Should you use Burson V7 vivid pro in a DAC?

Burson V7 vivid pro dual is an op-amp that goes for $85 a piece and this is my impression. Read my written reviews with scores at iiwireviews.com/
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00:00 Introduction
02:49 Geshelli Labs J2S with OPA1656
04:09 Burson V7 vivid
08:03 vs Sparkos SS3602
12:32 Final Thoughts
Room test system:
Eversolo DMP-A8, Allo DigiOne Signature
Lampucera DIY DAC, Gustard R26 DAC: bit.ly/3XLyNCF
Acoustic Invader AMP and PREAMP (Fulcrum version): acousticinvader.com/
Spirit Wind Speakers: • High End 2-way speaker...
Head-Fi:
Aune S17 Pro: amzn.to/3u2O6gu
xDuoo XD05 Pro: shorturl.at/stJRT
Verum 1: www.verum-audio.com/store
Goldplanar GL2000: s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DkW...
AKG K702: amzn.to/3TSlnUF
#hifi #audiophile #dac #stereo

[@sopasadena1499]

I have a J2S AKM 4493. I have tried the Sparkos ss3602 and ss2590 in the RCA stage. I find the ss2590 to be much more dyamic with a more emersive sounstage than the ss3602. Both are far better than the stock op amp IMO. Also both benefit from using a linear power suuply as does my streamer (a Wiim Pro). Thanks for introducing Burson. That op amp is probably the next one on my journey

[@Artemis_Prix]

I have a similar setup, but with the J2S 4499ex chip set. Agree with your observations re the 2590 Pros with the LPS. I view the 2590 Pros as providing the same magnitude of improvement relative to the 3602s as one would get going from the standard op-amps to the 3602s. It's quite amazing actually, and as you noted, the LPS enhances everything quite a bit further.

[@Cestmoi50]

If only you would have tested the V7 classics too 😉 I really like your way of reviewing. Fair and honest

[@stankostankovic9008]

I cried for three fat men who will fight for space.😂😂😂

[@LizAllan-ps6vq]

I just love your reviews! I have been fighting cancer for 3 years! I won but you really helped! thank you!

[@iiWiReviews]

Thanks man, if they were of any help that's fantastic. I'm so happy to hear you won that fight. 👏 Keep on rocking!

[@TheodoreBreaux]

I have a Geshelli J2S with the huge Sparkos SS2590s in all three positions. Recently I was able to make a comparison between those and the Burson V7 Vivid. The Sparkos SS2590 is much the same character as the SS3602 except a little more expansive and textured. Your review very much agrees with my observations, whereby the Sparkos has slightly more relaxed and warmer presentation with layering focused along the edges of the soundstage with the Burson being a bit more lively with slightly more front-focused layering. Both are top-tier op amps. At present, I have the Burson V7 Vivid in the balanced XLR positions and the SS2590s in the single ended RCA, allowing me to instantly switch between the two, and I agree that each seems perhaps just slightly better suited for different types of music.

[@deadline7610]

Thanks for sharing. Was there much difference between the sparkos SS2590 single ended and balanced ? You didn't mention if you have the AK4499 and which amp your using. Thanks

[@TheodoreBreaux]

@@deadline7610 I upgraded from J2 AKM 4493 to J2S AKM 4499EX last year. I have two different headphone amps (Rupert Neve RNHP and xDuoo TA-26) and a Crown XLS-2502 for the speaker system (with meticulous placement and REW calibration). The differences between op amps is clearly audible with all gear. The SS2590 is excellent on all J2S outputs, and if there is any performance difference between the SE and XLR outputs, it is so slight that it is negligible. One advantage the V7 has is size. It can be easily fitted to all outputs, whereas the huge SS2590 can usually be fitted to the SE output without contact issues, although fitting them to the XLR requires an adapter to increase the height on one socket and an extender for the other. I detailed this exercise in the Head-Fi org forums.

