Do OP-AMPS make a BIG Difference? Possibly...

Do opamps make a difference in a budget amp like the Fosi ZA3, ABSOLUTELY! I recently went through my first opamp rolling experience with a pair of Fosi ZA3s, and I found the experience very enlightening. This videos contains my thoughts on all of it.
Links to other products in the video (some affiliate):
Fosi ZA3: amzn.to/3W7ryr5
Warm LM OPAMP: amzn.to/3U5vnug
Bright OPAMP: amzn.to/49MR3AU
Sparkos: sparkoslabs.com/?sscid=41k8_p...
OpAmp Puller Tool: amzn.to/3UrCEpB
Thermal Compound (for when you put the amp back together): amzn.to/49JGWNu
OG ZA3 Review: • Buy This Budget Hi-Fi ...
Of course, I always recommend you take a look at the used market, below are some sites that are great for that.
Head-Fi: www.head-fi.org/
HifiGuides: forum.hifiguides.com/
Reddit: / avexchange
Hifi-shark: www.hifishark.com/
US AudioMart: www.usaudiomart.com/
Some of my favorite equipment for various niches (some links are affiliate):
7hz Saltones Zero: amzn.to/3VrQG8A
Kiwi Ears Cadenza: amzn.to/3Z1LcnT
Simgot EA500: amzn.to/3OMOqXB
Fav IEM: Blessing 3: bit.ly/aposayritblessing3
Cheap Open-Gaming Headphone: AD700X: amzn.to/3b4ACUS
Super Cheap Closed-Back Gaming: Recon 500: amzn.to/3numqem
Cheap All-Around Headphone: SHP9600: amzn.to/3b6aUiP
Quicksilver Headphone Amp: quicksilveraudio.com/products/...
JM Audio XTC Closed: www.jmaudioeditions.com/produ...
Gaming Headphone (wired): DT 900 Pro X: amzn.to/3Hkw1hj
Gaming Headphone Wireless: Audeze Maxwell: amzn.to/3KCwrlr
Budget Bluetooth Portable DAC/Amp: BTR7: bit.ly/ayritaposbtr7
Budget Dongle: Dawn Pro: Moondrop Dawn Pro (apos): bit.ly/ayritaposdawnpro
Wired Portable DAC/Amp: Cayin RU6: bit.ly/ayritru6
Cheap Desktop DAC/Amp: Ifi Uno: amzn.to/3Ym0W30
Budget Friendly Clean/Linear DAC/Amp: Fiio K7: bit.ly/ayritk7apos
Budget TWS: Soundcore Space A40: amzn.to/3KRAknx
Hifiman Ananda Nano: bit.ly/ayritaposanandanano
Hifiman Arya Organic: bit.ly/ayritaposaryaorg
Main Home Theater / Hifi Stereo Setup:
Soncoz SGD1: amzn.to/3DnaHpQ
FOSI ZA3: amzn.to/3wJCSyQ
Emotiva T0+: emotiva.com/products/airmotiv...
Jamo C10 Sub: amzn.to/3xmdaRg
DIY 12” Passive Sub
Sub Amp: Aiyma A07: amzn.to/3YocZ0f
Bedroom Home Theater / Hifi Stereo Setup:
Aiyma A07: amzn.to/3YocZ0f
Topping E30: amzn.to/3kPXcsm
Elac Speakers: amzn.to/3HEpkHN
Cables:
Hart Audio Cables: hartaudiocables.com/
Worlds Best RCA Interconnects: amzn.to/3pB2Oa7
Worlds Best XLR Interconnects: amzn.to/3vEdwxO
4.4 to XLR Balanced Cable: amzn.to/3UxF83G
3.5 to RCA Cable: amzn.to/3S0x7CF
Recording Gear:
Canon EOS RP: amzn.to/42UuVms
Canon 16mm: amzn.to/3UUyAij
Maono XLR: amzn.to/3Tt2IOF
Behringer UM2: amzn.to/3CO65d2
iPhone 14 Pro (overhead): amzn.to/3OQFiCh
Current Desktop Set Up:
Alesis Elevate 5 MKII: amzn.to/3TtU30h
JDS Labs Element III:
Hifiman Ananda Nano: bit.ly/ayritaposanandanano
Hifiman Arya Organic: bit.ly/ayritaposaryaorg
JM Audio XTC Closed: www.jmaudioeditions.com/produ...
#opamp #za3 #sparkos

[@MrBenherrmann]

With the onslaught of a variety of inexpensive class D amps that feature op-amp interchangeability, I've found that changing out and experimenting with various op-amps can really make a difference. Of course, in the end, the age old adage of, "you get what you pay for," really holds true here. Yes, discrete op-amps like those from Burson and Sparkos Labs (I believe there are one or two other legitimate brands) can run as much as these amps cost themselves. At first, I was hesitant about investing the extra cash in the Sparkos Labs versions (i.e. SS3602 dual channel versions), however, once I made the move, the sonic upgrades - in my opinion - were quite noticeable. As a result, I've upgraded the op-amps in all of the amps I currently own - those being the Aiyima A07 Max, the Fosi V3, BT20A Pro, and ZA3 - with the Sparkos Labs versions, and in each case, the sonic improvements on my system were distinct. By distinct, I mean to describe greater depth, fuller sound, wider sound-staging, smoother highs, being more immersive, etc. Now contrast this with a few folks out there (and they'll argue the point with you) that all op-amps basically sound the same because "their measurements" don't bear out sonic differences. And there's nothing you'll be able to do to convince these folks as they consider their opinions superior to yours, and in some cases even have a condescending view of your opinions.

