Intro

The second generation of HD Audio Opamps  was developed in collaboration with some of the world’s most passionate musicians, sound engineers and recording artists.  This project has taken  two years to complete,  with  an end result reaching beyond our greatest expectations of musical reproduction.   Its qualities have been pushed to the very frontier of studio technology.  Like a photographer’s latest  favourite lens, it is being utilized by recording artists around the world, to better capture the moments that last for an eternity

The Angry Realization

The function of Opamps at the output stage is as important as the lens on a cinema projector.  Regardless of the analytical capability of the audio gear, an inferior opamp will halve a machine’s performance, and distort every dB of sonic imagery.    

For fellow audio enthusiasts, there inevitably comes a time to explore opamp upgrades for their equipment.  After hopping from forum to forum, and checking every pricelist, it’s all too easy to become confused with the subsequent findings.    That humble pair of IC opamps in their machine is worth less than a can of coca-cola.   Replacing them with another pair of IC opamps, worth a little less than a McDonalds burger will noticeably improve the overall performance of their mega dollar machines.  

One question then burns in the minds of such audio enthusiast;

How could the manufacturer’s, with their respectable brand, history, and self proclaimed team of world leading audio scientists not know that a simple opamp switch could lift the performance of their product?  Why wouldn’t they have adopted “that” opamp initially, when their production costs would be increased by only 1%.     

Then comes the incredibly infuriating realisation that the manufacturers would have known this all along!   Unfortunately however, their focus is solely on profit. Even after pricing the machine with a large profit margin, a profit driven manufacturer will never hesitate to continually lower their production cost at the expense of quality sounding music!  Then, after paying a very high price for what is presumably a respectable piece of equipment, a passionate audio enthusiast still has to risk it all by tweaking their machine with a soldiering iron.     

It may be true that we live in a profit driven world now, but when the promise of a high calibre sound system falls short, and excellent sound quality music is the victim, it still angers us all!

The Whole Truth

Unfortunately, that is not the whole truth.  The whole truth about IC opamps is that they are in that machine for one reason and one reason only.  It is simply a cost saving exercise at the expense of high calibre sounding music!   

ICs are cheap and sticking an IC opamp onto a PCB simplifies the entire design, assembly and quality control process.   However,  IC opamps have countless faults that make them unsuitable for audio application. Below are just some of them.

•  IC Opamps are not designed with a focus on Audio.

•  IC opamps are highly inconsistent in quality:

•  IC opamps are poorly conducted and degrades musical signal at all level

•  IC opamps suffer from EMI noise

For a more in-depth review on this issue please read  “IC Chip Not Good for Audio”

Burson HD Audio Opamps

We at Burson Audio have realised the inferior quality of IC Opamps for quite some time.     

We love music and it’s always been our philosophy to enhance sound quality wherever possible. We’re aware that the only way to overcome the IC opamp problem, is to replace them with a well designed discrete circuitry.   

Building of HD Audio Opamp

The team at Burson Audio has been developing the HD Audio Opamp project for a number of years now.  From the first version to the current production, improvement has been made along the way, as part of the quest for perfection.

The foundation of the HD Audio Opamp is a sophisticated Voltage Differential Amplification network. The entire opamp is constructed from audio graded transistors and resistors. Such a design will ensure minimal colouration and maximum dynamics, but this design feature  also  posed a great challenge to production; without rigid component matching, it would be  easy for sonic imbalance to occur.      

We only use a 1% tolerant resistor.  Before  soldering them onto the PCB, we put them through  a component burn-in module. After 50 hours of burn-in, each resistor  will then be retested and matched before proceeding to our assembly line.  The  result of such a quality control process, is a  further 10% of  component  rejection.   This strict and very expensive BURN and MATCH process ensures the stability of the circuit.  It ensures a perfect balance of sonic imagery across the entire frequency spectrum.  It also guarantees a stable and realistic sound stage between the speakers.