[@TheodoreBreaux]

@@deadline7610 I upgraded from J2 AKM 4493 to J2S AKM 4499EX last year. I have two different headphone amps (Rupert Neve RNHP and xDuoo TA-26) and a Crown XLS-2502 for the speaker system (with meticulous placement and REW calibration). The differences between op amps is clearly audible with all gear. The SS2590 is excellent on all J2S outputs, and if there is any performance difference between the SE and XLR outputs, it is so slight that it is negligible. One advantage the V7 has is size. It can be easily fitted to all outputs, whereas the huge SS2590 can usually be fitted to the SE output without contact issues, although fitting them to the XLR requires an adapter to increase the height on one socket and an extender for the other. I detailed this exercise in the Head-Fi forums.

[@TheodoreBreaux]

@@deadline7610 I upgraded from J2 AKM 4493 to J2S AKM 4499EX last year. I have two different headphone amps (Rupert Neve RNHP and xDuoo TA-26) and a Crown XLS-2502 for the speaker system. The differences between op amps is clearly audible with all gear. The SS2590 is excellent on all J2S outputs, and if there is any performance difference between the SE and XLR outputs, it is so slight that it is negligible. One advantage the V7 has is size. It can be easily fitted to all outputs, whereas the huge SS2590 can usually be fitted to the SE output without contact issues, although fitting them to the XLR requires an adapter to increase the height on one socket and an extender for the other. .

[@TheodoreBreaux]

@@deadline7610 I upgraded from J2 AKM 4493 to J2S AKM 4499EX last year. I have two different headphone amps (Rupert Neve RNHP and xDuoo TA-26) and a Crown XLS-2502 for the speaker system (with meticulous placement and REW calibration). The differences between op amps is clearly audible with all gear. The SS2590 is excellent on all J2S outputs, and if there is any performance difference between the SE and XLR outputs, it is so slight that it is negligible. One advantage the V7 has is size. It can be easily fitted to all outputs, whereas the huge SS2590 can usually be fitted to the SE output without contact issues, although fitting them to the XLR requires an adapter to increase the height on one socket and an extender for the other.

[@phantomplastics6582]

Brilliant review. Unique and sincere.

[@NeilBlanchard]

Great stuff! I would like to try the Burson V7 Vivid at some point. I have tried the Sparkos SS3602 - and the big Sparkos SS2590 (two of them in a DIP8 adapter) in the RCA/single ended socket on my J2S AKM 4499 - and the big Sparkos is essentially more/better of the same qualities of the smaller Sparkos. The big Sparkos costs $126 MSRP but you can get 15% off by signing up for their very infrequent emails - so about $107; or $27 more than the SS3602. I hope you can review the SS2590 dual mono unit!

[@yellow_noise3]

Great comparison. Looks like Burson with V7s did lot of improvement over V6. Would you consider to bring Staccatto opamp from Poland (not far from you) it is also discrette circuit, which for many reviewers sound better than Sparkos. This would be excellent opamp battle! My Best!

[@Simon_Hawkshaw]

Thank you so much for this very in-depth and relevant review of opamps. Helps to pull everything together and makes choosing a little easier. Would it be more beneficial to change the opamps in an amplifier instead of the DAC? Thank you again for your time efforts and for sharing your perspectives with us all.

[@marcusbrsp]

Thank you for the review, Srboljub! I have been eyeing various Burson op amps for my garden stereo and this review gave me more meat on the grill, so to speak. I am currently running dual MUSES01 and while I find that the instrument separation is surprisingly good, I do lack a bit of punch and liveliness in the music. The Burson's a bit pricey though.

[@yeghigmikaelian]

I guess it was worth the review :) thank you.

[@s.daniel9224]

Great videos. Thanks.

[@DJ_BROBOT]

I approve of using these op-amps...I have them in two portable amps right now and they are game changing and excellent at what they do. Five steps above the OG Burson v5i. The clarity, separation and thump these have are NO JOKE. To fit them in the case for the amps I had, I got a dip-4 slot extender that turns the op-amp to the side (as opposed to the its normal straight up orientation).

