Burson Audio Opamp Kills OPA2604 AD827 OPA2132 Dual X2

Listing for one matched pair ( 2 units) of dual opamp modules.

All right reserved by Burson Audio Melbourne Pty LtdBurson™ Audio is a registered trade mark of  Burson Audio Melbourne

A life time replacement warranty is attached to our opamps.*  

Because our opamps, like our passion, stand the test of time….

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!

 

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  “The Naked Truth about Opamp”

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.   

The team at Burson Audio has been developing the Burson 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 Burson 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.      

 

An easy solution to the above problem would be to add a blue trim pot in our design. This would allow  for adjustments to be made to accommodate for any imperfections in the component matching. But we  weren’t prepared to accept the  signal loss that would  come  with such an approach.

 

Instead, we employed the BURN and MATCH procedure.  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.   

 

 

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 Op-amp 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.

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

 

AD712, AD827, C4570, JRC4580, JRC5532, JRC5532D, JRC5534, LF353, 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, etc.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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 Burson opamp (same direction).
3. 100 hours of burn-in, then enjoy the music!

 

Please read "Burson Discrete Op-amp 101". (It is a simple guide  that assists you getting  the most out from our Discrete Op-amp module.)

 

• 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

Burson Opamp in PreSonus Audio M80 mic pre

...”I love them!  I fitted all of them into my M80 mic pre and they sound fantastic.  Much more lively and crisp, and extremely clean/low noise.  This is the quietest and lowest crosstalk I’ve ever experienced on the M80. “...

Chad Kelly

PreSonus Audio Electronics USA

 

Burson Opamp in World Class Audio

Incredible! you rule! i installed your op amps in place of some opa chips and your discrete babies blew the doors off those crappy chips! I'm hooked. My mixing console sounds like it gained 50,000 in sonic worth for the price of two of your amps! I would like to get some more...

www.worldclassaudio.com

Shawn S USA

...“Even thought I was amazed by the sound improvement with the 1072 and the Buffer a few hours ago, now the sound of the older, but upgraded 951 brought even better definition (I´ve said even better), more controlled bass, overall warmth, a darker sound stage. Even in my tests, I moved away the speakers from their optimal position and got it closer to my components and me because the switching was made manually and by the time I´m writing You on the single sofa that appears in one of the photos I´ve sent You, they are very good heared, I can still percieve a great sense of 3D, maybe the sound is becoming more closer to that of vynil records.

I heard the voice of Eric Woolfson singing Time in Alan Parsons Project´s A Turn Of A Friendly Card without any roughness, it's like if he´s singing right here”...

Luis Cortes Mexico

 

Burson opamp in Hi End PC sound card

“...I am done with the work. The project is now finished!!! ) I am very very happy to have a wonderful sounding card.

The music from this card can be compared whit my hi-fi sistem (10000$). Its just amazing, really !!!”

Marko USA

 

Burson Opamp in Audio Analogue Paganini 192/24

...”The resulting upgrade from the chip Opamp out-puts to the Discrete Opamps in the  Audio Analogue Paganini 192/24  was truly music to my ears and further more lead me to consider and buy the Burson Audio Preamplifier.”... (Read the full photos review here)

John O

Wellington NZ

 

Burson Opamp in Onkyo T9090 tuner

 

…”The buf634 with the burson opamp makes, to my ears, a superb, low parts-count buffer, so no active pre is needed.  I'm going to split off the output of the buf634 and run out to my amp for the fullrangers.  The buf634 is in a Marchand Basis WM8 parametric EQ, along with a XM46 passive lowpass filter.

 

Main amp is a Sonic Impact T amp, for now.  With the burson opamp in the buf634 feeding it, it can now drive the Jordan JX92's and Scanspeak tweeters.  And what an improvement over no buffer and no active pre before the T amp!”…

 

Patrick USA

 

6X5, Cayin CD 17A Super Mod

 

Burson Opamp & clock NAD525BEE

...”Have modded successful my NAD525BEE (Op-amps + clock).The improvement in sound are great.Special with your opamps the sound is more spacey and more relaxed,very equilibrated and the digital-like sound gone,now sounding more analog-like (have AD8620 and BB627 before).Improvements in all aspects:much more clear dynamics,airy highs,precise bass but the best thing is that analog-like sound.”...

