Audiophile Operational Amplifier replacing NE5532 Studer A810, A820, A812, A816
Specifications
| All Returns Accepted | ReturnsNotAccepted |
| Brand | master tape sound lab |
| Type | Tape Recorder |
| Country/Region Of Manufacture | Switzerland |
The sale includes 1 OPAmtsl advanced custom replacement of the NE5532 operational amplifiers used by Studer in their tape recorders and consoles, such as A810, A820, A816, A812, as well as 961, 962, 963 and other professional mixing desks. It replaces the stock NE5532 (replacement is very easy - just pull out the NE5532 from the socket and insert the new OPAmtsl, no need for any adjustments) and provides an exceptional high quality sound by ultra-linear amplification, shielding, lower noise, higher dynamics/transients. The replacement operational amplifier is an upgraded custom advanced version of OPA1612 of Texas Instruments, developed and matched by Master Tape Sound Lab, highly acclaimed by top notch analog studios worldwide for its uncolored dynamic 3d sound. About MTSL custom upgrade of high grade audio equipment:We are a small team that includes and cooperates with proven experts in the field, utilizing latest technology/components within simplistic audio designs, fully reflecting the achievements of the respective STUDER model. In 2012 our Studer and TASCAM modifications received several awards, including Best Sound Award, by high fidelity magazine/review, of our Munich 2012 May demonstrations (referenced on our site - the master tape sound lab). OPAmtsl The dual OPAmtsl amplifies the few µV head signal of the tape recorder or the mic inputs on the console. This is why the ultimate goal of this development was to achieve extremely low noise by a new design and use of advanced components, as well as an improved power supply linearity and interference elimination, achieved by re-engineered capacitive bypass directly on the supply pins, ensuring ultra linearity and stability that translates into fully dimensional sound with unsurpassed dynamics and immediate transients.The proprietary custom design is completely different and highly superior replacement of the original NE5532 and outperforms other available options. Our R&D on the Studer requirements allowed for a substantial improvement with clear impact on sound, as well as resilience to time and power line and RF/EMI disturbances of the modern days (wi-fi, gsm networks, etc.)This design is based on extensive research and devotion to bringing the Studer line at ever higher performance levels. A key challenge was to improve substantially the linearity, dynamics and noise suppression within the Studer original audio cards topology and power supply. This was achieved by highly engineered custom adapter pcbs fitting close to the ground plane and incorporating calibrated 0-lead capacitors directly on the power supply of the operational amplifier pins (0-noise pick up).A precise selection and matching of pre-tested components delivers a top-notch opamps, trimmed to perfection under real load conditions. For best results, consider our ultra-linear audio power supply card, listed separately.The original NE5532 is still working well within many cards and customers legitimately wonder what would be the benefit of replacing it. The short answer is that the widely used NE5532 was a best cost-quality choice at the time of engineering, but can be substantially advanced today as the use of high-performing chain of cascading opamps delivers a substantial cumulative effect at a reasonable cost - resulting in a notable improvement in sound quality. Key Features of the dual bipolar OPAmtsl: • Superior Sound Quality - input operational amplifier with Ultralow Noise: 0.9 nV/√Hz at 1 kHz (NE5532 has 5 nV, over 5 times higher noise floor, quite low but accumulating within applicable cascading); power rail capacitive noise filtering at the power pins• Ultralow Distortion: 0.000008% at 1 kHz. The OPAmtsl at 1 kHz has a rail-to-rail output swing to within 600 mV with a2-kΩ load, which increases headroom and maximizes dynamic range and transient performance• High Slew Rate (31 V/μs) coupled with wide Bandwidth (40 MHz) and output drive capability of ±33 mA. • High Open-Loop Gain (134 dB) and unity gain stability within a wide power range ( ±2.25 V to ±18 V, on only 3.6 mA of supply current)• Low Quiescent Current - 3.6 mA per Channel unity-gain stable, ensuring excellent dynamic behavior over a wide range of load/program conditions. • Completely independent circuitry for lowest crosstalk and freedom from interactions between channels, even when overdriven or overloaded. • operates safely from –40°C to +85°C and has high resilience to thermal peaks overload due to integrated heat sink with high conductivity and 6/1 relative thermal mass. Note on all mtsl STUDER Upgrades: With decades of experience in this domain we work for several top-notch studios, specializing in all solid state Studer and TASCAM recorders. All the upgrades are performed on the basis of a serious appreciation and understanding of the Studer outstanding designs, which benefit from our work not because of design faults, but due to the availability of better/advanced components today, compared to 30 years ago, as well as by removing the ageing issues on some components. We are sure Studer would have done similar improvements if they were making those machines today and if not within a tight budget. Post-upgrade sound: more open, more ambient detail, more dimensional sound stage, faster transients. References: We have a number of quality dedicated analog studios as our long-term happy customers, world-wide. Here is the feedback from a long-term pro customer in Germany: "The difference in sound quality is higher than I expected! The instruments and voices are closer between the speakers, the bass is more straight. I find it always difficult to describe such differences in words...The mod is certainly worth the money. I thank you very much for that." Shipping: we ship with tracking from the EU and there are no customs within EU. Combined shipping is possible, for lowering cost per unit- same cost for up to 4 items.
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