• The move to the new server is done. There are some software and database maintenance updates in process. This has us passing the hat around to help out. We appreciate any donations. Seriously, even a dollar helps. The payment page may be found here - https://www.audiokarma.org/support.html

A Burson Discrete Op Amp For My CDP

SET12

SET12

Super Member
Hi All,

I recently ran into these offered by Parts Connextion. Which are said to just blow Chip Op-Amps right out of the water!

Link here:

http://www.partsconnexion.com/Index/burson.php

bursonopampx2fw9.jpg


The ones that are pictured are a pair Dual Op-amps

My Sony X77ES uses the NE5534P which is a Single Op-amp or what would be one half of each Dual in the upper picture. So they would look like these

singlebursonopampswz4.jpg


I've always wanted a schematic of my player so I bought one from these people.

http://www.servicemanuals.net/

It was available immediately as a down load or you can purchase paper ones for just a couple of more dollars my down load was just $15.99

My player is well built but rather dated! I like the sound very much and when I saw the price Shocked of these Burson's at $114.95/pr they really got me thinking. The Dual Op-Amps are $179.95/pr or a single Dual at $89.95!

Basically I'll be replacing the Analog Buffer Stage which feeds my players passive attenuator which is directly connected to my variable out jacks.

Here's the partial schematic of the Sony X77ES that shows the 5534P Op Amp

imgnewxn3.jpg


The schematic is pretty easy to follow in full size. You can see the head phone Op Amp as well which is IC651 or NJM5532D

sd530039op1.jpg
 
Last edited:
Register to hide this ad
Although I haven't worked much with SS modifications the Burson is meant to be a reasonable easy one to implement!

And having a schematic makes it twice as easy yet!

I purchase the X77ES back maybe in 1992. It had been sitting in a warehouse for 2 yrs I was told when I bought it brand new in a sealed box for the sum of just $600 the list was $1800 I believe. So I certainly have gotten my moneys out of it for some 16 yrs of use!

I initially was using it as a transport which is how I auditioned it with a California Audio Labs Tube DAC. Later I bought an Adcom with the anolog section designed by Nelson Pass. Neither of which offered the over all performance level of the Sony internal DAC.

So its time to give the Sony a Trump card! Or Cards!

So lets take a closer look here.

sd530035editedwr4.jpg


From left to right- In three sections Two massive R-Core power transformers.

Transport mechanism with the players Dual Main Supply board at the top.

The final section is the Digital board and the Transformer Coupled Balanced Out board the Audio board is underneath these.



From the Under side pictured.

sd530049ld5.jpg


From left to right again

We see the Main Audio Board with the Fixed and Variable out jacks directly above

Bottom of the Dual power supply board bottom of the transport mechanism and the bottom mounting of the R-Core transformers.

A closer look at the Heart of Audio Board.

sd530051editednd8.jpg


From the bottom up.

The two white outlined squares with notches on their top right corners are the Sony D to A converters.

Going up further you'll see a lot of 8 legged IC's these are the ones we are concerned with.

They are Sample Hold IC's, Low Pass Filter IC's and of course the Buffer IC's.

They are comprised of the NE5534P's which are single Op Amps and the NE5532's which are Dual Op Amp's all of which can be replaced by Burson's!

You also see the four Output Coupling Caps two large and two small ones used for bypasses these are film caps of unknown names but of very good sound quality IMO.

The Buffer Op Amp's NE5534P's

Are located in the row of four eight legged IC's just under the black film caps right next to the white and red wires!

And finally what apears to be a Blue Body Alps Attenuator used to feed my SET Amps direct which I have some plans to improve as well!

sd530056editednd7.jpg
 
Installation

When working nights I sometimes can't sleep so I went to the basement and cleaned up my electronics bench and got to work on the Burson's.

After unsoldering a few ground wires I was in business

sd530061dx1.jpg


So not to bad for installing on my player just a little tricky, I just didn't have much extra ground wire length for slack to work with. But overall the installation was easier than I thought.

sd530067dq3.jpg


Your looking at the NE5534P Op Amp IC's in the foreground below the circuit board.

Here are some close ups of the Burson's installed

A side view

sd530076wg8.jpg


I Listened to Master and Commander a very powerful and spacious CD briefly.

Initial sound! Monstrous

Deeper better defined bass, Big, Deep, Wide lots of detail and a great sense of ease, Decays seem longer as well.

:scratch2:And I was told not to critically listen for at least 50 hrs. Wow!

So I am burning the Burson's in with some of the most dynamic material that I have.