Nicolae Turkey

 

Burson Opamp in Sony CDP-XB930 QS

...”Without going into a lot of superlatives the sound is now far more revealing and transparent against a quiet background - very nice!! You have done a fine job with this OpAmp.”...

 

Chris NSW

 

 

 

 

 

 

Burson Opamp in Denon 2800MK2 DVD player

..."The card is from a Denon DVD 2800 MK2. This very basic player has become one INCREDIBLE performer, capable of crushing competition many, many times beyond its price range. Thanks to Burson, of course!"

Wayne USA

 

Burson Opamp in Rotel 965bx

...”i bought the discrete opams from you a few weeks ago. After mounting them in my rotel 965bx i started the burn in period of 100 hours. All went well.”...

Alexander The Netherlands.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Burson Opamp in Meridian 506 CDP

"Find attached photograph of the installed op amps (meridian 506 20 bit).2x Mundorf MKP .1uf are installed under the pcb.

Initial impressions of the op amps are of more controlled bass, improved  high frequency response and improved sound stage."...

Greg United Kingdom

 

 

 

 

 

"...Thanks for the cool products and thanks for sponsoring the North Alabama GTG...the buffer was a very nice unit and tomorrow I will see what this discreet op amp can do!"

 

Bill USA

 

 

 

 

 

Burson Opamp in KECES DA-131.1 DAC

..."I installed the opamps in the KECES DA-131.1 replacing the LME49710 Opamps. Before the upgrade the LM sounded like I was outside the room listening to the players, but with the discrete opamps I feel like I am now in the room with the players.....awesome. There is a certain snap to the music, more refined highs, extended bass, but articulate, multiple voices better separation, cybals have that life like shimmer, easy to discern nylon strings from metal on acoustic guitars.......overall awsome upgrade."

 

Patrick Indonesia

 

 

Burson Opamp in MHZ CDP

...“I am very impressed with the quantum leap in sound quality, albeit immediately after installation.”...

Peter NSW

 

Burson Opamp in Auzentech Prelude sound card

Hello, just wanted to compliment your incredible device! This discrete opamp really makes a difference, it's like night and day. Soundstage, imaging, definition, sound retreival, space, ect have all improved and it's not even broken in yet! I use it in my Auzentech Prelude sound card into my modfied Sony ES TA-E80ES preamplifier and the difference is quite dramatic. You may view some photos of my use of your product in my "vintage" system below. I may change all my opamps now!

 

Vince M Canada

 

For more photo Vince setup: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mastercontrolmedia/

 

Burson Opamp in phone stage

 

In a word, awesome! I'm actually using mine in a phone stage, where they are the one and only amplification component.  I've only had them installed for an hour or so and I can already tell you with absolute certainty that they have transformed the sound from my vinyl front-end.  I was previously using those op-amp upgrades from Audicom (the drop-in ones using AD825 SM op-amps).

Definitely a thumbs-up for this upgrade!!

 

Dave B UK

 

Burson Opamp in Xindak DAC 5

I installed the OPA yesterday in my Xindak DAC 5.

The big job was to unsolder the BB2604, after that the installation was easy !

 

The results are as expected. Improvements in every area. And they are not burned in.

Thank you for doing such products !

 

http://www.homecinema-fr.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1057&t=29887148

 

David France

 

Burson Opamp in Promitheus DAC

Now I have no complaints on the sound, and its only running for a couple hours.  Everything is there, the bass is full, solid, the air in voices and cymbals, separation of instruments very clear - all in so much better than IC op amps.  My best investment so far - A$80 for the pair of Bursons and US$25 for the DIY power supply. (more details:http://www.audiocircle.com/circles/index.php?topic=41093.280)

 

Chang Malaysia

 

 

Burson Opamp in Sony CDP-337esD

First impression: at low volume I now literally feel the bass thru my old but trustful KEF's. Never had that before. I'm mainly a lover of acoustic music and male/female vocals. I must say, it already sounds very interesting.