Furthermore we insisted on a top quality lead free solder and temperature controlled soldering process.  This was  the only solution to reducing heat stress on our components, and minimising short circuits caused by a soldering bath used in large-scale  production.  

Cost focused manufacturers would  never adopt such an approach due to the significant increase in production costs. Burson Audio on the other hand knows that only our level of quality control can produce  opamps worthy of our badge.  Only our level of quality control can produce the best Opamp in the market.   

Sonic Quality

To Team Burson, listening to an IC opamp is like listening to a grand concert through a key-hole, or admiring Mona Lisa on a stamp!

The resolution and texture of our Burson HDAO completely surpasses IC opamps. Compared with any IC opamps, it provides a fuller texture  with more refined detail. At the same time the bass is well controlled and very punchy.  Double bass can now clearly take shape on a very three-dimensional sound stage.  Classical music reproduction becomes much more realistic where the string section becomes a group of individual musicians rather than just a group.  All in all the Burson Discrete Op-amp is a very listenable and engaging performer. It will bring pure music to your soul, without listening fatigue  to your ears.

Will HD Audio Opamp Work for You?

It is easy to find out if the Discrete Op-amp will work for you. Just open up your CD player or DAC and locate the analog RCA output (where you plug your interconnection cable). You should see one pair or more of the standard Opamps.

Take down the model number and compare it to our list.  If you find your Opamp on the list, then the Burson Discrete Op-amp will work for you!  

Direct Replacement for the following Opamps

Dual Op-amps

AD8066, AD8620, AD712, AD827, C4570, JRC4580, JRC5532, JRC5532D, JRC5534, LF353, LM4562, LM833N, NE5532, NEC4520, NEC4570, NJM2068D, NJM2114, NJM2214D, NJM4558, NJM4558D, NJM4560, NJM5532, NJM4558P, OP275, OPA2132, OPA2134, OPA2604, RC4558D, RC4558P, TL052, TL072

Single Op-amps

NE5534, LT1122, OPA627, AD811, AD844, OPA604, AD8610,& etc.

We are now offer our HD Opamp with two more connection types for flexible installation: 8 pins DIP Socket (plug and play upgrade)

Soft cable extension (10 CM) for SMD soldering. Each Opamp pair also comes with free mounting kit. Pricing is identical on all connection types.

Drop us an email if your opamp is not listed above.

How to install the Discrete Op-amp?

1. Record the direction of the IC-opamp.  (where the half moon chip is pointing)
2. De-solder the existing Op-amps and replace them with the HD Audio Opamp (same direction).
3. 100 hours of burn-in, then enjoy the music!

Please visit our Blog look under “Tweaks” for more tips and tricks for installing our opamps.

Specifications

Working voltage: +/-12-25v DC

Current Draw: 19mA (each module)

THD: Less than 0.0007%

Dimensions: 39mm × 10mm × 29mm, (single) 39mm × 23mm × 29mm (double)

Weight: 19g

Disclaimer:    Each module is individually tested before dispatch. However, incorrect installation of the product will risk damaging the CD player.  We are not   responsible for any damages incurred from the installation of this module. If you are not confident with

Reviews

HD Audio Opamp review by AudioExpress Magzine

HD Audio Opamp review by PC Tuner (English Version)

HD Audio Opamp review by PC Tuner (Italian Version)

HD Audio Opamp review by TNT Audio (English Version)

HD Audio Opamp review by TNT Audio (Italian Version)

HD Audio Opamp & Booster review by Maestro Israel Yinon

HD Audio Opamp review by Chad Kelly (Presounds Audio)

Related Material

“IC Chip Not Good for Audio"

"Bursonaudio Op-amp 101"

Installing HD Audio Opamp  in Less Than 5 Mins (Video)

Free installations for Australia & New Zealand Customers:

As an introductory promotion, CVE Electronics is offering FREE installations for all Burson DIY products. Click here to find out more.

HD Opamp Reviews & Feedbacks