We have engineered an upgrade board that will deliver a more analogue, involving and musical sound whilst retaining the huge power and drive of the 400W Class D Hypex NC500 Amps. It will also be capable of taking future developments in OP Amp technology via the 8 pin DIP socket which takes literally minutes to swap OP Amps. We have powered this with Sparkos Labs SS78 & SS79 Discrete Voltage Regulators a clean, silent power feed, so important in the input stage of any amplifier. Our board is totally interchangeable with the Hypex input board.

 

So Which Op Amp?

All choices are superb and offer a richer more textured, focused natural and enjoyable sound with a much deeper soundstage.

They will send you racing through your record collection with a huge smile.

 

Sonic Imagery 994

The more accurate, airy, precise option with amazing natural 3D imageing its leaner than the Sparkos and would suite warm tube front ends. Its still my favourite but only by a small margin. The 994Enh-Ticha is a dual high performance discrete operational amplifier designed for professional audio applications and areas where ultra-low noise, low distortion and highly linear uncolored performance is required. It was designed as an performance upgrade replacement universal dual op-amp gain block.

The 994Enh-Ticha Discrete OpAmp achieves a new standard of excellence in noise performance with 0.89nV/Rt.Hz@1kHz noise. This ultralow noise is combined with excellent high speed specifications (gain-bandwidth product >50MHz), immeasurably low distortion output, and true precision parameters (>200µV offset voltage, 118dB voltage gain open loop). Although the 994Enh-Ticha's input stage operates at nearly 1mA of collector current to achieve low voltage noise, input bias current is typically less than 1uA.

The all-discrete SMT design utilizes an ultra-precision differential super-matched transistor pair specifically designed to meet the requirements of ultra-low noise and ultra-low THD audio systems. In addition to the enhanced input stage, the 994Enh-Ticha uses high performance temperature stable power supply independent current sources. Supply independent current sources allow the bias to remain locked at the optimum operating point regardless of supply voltage or temperature.

Dual matched pair temperature stable current mirrors, dual matched pair active current loads give the Model 994 it's outstanding power supply rejection performance. The enhanced low distortion Class-A output driver stage can sink or source 150mA allowing this module to drive transformers or headphones directly if required. Each amplifier is matched for noise, offset and distortion to within 0.1% of each other and both amplifier channels meet or exceed published specifications.

Model 994Enh Discrete OpAmp

Because of the 994Enh high current drive capability, supporting circuitry impedances can be scaled down within the application circuit. This can reduce the overall system noise, without increased distortion. The 994Enh-Ticha Discrete op-amp voltage noise is less than the thermal noise of a 50 Ohm resistor. Therefore, even in very low source impedance transducer or audio amplifier applications, the 994's contribution to total system noise will be negligible.

 

Sparkos Labs SS3602 Full Class A OP Amp

The richest warmest, fuller softer option, running in full Class A at relatively high current. If you are after a Valve amp experience or solid state Class A amp this will deliver a hugely textured involving experience. Adds some texture and body to a neutral front end and suits my Alt Modern Folk, singer song writer tastes with very simplistic sound tracks, it just adds warmth while keeping the dynamics.

Discrete Op Amps - Sparkos Labs.com -->

Sparko’s Labs has created a family of discrete op amps in an 8 pin DIP compatible package optimized for high performance audio applications.   These devices are drop in replacements for many common, yet inferior audio op amps and are uniquely compensated for trouble-free swap out into virtually any circuit. Having a footprint of a mere 0.33 square inches, these devices are one-third the size of any other discrete op amp on the market.  Class A biasing and high output current capability coupled with a proprietary compensation scheme requiring multiple NPO dielectric capacitors make these discrete op amps impossible to fabricate as a monolithic IC.  These devices utilize matched transistor pairs encapsulated within a single device package for the input stage and internal current mirrors, which retains the advantage that monolithics have with device matching

 

Burson Supreme Sound V5 Op Amp

Warmer than the standard amp but less than the Sparkos, improves focus, mids and highs. Suits Classical and Rock music separates and focuses better than the Sparkos. Violins soar and bass drums stop and start with precision. If I went on about its technical sound attributes you would assume this to be a better op amp it’s not just different.

 

 

Employing our SSA Op-Amps you will hear what’s on the recording, with all the meaning and expression the artist intended. Once you audition our SSA Op-Amps you can never go back and you’ll quickly understand why so many recording engineers, renowned musicians and audiophiles swear by them. Why they’re the gold standard of audio op-amps.