Mod your Beresford 7520

[trailer]

I have installed one LME49720HA today and got terrible distortion. Sounded like the PA at a working mens club after ten pints of Guiness.
Thought I had done something wrong and put back the 4562-brilliant sound.

Is it possible I have a duff one?

Are you sure you have it aligned correctly?

[Covenant]

Not sure. The top of the cap wasnt level but I suppose some of the legs may have been bent more than others. It really sounded bad and I was scared I was going to do some damage leaving it in.
Think its worth trying again?

[sponge]

... I shall carry on testing them for a few days and then try the 4032s on the heapamp circuit.

Big improvement for £10 imho.

Ade

I'm sure you will like the 4032's - I certainly do.

Just out of interest - How does the 7520 sound now you have the LM4562's installed compared to your Slee Solo headamp? I seem to remember you saying it was a close call even on the stock 5532's (or was the someone else).

Cheers - Ken

[trailer]

Not sure. The top of the cap wasnt level but I suppose some of the legs may have been bent more than others. It really sounded bad and I was scared I was going to do some damage leaving it in.
Think its worth trying again?

The tab on the cap should be aligned so that it is pointing towards pin8

[sponge]

I have installed one LME49720HA today and got terrible distortion. Sounded like the PA at a working mens club after ten pints of Guiness.
Thought I had done something wrong and put back the 4562-brilliant sound.

Is it possible I have a duff one?

Check that none of the IC's legs are shorting to the can. I believe that the can is internally connected to -ve supply rail.

Ken

[apmusson]

I'm sure you will like the 4032's - I certainly do.

Just out of interest - How does the 7520 sound now you have the LM4562's installed compared to your Slee Solo headamp? I seem to remember you saying it was a close call even on the stock 5532's (or was the someone else).

Cheers - Ken

I have decided to sell the Slee. Its a great headphone amp, very well made with a rich and detailed sound, but for what I want the 7520 is fantastic. I dont know whether its Stans design or shortened signal paths, but the sound I'm getting from my Sennheiser HD650's is outstanding.

The 4562 opamp upgrade has pushed the 7520 up a level sound qualitywise. Different people have different preferences when it comes to sound quality but I am intending to get together with a colleague of mine who has an expensive DAC and Amp combo... I've told him of my experience with the TC7520 & Slee and we're both keen to do some comparisons. Just waiting for him to confirm a date.

Ade

[Covenant]

Check that none of the IC's legs are shorting to the can. I believe that the can is internally connected to -ve supply rail.

Ken

I think I will leave it until tomorrow-enjoying the music too much tonight.

[tizer2000uk]

Well I have been listening to both of these for a short while now and thought I would post my findings:

LM4562NA - A definite night and day difference above the stock opamps, nice character that favors vocals, really makes them stand out of the mix while retaining a great balanced and detailed sound, pianos sound like pianos, cellos like cellos and so forth.

THS4032CD - Very neutral sound which reigns the vocals back in, as a result it brings far more detail out of the material than the LM4562's. This naturally results in having to turn the volume up a bit more and because of this cymbals, high hats and drums leap out of the mix far more than they used to, not overly but they now have a satisfying thwack and on some material can feel like your head is indeed inside the drumkit, much more so with Grados than Senns and other similar cans. Not used the extra cap yet so can't comment on this although I shall probably give this a try later on. I think the LM4562 is a great opamp if your system is closer toward the budget scale or needs help with the vocal range. The THS4032 on the other hand would suit a very revealing system or high end headphones, cheap cans sound pretty ropey with them.

I have also noticed on alot of material that you can get a sense of the size of the recording venue with the THS4032's that I dont get with the others, its very subtle to the ear but major enough that the brain notices the change

A word of warning for DIYers tho, I put one of LM4562's in the wrong way and it now ceases to work, luckily I get them for free so there is no loss to me, it just means I have 3 instead of 4.

[apmusson]

The THS4032 on the other hand would suit a very revealing system or high end headphones, cheap cans sound pretty ropey with them.

Thanks for your descriptive review - I'm really looking forward to trying them now.

[tizer2000uk]

It has also got to be said the THS4032's have so far been the less fatiguing of the group by quite a margin. I could quite happily sit here until the sun comes up with this particular one...Every song I have so far fed this thing has sounded....right!

Question for Stan: Without consulting the spec sheet, what other mod would be needed with this opamp to quieten the slight 'pop' when opening a track?