Stay tuned!:thmbsp:

SET12:smoke:
 
I use the Burson buffer between my LDR attenuator and the active crossover.
The buffer utilises the discrete op-amps plus the discrete regulator.
I've yet to find the buffer's limit.
That'd probably be the op amps inside the active crossover. :scratch2:
 
I have a CDP-X77ES and own a Burson opamp too, so we have a lot in common! I always wondered how this mod would sound, I am very happy with my Burson attached to my Auzentech sound card feeding my TA-E80ES preamp. Maybe I should try this mod! Thanks for sharing.
 
theophile said:
I use the Burson buffer between my LDR attenuator and the active crossover.
The buffer utilizes the discrete op-amps plus the discrete regulator.
I've yet to find the buffer's limit.
That'd probably be the op amps inside the active crossover. :scratch2:
Click to expand...

Do you mean that they would be the ones to use in your active crossover?

For active crossovers? I would think so! I have no experience rolling any Op Amps. But the Burson sounds like one monster to be sure!

The buffers limit! Man you got that right!

The NE5534P sounds stressed in contrast to the Burson which sounds so relaxed and at ease!



vincei said:
I have a CDP-X77ES and own a Burson opamp too, so we have a lot in common! I always wondered how this mod would sound, I am very happy with my Burson attached to my Auzentech sound card feeding my TA-E80ES preamp. Maybe I should try this mod! Thanks for sharing.
Click to expand...

:yes: I would for sure!

Phase two will be to replace the Low Pass Filter Op Amps with the Burson Duals. I can't imagine the Body of the Bursons with less feedback I think they will really open up the dynamic capability of the Sony even further!

Although the Sony has a substantial power supply I will substantially increase the reserve capacitance as well I have a stash of Muse Electrolytic Caps that I have had for a number of yrs and I just bought an ESR Meter to go through them so I can use them in the Sony.

:scratch2:I will certainly take a look at the Burson Regulators as well!

Its been a great player through the yrs and now it appears its going to shine on a few more!:thmbsp:

SET12 :smoke:
 
Just out of curiosity, does your machine have an AD712 for IC 605 (Lo Pass Filter)? It seems the schematic shows a NE5532, but the parts list shows AD712, which is what is installed. I was wondering if they changed the component mid production.

Also, I would swap out IC601 (sample hold), 604 (sample hold) and 605 (LPF) as well. I am sure that with IC606 already changed, it would sound great. If you are out of room, I may suggest using an OPA627 in those positions, with single-dual adapter where nessessary. I like that chip and it requires less room, although they are pricey. I got mine from Parts Connextion as well.

Keep us posted!
 
vincei said:
Just out of curiosity, does your machine have an AD712 for IC 605 (Lo Pass Filter)? It seems the schematic shows a NE5532, but the parts list shows AD712, which is what is installed. I was wondering if they changed the component mid production.

Also, I would swap out IC601 (sample hold), 604 (sample hold) and 605 (LPF) as well. I am sure that with IC606 already changed, it would sound great. If you are out of room, I may suggest using an OPA627 in those positions, with single-dual adapter where nessessary. I like that chip and it requires less room, although they are pricey. I got mine from Parts Connextion as well.

Keep us posted!
Click to expand...

Thanks Vincei!

Yes your right the schematic shows The Dual NE5532 for the Low Pass Filter. And indeed the AD712 is there.

I'll have to do some research of opinions of the OPA627. As well as using others.

I already have the Dual Burson's so that's a given that I'd use it for the low pass but the others are up for options.

I don't know your background but if your going to mod yours I would suggest a very good soldering station with variable temp. If you plan on pulling the board out as I did. The Main Ground wires that are soldered to the board are fairly heavy gauge and require a lot of heat and are a bear to resolder as well. With this particular player I would recommend getting a competent tech to do the work if one has any doubt in their soldering skills.

So, After 18 hrs of burn in time I'm about to give the player another listen.

Should be interesting!

I'll be back for a brief impression post :music:

SET12
 
Well! After 18 hrs of Burn In time I have given another listen with a wider variety of material.

And I got to say these Burson's are something else.

They have really done their home work!

They are not just a little better than the NE5534 Op Amps they are way better.

In fact there is nothing that I can fault them with.

Music is far more involving and thought provoking as well.

Listening to these makes me feel like I have an Attention Deficit Disorder or something as there is so much new information in every area.

Here are some of the improvements that I have noticed so far!

Great sense of ease at all recording levels.

A lack of any kind of SS glare or hardness.

Lots more body.

Great extension at the frequency extremes.

Much wider and deeper sound stage a long with greater vertical height. The player has always had a wide sound stage but the Burson just takes it to another level.