[@MiguelFernandez-mv5qn]

I have a J2S with SS3602's in all slots and Archel3 Pro with SS2590 pro from Geshelli. I don't consider myself an expert on audio but I can tell the Geshelli equipment is a decent step up from my ifi signature amp. You've done a very good job with this review and it answered my question about whether or not to upgrade to the Burson V7 Vivid. I think for the time being I will stick with the Sparkos SS3602's as they are an immersive experience for me. The archel's tone controls also help to sort of EQ the sound a bit and that's more important to me than swapping out the the opamps. Thanks again for a great review.

[@sloboat55]

Excellent

[@RickRolling-tc7vb]

Thanks for that perspective, and your analogy of the thre fat men is excellent: it really is a strong image and I understand much more than I did fifteen minutes ago. Good work, thank you very much.

[@k5949507]

I always enjoy your review. Could you compare this Burton V7 vivid pro against ARES II from Denafrips or Bifrost 64/2? Thank you always!!!

[@ericschultz9925]

When I use the Sparkos 2590 in my mods (which is , so far, my favorite op amp....have not heard the V7 or Staccato) I modify them by removing the input protection diodes, damping them with small contrained layer material underneath the board and shorten all the pins and change the two input pins and the output pin to pcocc neotech 18 guage wire. Results in a cleaner and clearer sound, faster and at the same time less veiled and is more transparent and real sounding. Andrew Sparks knows that I mod them.....he actually told me where the diodes where on the board. I would try some small pieces of the EAR SD40AL damping material on the heatsinks of the V7....probably make it more musical or even more detailed....or both....but too much damping and it might make it slow sounding......damping is an art.

[@mattrismatt]

Most intriguing.

[@IvanITpro]

🤯 I thought I was one of the few that solders out the cheap IC opamps, puts in a socketed DIP8 adapter to enjoy my discrete PRO Sparkos opamps. Turns out there’s a level above me ... 😅👍👍

[@L00peey]

do you mean the large gold plated pins that are connect to the adapters?

[@Apocrypha303]

I have a Geshelli J2S 4499 DAC. I put two muses02 opamps in the two xlr slots. I like the sound of them, I'm no audiophile. I plan on putting some muses02's in my Fosi ZA3 at some point in the future.

[@BoRerunn]

What's the configuration , would you need to install 2 or 4

[@D1N02]

Good thing more discrete op amps are coming. Staccato is another good one. They're Polish.

[@JoseFerreira-zb7wh]

It would be nice if you could compare these with SPARKOS LABS SS2590 PRO, their top of the line opamp.

[@cherihorvath2047]

I have about 300 hours on the Vivid V7 Pros in my J2S using a high quality very hefty 12v LPS and clearly prefer the V7 to the Sparkos. How would you compare this combination of V7/J2S+LPS to the SMSL SU10 and the Gustard A26 in terms of overall sound quality since you have studied all 3 quite extensively? Thank you!

[@shawnpwatsons1]

Passion For Sound reviewer like the V7 Classic in the J2 the best over the Sparkos 3602,

[@joenovak6393]

Everyone’s ears are different as to the speakers and audio amps used. I also watch several KZbin reviewers and that’s where they are best in the web ether.

[@JetEarlewood]

And I believe he was listening through headphones, not a two channel speaker system

[@stefaanalen7382]

iiwi whats the most fastest and cleanest hitting dac for house under 1k you ever heard? in the time it whas de su 9 and now???thx

[@iiWiReviews]

Topping D90 III comes to mind first.

[@askara.3671]

How would you compare vivid 6 and vivid 7 pro? Is there really noticeable improvement?

[@iiWiReviews]

I never tried V6 so can't compare them.

[@jeanious2009]

You want more bass, just boost the low end on the EQ. Everyone is using DSP, that can change the sound much faster than having to disassemble your DAC and swapping out op amp chips.

[@KXP70]

EQ is great, but there's more to sound quality than just frequency response.

