people are using it with Zero?

3) Could I obtain good results using the Zero as a PreAmp for TA 10.1?

4) Generally, there are PC sound cards that could provide a better audio quality than the Zero?

5) Is the Zero DAC better than the Trends Audio USB DAC?

6) Let's suppose I'm using digital out of my SB Live! 5.1, connecting it with a Zero DAC. Would it be the same thing doing that with a digital out of a Creative X-Fi, in terms of final audio quality?

I have an Asus Xonar D2X and an X-Meridian and the Zero beats them both. The opa627bp's widen the lead for the Zero.

The Zero is more detailed and balanced with better seperation of instruments. I looked at the Zero before I got the Xonar, but at the time the Zero was difficult to get. They both cost about the same. I regret not just getting the Zero at that time because it is a much better solution.

I agree with ciphercomplete, the level of noise inside a computer does hinder any internal soundcard's DAC ability.

Hardflip from Headfi ZERO thread