[@owelter]

Of course op amp make a difference. If you want to use an ic because of price or power draw of your specific board design, very clearly the best one is opa1656. You will have to buy it mounted on a dip 8 adapter because it was intended to be soldered directly onto a pcb. I don’t know why so few people know about it, i don’t know why TI didn’t make it available in dip 8 factor, but it has remarkable performance in sound applications, wide voltage range, low power draw. It’s about 15 bucks mounted on dip8 adapter. Give it a shot.

[@JTB--]

The best example of Op Amps taking things up a notch is the Geshelli Stuff using Sparkos Op Amps. Their JS2 DAC and Archer 3 Pro Amp with the Sparkos Op Amps makes them sound like products costing 2X to 3X their asking price.

[@keithchelini5776]

I swapped in the Burson V7 Classic op amp into my Geshelli J2s DAC and have been very pleased. It was a big step up from the Burson V5i that came with the DAC.

[@mikepxg6406]

Replacing an op amp is more likely to add distortion as the Fosi is designed around the opamp inside. Most people don't have enough electronic knowledge to do this. Making a difference doesn't mean better, Every mixing desk in the audio chain has gone through hundreds of NE5532. So you put in an unsuitable OPamp in a little box in your living room, you hear some high frequency noise and think it sounds better because you paid more for it, Unless you can test an improvement you are probably making things worse.

[@chrisharford2610]

I have many fosi amps and preamp. Thinking about rolling opamps. Which ones do you use?

[@kerryvanderkamp5051]

Nice topic. Coincidentally, I just upgraded the opamp in my DIY WHAMMY amp earlier this morning. I’ve always used Burson opamps and just got the new V7 classic.

[@mattmiller4978]

Man same setup with Emo T0's. I switched a V3 to Muses02 and a 48v 5a GaN ps. Curious how you are testing, looks like you are taking notes? I don't think that's how you do it. I AB switched after listening to full tracks, and inter track between a stock V3 and this upgraded one, I thought for sure I was picking out the one that sounded better, "punchier bass and full vocals and all that. But I wasn't. It's was as good as random guesses.

[@robertkosinski2105]

Now here's something different. I use two V3 amps to bi-amp my speakers. is it possible best sound is a certain opamp for highs and different one for lows?

[@aceofspades6667]

Yep on my Burson amps the op amps make a huge difference. SIL, sparkos, stocattos, and the Burson vivids are all nice options to roll.

[@Stefandejager01]

So how many op-amps (excluding balanced outputs) for the ZA3 - 2? Is that right?

[@phantomplastics6582]

Try the Stacatto op amps.

[@JoshFisher567]

Hmmm.. interesting topic. I've often wondered this myself. Sounds like from the other posts it does, but you're not going to get anything better, probably worse goong the, let's just say 20.dollar and below, especially for a pair or more. I'm also wondering if different DACs make a noticeable change to another DAC? Like this DAC with a particular opamp sounds noticably better with one DAC, but less difference using s different DAC running to the same qmp.. Or if it's just stick to these brands, well engineered , better quality parts and probably hand soldiered,, so price is higher due to lower demand so the company has to due to lower sales plus obvious beter quality hardware. If you got the money and it's something noticeably more oleasing to the ears, then it sounds like they would be worth it. Unfortunately like most audiophile stuff, those brands are usually in a completely different orice category.

[@MrAyrit]

Yeah, I’m not sure how much sense it makes to just swap cheap ones, but it might be a fun experiment, which is what a lot of this ends up being. Not sure that it’s a “high value” thing, but that doesn’t mean that it isn’t enjoyable, especially if you’re curious.

[@Elegiac7]

Get your op amps on Mouser or Digikey. Then you know what you're getting.

[@kajetan9550]

It’s not worth talking about built quality, there are two types discrete (like sparkos) and most common IC (small chip based like all the small ones you had there). Two PCBs because it’s a dual version opamp (two channels), ss3601 has one PCB because it’s a single. The bottom part is just the most regular cheap dip8 adapter that you solder the PCBs to, the IC opamps for the size have legs going directly out of them. It’s a context thing, not really build quality It’s a question of what size and cost you can accommodate. Discrete opamps are a lot bigger, the sparkos ss3602 you have there is one of the smallest discrete ones on the market and that was the goal. They offer a normal better one that is 4 times the size Sparkos Pro. Also Burson v7, sonic imagery labs ticha, etc. are the normal sized op amps made in discrete way

[@andrews4379]

Cheaper buy good active speakers 😂