Aiyima A80: DAC(ESS9038Q2M) + Amplifier(TPA3255 PFFB) - User Impressions | Owner's Thread

[gnat_leader]

View attachment 472558
The OPA1656 is only for the preamp, right? Therefore, the NE5532P is primarily responsible for the overall sound.
Therefore, the NE5532P will influence the overall sound (input), regardless of whether it's via USB-C or RCA. Isn't that correct?

See the descriptions of the circuit I posted above...

All of the digital inputs go through the three OPA1656 chips.
The two analog inputs go through one input-NE5532 each.
Yes that's all in the preamp section.
After that the signal goes through three additional NE5532 chips, two of which are socketed.

All of these chips in the signal path I would think are influencing the overall sound.
Though to what extent I don't know - I'm not an expert.

 

[gnat_leader]

I wonder why they didn't use the OPA1656 instead of the NE5532 in the two socketed locations?
maybe the 5532s have more output or something?

 

[Casimir101]

I wonder why they didn't use the OPA1656 instead of the NE5532 in the two socketed locations?
maybe the 5532s have more output or something?

Hi, in the Aiyima A80, the OPA1656s actually operate in the preamplifier stage, where they handle signal conditioning and buffering. These are built-in. The NE5532s are located downstream and are largely responsible for the signal's output stage before it continues to the power amplifier. So you could say: the OPA1656s shape and stabilize the input signal, while the NE5532s play a crucial role in the further signal path for the "overall sound."

the NE5532P is crucial for the sound! The built-in OPA1656 shape and stabilize the input signal!
I ordered SX52Bs from Ali, and they're the only good option when it comes to replacing the NE5532s. They cost around €30 and improve everything. As for your question about why they didn't use the NE5532s for shaping and stabilizing, The built-in OPA1656 will be better at shaping and stabilizing! The NE5532 is from 1979. They offer replacements for a reason. With the SX52Bs, I now know why! Gruß.

 

[gnat_leader]

SX52Bs from Ali, and they're the only good option when it comes to replacing the NE5532s.

thanks. I understand the difference between the two chips and the circuit diagram above.
but nothing you said addresses/answers my question.
what is the "crucial role" that the NE5532 is performing that the OPA1656 could not also do in perhaps an even better way?
Many amps use the OP1656 in exactly this same place/role in their circuits.
Does the NE5532 have more/higher output or something?

 

[gnat_leader]

thanks. I understand the difference between the two chips and the circuit diagram above.
but nothing you said addresses/answers my question.
what is the "crucial role" that the NE5532 is performing that the OPA1656 could not also do in perhaps an even better way?
Many amps use the OP1656 in exactly this same place/role in their circuits.
Does the NE5532 have more/higher output or something?

ah... I guess maybe it's related to the possibly higher output current of the NE5532?

 

[gnat_leader]

They cost around €30

that seems an OK price. That would be about the most I would spend as I doubt I would hear much if any difference spending more given the rest of my system and listening room config.

 

[Casimir101]

that seems an OK price. That would be about the most I would spend as I doubt I would hear much if any difference spending more given the rest of my system and listening room config.

Hi, basically both op-amps are rubbish. Whether it's the old NE5532 or the better, newer 1656. The NE5532 is the cheapest, and I think that's the reason! For processing, the 1656 is clearly better; you can see that from the good results. But after processing, a discrete op-amp like the SX52B is always preferable, as these op-amps make a huge difference in sound, especially in a DAC. Buy the SX52B and be amazed. No matter how big the amplifier is.

 

[Laisseez]

The Aiyama A80 looks like a great unit. I plan to purchase it to replace the Arylic B50SE, which I returned because it was of low quality and had many issues. I'll connect it to my PC via USB to power my Polk ES20 speakers.

 

[Casimir101]

The Aiyama A80 looks like a great unit. I plan to purchase it to replace the Arylic B50SE, which I returned because it was of low quality and had many issues. I'll connect it to my PC via USB to power my Polk ES20 speakers.