Gobs of texture so much so I am noticing more of the Analog Recorded Mix's and Masters on the CD.

Greater attack with longer decay times.

Richer Harmonics.

Just very, very good Digital.

One would have to lay down some serious money to really beat this Sony.

Truly a world class performer.

So I'm very pleased! :thmbsp:

SET12 :smoke:
 
Cool! I already liked the sound of the X77ES, but always felt the quality of the opamps were the weak link as the topology seems very solid. I am quite comfortable with soldering, but could use some new tools. I really do not want to screw up this player! I would say with the bursons in there, one would have to argue that this player can compete with players that cost several thousand dollars from that time period. :)
 
vincei said:
Cool! I already liked the sound of the X77ES, but always felt the quality of the opamps were the weak link as the topology seems very solid. I am quite comfortable with soldering, but could use some new tools. I really do not want to screw up this player! I would say with the bursons in there, one would have to argue that this player can compete with players that cost several thousand dollars from that time period. :)
Click to expand...

Hey Vincei,

Yes I always liked the sound of the Sony and many have commented on its refined presentation. But when I heard The Audio Aero Capitole the Capitole set a new bench mark for me in what is one of the most informing and smoothest presentations I have ever heard!

http://www.soundstage.com/revequip/audioaero_capitole24192.htm

I was very envious of the Capitole!

But the Bursons have just changed all that!

After 26 hrs of Burn In I am noticing some additional body or bloom as well as more delicacy in the treble its as though the Burson's are capitalizing on the Sony's original refined presentation to begin with and now taking it to a higher level.

As you say the Sony has already a substantial platform to work with which is a real plus for the Burson's to work with!

Can it go even further?

You bet!

The regulators, Addition capacitance, and of course another pair of Burson's.

The ground connection that I talked about one of them anyway can be disconnected by unbolting its cable which I'm going to attempt to do next time around. I didn't look at the second ground ends connection termination either but will take a closer look also there is a cap soldered to the audio board and chassis which I unsoldered from the board its frail so be careful.

SET12
 
Well! I have some not so good news!

The Burson low end has seemed to of evaporated burning this burn process!

I have some 60 hrs of music run through them and the circuit has been energized for over a 100 hrs.

I noticed this in the last critical audition especially!

:scratch2:I'd swear they were substantially warmer sounding initially!

Looking at the schematic the entire circuit is feed from just one plus and one minus 470 uf supply caps after the discrete regulators.

:scratch2:This intern feeds some 8 Op Amp sections!

A separate regulator feeds the the DAC's but it is run off the same 470's as well.

Now considering that the Bursons require substantially more current like 3-5 times more than other chips this may be an issue with the supply.:yes:

I don't feel the 1500 ma series pass transistor has any issues but the supply Capacitance is another issue in my book!!!

Also the Caps may just be tired after 17 yrs of service:yes: and the Bursons just took them over the edge!!!!! :sigh:

Often I see substantially more capacitance added!!! When using the Bursons. Some 5-10 times more!!!:yes:

So I need to build my ESR meter pronto!! Like this weekend.:yes:

I have a good wad of Muse caps at values that would bring the Sony supply Reserve by 5X with direct substitution.

Hopefully this well help.:yes:

So please stay tuned as the Bursons are tuned!!!

SET12 :smoke:
 
Keep us posted. It's possible a powersupply upgrade may be in order to provide more power to those Bursons.
 
240sx4u said:
Watching and waiting................
Click to expand...

Thanks for watching and waiting 240sx4u I hope I can make it worth while!

vincei said:
Keep us posted. It's possible a powersupply upgrade may be in order to provide more power to those Bursons.
Click to expand...

I spoke to an engineer friend of mine he thought there might of been some drifting of component values. But the odds of both modules I have reservations on that! But its possible!

Considering the Sony's age and the fact for the last decade is been basically on 24/7 and the fact that the Bursons have high current demands leads me to believe that there may very well be an ESR issue.

But In general the audio boards supply is hardly adequate considering the Bursons current demands (25 ma/individual module vs 5-10 ma/chip) Just about everyone is adding capacitance. Although the Player is dead quite!

But as I mentioned before initially they sounded warm and full bodied! Not to mention very dynamic, I once had an experiance with an Audio Research tube amp that sounded like a bad SS amp. Culprit! Bad supply caps!!!

So I hope to get my ESR meter kit built as you may know it measures the caps internal resistance. As a cap ages its ESR goes up! So I'm hoping this is the issue and even if its not I'm going to replace the caps and increase the supply!

I'll keep everyone informed on my progress as well as new pictures of any supply upgrades.

SET12
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom