Do discrete opamps improve sound? Opamp swapping

[ToppingSMSL]

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LmD_Uy3p3dA


Interesting video, and a nice dig at Danny from GR Research 😀

 

[davidf]

I see his face, I'm out.

 

[ToppingSMSL]

I see his face, I'm out.

Being afraid of the truth is common. You can learn to break free from that. Believe in yourself.

 

[abacus]

I see his face, I'm out.

Do you mean you hate it when people provide verifiable evidence that does not support your opinion.

Bill

 

[Al ears]

To me Op amp swapping seems very similar to tube rolling with a valve amp.
You either hear the benefits or you don't.
However you'll never know until you try.

 

[ToppingSMSL]

To me Op amp swapping seems very similar to tube rolling with a valve amp.
You either hear the benefits or you don't.
However you'll never know until you try.

😂

I think you're missing the point. People thought they heard differences in the GR Research test but someone noticed that the volumes were slightly different - the discrete one was slightly louder.

Tubes are not the same as their distortions are in the audible range - that can be shown with measurements.

 

[Al ears]

😂

I think you're missing the point. People thought they heard differences in the GR Research test but someone noticed that the volumes were slightly different - the discrete one was slightly louder.

Tubes are not the same as their distortions are in the audible range - that can be shown with measurements.

Apologies but I haven't actually watched the video.
So you're saying volume differences will make them sound different?

 

[ToppingSMSL]

Apologies but I haven't actually watched the video.
So you're saying volume differences will make them sound different?

It's a proven fact. That's why volume matching is so important.

 

[Jasonovich]

To me Op amp swapping seems very similar to tube rolling with a valve amp.
You either hear the benefits or you don't.
However you'll never know until you try.

Yes, it is the same with tube rolling.
I think I got lucky, it doesn't always translate to better sound, it may present the music in a different way or give a better balance or make it worse. I like the sound of my replacement tubes better than (but not substantially) the generic ones.

 

[abacus]

Apologies but I haven't actually watched the video.
So you're saying volume differences will make them sound different?

Look up Fletcher Munsen curves to see how the response of the ear varies with volume.

Bill

 

[Al ears]

Look up Fletcher Munsen curves to see how the response of the ear varies with volume.

Bill

To me if a B Flat doesn't sound like a B Flat then it has nothing to the volume it is played at......
sod curves... 🙂

 

[ToppingSMSL]

Yes, it is the same with tube rolling.
I think I got lucky, it doesn't always translate to better sound, it may present the music in a different way or give a better balance or make it worse. I like the sound of my replacement tubes better than (but not substantially) the generic ones.

As I said in my reply it's only superficially similar, since the distortion levels are so different.

 

[RJW232]

If you have proper engineered equipment the chance for a better results are almost zero.

Apologies but I haven't actually watched the video.
So you're saying volume differences will make them sound different?

For sure. I have an very extreme example from personal experience: I attended a concert where the volume was actually too high. Some parts, guitar or keyboard solos sounded out of tune to my ears. When I heard the recordings (made on my phone) of the same concert at home at a much lower volume, everything sounded OK. And I know, this is a very extreme example, but you can imagine if you compare equipment with 1 or 2dB difference in volume the sound will be different. And don't forget that some speakers need a bit more power before the start singing and dancing. It can be just that small difference (when I was studying I worked part-time in the local hifistore and sometimes we used this trick to sell speakers which had a better margin).