strangeandbouncy
Well-known member
Dear All,
Now I know that there are many measurable factors that determine how something "sounds", but I must confessed i am somewhat confused. I am currently "hot-rodding" my old La4a. i have replaced the 3 op-amps in the input (ic1a-c) with a transformer - unbelievable difference! No longer muddy and unclear. Now my attention is turning to the output amp. I figure that a 2520 might fit the bill, especially as the way i like to use it is at unity gain, with no gain make-up. I think I can easily substitute ic1d, and maybe use the existing 600:600 output tranny to balance unit.
Where i am confused is as follows. 4136 op-amps are not regarded as being very good for audio, and the main reason is cited as the poor slew-rate, being 1.7V/us. I spotted that 2520 is rated as merely 3V/us. Surely they should sound "bad" too? Not in my experience! I have plenty in use daily. None of them sound "Muddy". Are they perhaps past some mythical threshold of slew-rate after which they sound groovy? Sontec is rated as 200V/us . . . and I must accept that they are seriously hifi compared to API. But API stuff is SO cool, so perhaps it is a combination of factors that count?
Any input on the "nature" of sound with relation to slew-rate/distortion/bandwidth/settling time/etc would be most revealing. Perhaps there are other factors at play that we don't know how to measure yet? - Sunspots?
Thanks,
ANdyP
Now I know that there are many measurable factors that determine how something "sounds", but I must confessed i am somewhat confused. I am currently "hot-rodding" my old La4a. i have replaced the 3 op-amps in the input (ic1a-c) with a transformer - unbelievable difference! No longer muddy and unclear. Now my attention is turning to the output amp. I figure that a 2520 might fit the bill, especially as the way i like to use it is at unity gain, with no gain make-up. I think I can easily substitute ic1d, and maybe use the existing 600:600 output tranny to balance unit.
Where i am confused is as follows. 4136 op-amps are not regarded as being very good for audio, and the main reason is cited as the poor slew-rate, being 1.7V/us. I spotted that 2520 is rated as merely 3V/us. Surely they should sound "bad" too? Not in my experience! I have plenty in use daily. None of them sound "Muddy". Are they perhaps past some mythical threshold of slew-rate after which they sound groovy? Sontec is rated as 200V/us . . . and I must accept that they are seriously hifi compared to API. But API stuff is SO cool, so perhaps it is a combination of factors that count?
Any input on the "nature" of sound with relation to slew-rate/distortion/bandwidth/settling time/etc would be most revealing. Perhaps there are other factors at play that we don't know how to measure yet? - Sunspots?
Thanks,
ANdyP