How do you spot the opamp?

[changeng]

Okay, I KNOW I'm gonna sound quite stupid, but here goes.

I've got a ART Studio V3, an ART Pro Channel, a Rane Ms-1b and I'm about to get a Soundcraft compact 4.

I would like to improve these as much as I can. i've changed the tubes in the ART things and I keep hearing about having better opamps for better sound.

Is there a standard opamp for units like these that make a good upgrade and if so, is it easy to spot and replace? Where would I look in these things?

Thanks in advance,

Stuart

[Rick Sutton]

Originally Posted by changeng

Okay, I KNOW I'm gonna sound quite stupid, but here goes.

I've got a ART Studio V3, an ART Pro Channel, a Rane Ms-1b and I'm about to get a Soundcraft compact 4.

I would like to improve these as much as I can. i've changed the tubes in the ART things and I keep hearing about having better opamps for better sound.

Is there a standard opamp for units like these that make a good upgrade and if so, is it easy to spot and replace? Where would I look in these things?

Thanks in advance,

Stuart

If you are new at this (and it appears that you are) I really wouldn't reccomend attempting this. And personally I don't think it's a good idea even if you are experienced. But that's just me.

If you are determined to do this, Jim Williams is the man you need to talk to.

[amorris]

No there is no standard op amp to put in everything that just makes it better. (wrong ones will pull too much current, burn up stuff around it, unbalance circuitry before and after, ...)

the best bet is to google "(insert gear name here) + mods" and see what the world is doing.

unless your chips are from the 80s, most chips are better than audio needs. now the design around these chips is where any improvements could be made. but, you would need a serious working knowledge of the design and other topologies just to hope to improve it.

now people put super fast burr-brown chips in and they think it has more clarity, depth,...blah.... but thats just internet speak for "sounds different so its better". OBJECTIVE listening is rarely done and high end increase dosent make it better. (is that increase just distortion on top of the signal?)

unless you have really bad gear, cleaning connectors and pots and switches and getting it back to original quality is the best you can hope for. and thats usually an improvment.

[DamnYankee]

Originally Posted by changeng

Okay, I KNOW I'm gonna sound quite stupid, but here goes.

I've got a ART Studio V3, an ART Pro Channel, a Rane Ms-1b and I'm about to get a Soundcraft compact 4.

I would like to improve these as much as I can. i've changed the tubes in the ART things and I keep hearing about having better opamps for better sound.

Is there a standard opamp for units like these that make a good upgrade and if so, is it easy to spot and replace? Where would I look in these things?

Thanks in advance,

Stuart

There's much more to it than just swapping out chips - other components may be involved, commonly power supplies, etc.

Contact Jim Williams in here (audioupgrades.com) - the guy is a published expert and knows just about everything. Most of his upgrades run about $150-$200 (which sounds like alot) but when you consider it sounds like gear costing 5x to 10x of what you invested in it, it was worth the upgrade investment.

After I finish remodelling my pre Civil-War era home, I'm going to have him upgrade my dbx comps, Valley People Dynamic/Dynamite, Lexicon reverbs and Aphex 612's.

DY

[changeng]

Thanks, everyone, good advice one and all. I'm thinking of taking an electronics course and learning how to not be a bonehead. Anyone have any advice on what course(s) to take in order to know how to mod equipment properly? Does such a thing exist?

Stuart

[Jim Williams]

No. No books, no courses. Just a lifetime dedication to the craft. It will require more time than a doctorate degree.

Jim Williams
Audio Upgrades

[changeng]

well, THAT's reassuring, thanks Jim.

btw - how do I get ahold of you to get a price on upgrading an ART Pro Channel?

[Ken Paul]

Originally Posted by Rick Sutton

If you are new at this (and it appears that you are) I really wouldn't reccomend attempting this. And personally I don't think it's a good idea even if you are experienced. But that's just me.

If you are determined to do this, Jim Williams is the man you need to talk to.

Originally Posted by changeng

Thanks, everyone, good advice one and all. I'm thinking of taking an electronics course and learning how to not be a bonehead. Anyone have any advice on what course(s) to take in order to know how to mod equipment properly? Does such a thing exist?

Stuart

Maybe if you figured out a way to network your brain to Jim's... but you could just contact him for starters. You'll learn more talking to him than you can from any book.

-kp

[Chaellus]

aprenticeship aprenticeship, what people would do if they were interested in this stuff was to learn from someone very experianced in electronics like back in the golden years, most if not all stuff was custom made....

[Jim Williams]

Unlike Europe, there are few apprentice programs for trades in the US. It's all about getting into college and getting a degree. The trades have been abandoned as a career alternative. The trades are for the newly arrived, those that will be willing to work for sub standard wages. Look at the construction trades, most of those have been taken over by illegals. Dry waller's used to get $18 per hour here back in 1980. Now they get $10~12 per hour in 2008. This is hollowing out the middle class as not everyone can get a college degree. The USA is getting more like Brazil everyday. (No offense to Brazil).

Jim Williams
Audio Upgrades