 

Stephan New zealand

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Burson Discrete Opamp in professional studio

"I bought your BURSON OP-Discret that I tested with several machines and your components are really good in particular in high and low frequencies ... I send you a picture of my studio to let you see what I do. The speakers are Kinoshitas' ones with 4 FM acoustics..."

Raphaël France

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Burson Discrete Opamp in Mhzs 66 / 88 CDP

I played the CD almost for five hours and still running good. And after breaking in the CD and your op amp the sound is getting better by the minute. (For more details on this MOD visit our article collection.)

 

Grzegorz USA

 

 

 

 

 

 

The tda 1540 has the most natural and realistic sound of all the dacs (IMHO) that I have played around with and inside the revox b225 it is a killer.  In my home set up it easily outshines marantz cd94, audionote dac 3.1 balanced,micromega duo, meridian 207,  chord dac64, grundig cd9009,  sony sacd777 etc etc.   My speakers are as relaistic as it gets stacked quad 57's + raven tweeter.

 

Your op amp, released even more of its potential and I was very taken back by the degree of the increased sense of realism/presence it brought out.  I had thought I had reached the maximum potential that was possible by upgrading its power supply and all dac coupling caps.  

 

Luke UK

 

Burson Discrete Opamp in Audyn Pre-6

I have already installed 1 pair in my pre-amp, the sound is excellent. As you described on your site, I now removed the X10D form musical fidelity. For a photo you can look on my site www.ruvox.nl  button PRE-6 met discrete opamp’s

 

Ruud The Netherlands

 

 

 

 

 

 

Burson Discrete Opamp in Shangling CDT80

 

..."Just installed your opamp upgrade and I am more than impressed with the incrase in fidelity that is completely out of prop portion to the money I paid. Thank you for turning my midprice Shanling CDT80 player into a giant killer that now kicks serious ass. Finally makes my digital sound like a real acoustic event rather than a digital artifact. Excellent upgrade that has THE BEST price to performance ratio I have ever experienced. Every aspect has been improved, detail, resolution, naturalness of sound, dynamics and  smooth as. I will put you on my short list of highest recommendation to anyone who wants to upgrade their CD player. May the force be with you and please don't ever stop doing what you do"...

 

Mark Sydney

 

Burson Discrete opamp in Shanling CDA10T

Very great job with your discrete opamp module. Some pictures here: http://diy-audio.myphotos.cc/Shanling%20CDA10T/index.html (hosted on my home PC, not 100% available as I turn it off before going to sleep...).

 

P.WEIBEL France

 

 

Burson Discrete Opamp in Denon CDP

"...You can also see the Burson Op Amp replacements using discrete transistors is in the full photo from phase one.

After a quick listen on headphones, it sounds very niece. I will be doing more listening this weekend.

 

Patrick Australia

 

Burson Discrete Opamp in Zhaolu 2.5 DAC

"I installed the burson op amps in my Zhaolu 2.5 dac. Still in burning in period, but the sound is already really better. Much space, much definition, more precise bass...."

 

Denis France

 

Burson Discrete Opamp in Cayin CDT 17A

"I have recieved my Op-Amps, and the sound is noe more less than stunning!!

I just sat in my chair and smiled through 7 CD`s today, this is one of my best updates ever!

I can discribe the sound like this:

Much darker background, extreme dynamic, better placement between vocal and instruments, the vocal is dead center between the speakers, wonderful analog sound! They are just simply the best Op-Amps there is to find! I am stunned!..."

 

Ole Norway

 

Burson Discrete Op-Amp in Maratnz CD 72

..."Burson Clock and full set of Burson Modules installed in a Marantz CD72. Amazing result!!"...

 

Mark B Australia

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BursonAudio Discrete Opamp + Clock in NAD 521i

Pack just arrived on Friday, I installed Burson clock and in a NAD 521i CD player. The first improvement was using NAD as transport, I own an AUDIOSINTHESYS DAX DAC wich is very sensitive to transport, before installing clock de dac wasn´t able to lock with the nad as transport and some cracks and pops were heard, after installing the clock the dac locked perfect.

 

Using discrete opamp was a big improvement using NAD as a standalone player, I think this player is not good enough to hear the benefits of Discrete Op-amp.  My Audiosynthesis DAX is better than the moded NAD, but this mod made them closer, Discrete Op-amp was better than OPA627.

I´m sending you some pics of the modified nad, Discrete Op-amp Sclock, ELNA audio caps for analog ps, nichicon muse output caps.You can se in the pic the installation points for clock  (signal orange and  ground orange-white)

 

I´m also sending you a pic form my system and a pic of my loved Harman Kardon citation II.If you want to know more please let me know.

Best regards.

 

Oscar Mexico

 

 

Thanks for your help below, they are now fully burned in and sound really impressive.

 

I have been trying different op amps for some time and had settled on BurrBrown OPA 627/637 combination but the Discrete Op-amps just blow these out of the water!

 

They sound in a different league. Probably the best thing is the texture, but overall every aspect of the sound is improved.

 

Allan R UK

 

"The amps arrived yesterday and I installed them today.  They are beautiful! You really have a great design. They worked without any problems and sounded wonderful the first moment I turned them on. The difference between your amps and the OPA627 is not something you have to push your senses to hear - it is a huge difference in audio terms. There is an easy, but well-defined character which is just addictive..."

 

Bob F

 

Burson Discrete Opamp in TEAC Esoteric.

..."Also I am sending you some pictures of a modified TEAC esoteric.  They completely transformed this $5000 USD player. Music has much more body, sound is more analytical.  Stereo image was much better, my speakers almost disappeared, never heard details were present, mod also included black gate non polarized caps"...

 

Oscar Mexico

 

BursonAudio Discrete Opamp in Sony SCD777ES

..."The discrete opamp is really well, mainly because the GAIN is louder. Secondly, the sound quality is very natural. I used a thicker silver plated wire this time, the bass turned out excellent. When I listen to a music piece that involves the violin, it sounds flawless as well; pretty much, the sound that my stereo is producing has no trace of any digital sound quality- it is very musical." ...   

 

T.C.Yao USA

 

 

 

 

 

BursonAudio Discrete Op-amp in Arcam 9

Burson Discrete Opamp in Cayin CDT-17

"... I receive the 2 Opamp yesterday.

I fix it last night in my Cayin Cdt17, and today I listen all afternoon. They sound very good, much better than my OPA627bp, so great deal !!!

But I need one pair more for a friend (also in Spain)..."

 

Christophe Spain

 

Burson Discrete Opamp in Musical Fidelity X-DAC V3

Pekka Immonen from Finland has kindly shared his X-DAC V3 modification project with the rest of the world. If you have a X-DAC V3 his web page is not to be missed.( http://modhifi.blogspot.com ) We love all the caps replacement and blue tag dampings. Great job Pekka :)

 

Pekka Finland

 

 

 

 

 

 

Burson Discrete Opamp in Hi-End DIY DAC

George from France has installed our discrete opamp into his beautifully built DIY DAC with great result. Here is what he said about our discrete opamp..." I've just receive the AOP yesterday and plug them into my DIY DAC. This is simply incredible !!!..."

 

http://www.homecinema-fr.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=170444455#170444455

 

George France

 

 

 

 

Burson Discrete Opamp in NAD 542 CD player

My knowledge in electronic is minimal although I am listening to music for more than two decades. I changed many systems and recently was informed about Burson by Tony from Holland. I decided to change discrete opamp and the clock. Without help from two kind people Oscar-Mexico and Manfred-Deutschland probably this project would be unsuccessful.

Firstly I changed discrete opamp which was very easy process. I was surprised how good discrete opamps are. Speakers disappeared, sound become analog, especially cymbals. Space opened in all directions as well.

Than I ordered the clock. To understand installation process took me some time however after that it was again very easy. You can notice that in between pin1 U507 and the clock's power supply is placed R22ohm as kindly recommended by Manfred.  

The rest as Burson's page advising. Sound, improved again, noticeably cymbals and bass too. The only think I disliked was that space constricted slightly with the clock.

 

Mirza WA Australia

 

The second generation of Burson opamp 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

Burson Opamp review by AudioExpress Magzine

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Burson Opamp review by PC Tuner (Italian Version)

Burson Opamp review by TNT Audio (English Version)

Burson Opamp review by TNT Audio (Italian Version)

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Related Material

"The naked truth about Opamp"

"Bursonaudio Op-amp 101"