This is a very good combination. Be sure to buy two SX52Bs from Aliexpress. they'll improve the hi-fi sound in the Aiyima A80 by two notches. Two speakers cost about €28, but they're worth it. Otherwise, you're missing out. Another tip: Set the frequency in Windows to 96 kHz and 24 bit. You'll also need an external driver. This works perfectly.

https://de.aliexpress.com/item/33042073685.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.main.1.67b05fO15fO1ud&algo_pvid=a0c5b8ef-267d-4c49-8729-7b4740b0b145&algo_exp_id=a0c5b8ef-267d-4c49-8729-7b4740b0b145-0&pdp_ext_f=%7B%22order%22%3A%22174%22%2C%22eval%22%3A%221%22%7D&pdp_npi=6%40dis%21EUR%2114.29%2114.29%21%21%2116.29%2116.29%21%4021039a5b17570762088615270ef6da%2167370669809%21sea%21DE%212929096501%21X%211%210%21n_tag%3A-29919%3Bd%3Acee34cef%3Bm03_new_user%3A-29895&curPageLogUid=15JH7QoHGmTr&utparam-url=scene%3Asearch%7Cquery_from%3A%7Cx_object_id%3A33042073685%7C_p_origin_prod%3A

This is what the inside of the A80 looks like:

 

[Casimir101]

The Aiyama A80 looks like a great unit. I plan to purchase it to replace the Arylic B50SE, which I returned because it was of low quality and had many issues. I'll connect it to my PC via USB to power my Polk ES20 speakers.

I misspelled that above: You do NOT need an extra driver in Windows. Just connect via USB-C at 96 kHz and 24 bits. Install the OPA SX52B first. And to make it perfect, install the 31-band equalizer via Spinorama. Then you'll have the best sound you can get!

Measurements for speaker Polk Audio Signature Elite ES20

www.spinorama.org

Without equalizer the sound score is: Tonality (Preference) Score is 4.67

These EQ is designed for a 31 bands graphical EQ.
Tonality (Preference) Score is 5.95 with an EQ​

Download

 

[Laisseez]

This is a very good combination. Be sure to buy two SX52Bs from Aliexpress. they'll improve the hi-fi sound in the Aiyima A80 by two notches. Two speakers cost about €28, but they're worth it. Otherwise, you're missing out. Another tip: Set the frequency in Windows to 96 kHz and 24 bit. You'll also need an external driver. This works perfectly.

https://de.aliexpress.com/item/33042073685.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.main.1.67b05fO15fO1ud&algo_pvid=a0c5b8ef-267d-4c49-8729-7b4740b0b145&algo_exp_id=a0c5b8ef-267d-4c49-8729-7b4740b0b145-0&pdp_ext_f=%7B%22order%22%3A%22174%22%2C%22eval%22%3A%221%22%7D&pdp_npi=6%40dis%21EUR%2114.29%2114.29%21%21%2116.29%2116.29%21%4021039a5b17570762088615270ef6da%2167370669809%21sea%21DE%212929096501%21X%211%210%21n_tag%3A-29919%3Bd%3Acee34cef%3Bm03_new_user%3A-29895&curPageLogUid=15JH7QoHGmTr&utparam-url=scene%3Asearch%7Cquery_from%3A%7Cx_object_id%3A33042073685%7C_p_origin_prod%3A

This is what the inside of the A80 looks like:
View attachment 474521View attachment 474522

To be honest, I don't want to mess around with the new amp without knowing what I'm doing or even what the mod is for. I don't even know what an op amp is.

I misspelled that above: You do NOT need an extra driver in Windows. Just connect via USB-C at 96 kHz and 24 bits. Install the OPA SX52B first. And to make it perfect, install the 31-band equalizer via Spinorama. Then you'll have the best sound you can get!

Measurements for speaker Polk Audio Signature Elite ES20

www.spinorama.org

Without equalizer the sound score is: Tonality (Preference) Score is 4.67

These EQ is designed for a 31 bands graphical EQ.​

Tonality (Preference) Score is 5.95 with an EQ​

Download

Thanks, I bought this today for 160€. I think it was a pretty good deal. I'm not sure what that spinorama thing is, but I looked at it and it seems like it only supports Mac or Linux installations.

 

[Casimir101]

To be honest, I don't want to mess around with the new amp without knowing what I'm doing or even what the mod is for. I don't even know what an op amp is.


Thanks, I bought this today for 160€. I think it was a pretty good deal. I'm not sure what that spinorama thing is, but I looked at it and it seems like it only supports Mac or Linux installations.

First of all, congratulations on your purchase. The A80 is a great device. You can download the equalizer from spinirama and then add it to Peace. First, you need to install the APO tool in Windows. You may have no idea, but that's how everyone starts. Like me. With these tools and the new OPs, the sound is a 9 out of 10 in terms of HiFi sound. Without them, you'd get about a 6, I'd say. Still a good attachment

 

[Laisseez]

First of all, congratulations on your purchase. The A80 is a great device. You can download the equalizer from spinirama and then add it to Peace. First, you need to install the APO tool in Windows. You may have no idea, but that's how everyone starts. Like me. With these tools and the new OPs, the sound is a 9 out of 10 in terms of HiFi sound. Without them, you'd get about a 6, I'd say. Still a good attachment

Thanks, I might try that equalizer thing. It seems easy enough. But I'm not sure about the op-amp thing. I watched a video about them from the Audio Science forum and wasn't convinced to spend over €20 for them.

 

[Casimir101]

Thanks, I might try that equalizer thing. It seems easy enough. But I'm not sure about the op-amp thing. I watched a video about them from the Audio Science forum and wasn't convinced to spend over €20 for them.

Don't believe what he's saying. That's utter nonsense. The OP5532 is just standard sound, and you can hear it. I tested the OP627AU with it, and it sounds completely different than the one built into the A80. The SX52B takes the A80 to a different sound level, about 9 out of 10. This video says the same thing. And 1,000 other users have swapped the standard 5532P. Try it yourself... you'll hear it!

 

[Hellboy.]

Don't believe what he's saying. That's utter nonsense. The OP5532 is just standard sound, and you can hear it. I tested the OP627AU with it, and it sounds completely different than the one built into the A80. The SX52B takes the A80 to a different sound level, about 9 out of 10. This video says the same thing. And 1,000 other users have swapped the standard 5532P. Try it yourself... you'll hear it!

So you don't trust amirm but you trust the guy in that video. Then why are you here reading "utter nonsense" when there are a lot others places you can go?

 

[Casimir101]

So you don't trust amirm but you trust the guy in that video. Then why are you here reading "utter nonsense" when there are a lot others places you can go?

Another troublemaker. OMG I really can't hear it anymore... that guy needs a hearing aid.

that's called freedom of expression. THX

 

[Hellboy.]

I'm just asking a question, using my "freedom of expression".

 

[Svend P]

The OP5532 is just standard sound, and you can hear it. I tested the OP627AU with it, and it sounds completely different than the one built into the A80

Science says you are wrong:

'Does Op-amp Rolling Work?'

Mar 16, 2025

When I post my last video on review of Douk A5 amplifier, I mentioned that rolling (changing) op-amp ICs in there is fruitless. I got have a dozen comments under that video in youtube asking why so I thought I experiment again with the A5. Note that I have done the same testing with both DACs and Power Amplifiers and found the change to not make a difference. But let's see if the results are different this time.

The Douk A5 makes this job both easy and hard. It is easy because you can just lift the plexiglass and replace the op-amps. The difficulty was...

• amirm
• Replies: 959
• Forum: Stereo and Multichannel Amplifier Reviews

• 

 

[Casimir101]

Science says you are wrong:

'Does Op-amp Rolling Work?'

Mar 16, 2025

When I post my last video on review of Douk A5 amplifier, I mentioned that rolling (changing) op-amp ICs in there is fruitless. I got have a dozen comments under that video in youtube asking why so I thought I experiment again with the A5. Note that I have done the same testing with both DACs and Power Amplifiers and found the change to not make a difference. But let's see if the results are different this time.

The Douk A5 makes this job both easy and hard. It is easy because you can just lift the plexiglass and replace the op-amps. The difficulty was...

• amirm
• Replies: 959
• Forum: Stereo and Multichannel Amplifier Reviews

• 

Everyone has to decide for themselves. I clearly hear a difference, and the difference is so vast that there's a world of difference between the 1979 NE5532P and the new discrete OPs such as the sparkos ss3602 or the SX52B op-amps. I'm not alone in that opinion, and that's a good thing.

 

[RandomEar]

Everyone has to decide for themselves. I clearly hear a difference, and the difference is so vast that there's a world of difference between the 1979 NE5532P and the new discrete OPs such as the sparkos ss3602 or the SX52B op-amps. I'm not alone in that opinion, and that's a good thing.

Doesn't make it true, though. Lots of people believe in stuff that's probably incorrect.

Ask yourself the following questions:
1) Are you competent in designing electronic circuits?
2) Do you understand how the circuit you are modifying works in detail?
3) Did you simulate, calculate or measure the outcome of changing the components in question?

If your answer to any of these questions is "No", you almost certainly made the circuit work worse than without your alterations.

These device have been designed by very competent engineers with years of training and experience, using detailed calculations and specialized software and often guided by proven reference designs by chip manufacturers with decades of experience. Unless you match that level of knowledge, which chance do you think you've got to improve on such a design by essentially randomly grabbing parts from a bin and shoving them in there?