[@IvanITpro]

😁😆🤣 That’s adding gain to a frequency, not the same as cleaning it up. Gotta try it one day, swap an opamp.. 😉👍

[@sentabamakoteam7017]

pozdrav,uspeo sam da nabavim eversolo dmp-a6 me,jako mi se svidja i radi perfektno.ali sad razmisljam da li vredelo staviti linearno napajanje .i hteo bi da pitam sta mi preporucujes od dacova,ovde u madjarskor za 1000 eura ima musician draco.smsl d400ex,smsl su-x,pegasus je malo skuplji 1500 ali to je vec malo puno za mene,svidja mi se a6me ali znas kako je to,uvek trazimo nesto bolje,hvala unapred gabor

[@iiWiReviews]

Pozdrav. Ja bih verovatno samo dodao linearno u A6 i uživao. Taman mu podigne performanse toliko da nisam siguran da se uopšte isplati trošiti sav taj ekstra novac na dodatni eksterni DAC.

[@sentabamakoteam7017]

@@iiWiReviews hvala

[@bunjidogg]

Would love to see a blind test of all three with the same music, but that would be complicated, I realize.

[@Hetsu..]

@@crazyprayingmantis5596 let me guess, you think 30fps and 60fps feel the same lmao

[@Hetsu..]

@@crazyprayingmantis5596 Does one have to double blind test looking at a screen?

[@Hetsu..]

@@crazyprayingmantis5596 Why dont you abx my comment?

[@matthewhilty4209]

When the heck did OP-amps get to 85 dollars? Wow components have really gone up.

[@noone-cf2zo]

I COuld not het the Vivid 7 to work in my DAC, the Classic was the perfect sound for me, and better than the Sparko

[@keith6872]

For my type of music (deathmetal) I think the default Texas Instruments sound better than Sparkos in my Geshelli dac. The sparkos seemed brighter and more forward. Maybe the sparkos will sound better in my Fosi ZA3.

[@anjovandijk9797]

Do you have any experience with Sparkos vs Staccato

[@iiWiReviews]

I haven't tried Staccato yet... I will try and look into them sometimes.

[@enricolisk1357]

What is your recommendation? OpAmp rolling on the DAC or the AMP.

[@Pete.across.the.street]

Save your money and just buy a better amp or dac

[@bruceevans3746]

DAC rolling seems to make a much bigger difference in my case.

[@IvanITpro]

Both equally important to my ears

[@IvanITpro]

@@Pete.across.the.streetin my experience I save money when I buy good audio gear and can make it sound great with LPSU and discrete opamps. I solder the cheap IC ones out to put my own in. That’s saving money to me and owning great audio gear. 😉

[@BoRerunn]

Does anybody recommend to install them in a Fosi amp in mono ???

[@RomanBagdasarov]

I use them in ZA3 mono. V7 Vivid for XLR and v7 Classics for RCA. Switched from SS3602, Bursons sound cleaner, more alive and dynamic.

[@BoRerunn]

@@RomanBagdasarov awesome, dude🤟😎

[@IvanITpro]

@@RomanBagdasarovnow the problem is … what gear to put those Sparkos in to? 😅 I have 3 of them laying around, but there’s always a next device ... 🤦‍♂️😅

[@andrews4379]

Change to OPA2134PA for 20$ and I think those is not cost this price

[@peytonsnead3114]

Coach vs first class😅

[@Pete.across.the.street]

Just buy a discreet dac

[@IvanITpro]

He already built one! 🤦‍♂️ This video is for those that want to improve their current audio gear… not for those that can buy whatever they want. 🙃

[@simonzinc-trumpetharris852]

Discrete op amps are way over rated.

[@IvanITpro]

Than why do manufacturers charge more money for audio gear with discrete output stages of their own?

[@jeanious2009]

Snake oil😂

[@mattrismatt]

What is?

[@jeanious2009]

With those kind of ears, I have to believe your findings…but still believe it’s all snake oil

[@iiWiReviews]

Yes, I can hear the oil being squeezed from the snake. 👂