Modern Op-Amp Distortion Tests: Part 1 - BJT-Input Devices

Douglas Self has been using a tried-and-true palette of op-amps in his designs. Because many new types have appeared in the last decade, he thought it was high time to evaluate those for distortion performance. In Part 1 of this article, he examines BJT-input devices using a similar protocol for five different loads and testing for basic op-amp distortion in favorable circumstances. FET input op-amps are investigated in Part 2.

In 2016, Audified introduced its MixChecker Pro mix-assisting plug-in which was able generate emulations of classic reference studio monitors as well as consumer loudspeakers in order to check how a production would translate in different environments. Now the Czech company announced availability of MixChecker Pro, advancing the solution further with a whole host of new features, including the ability to simulate acoustical surroundings and whole range of new categorized devices.

Three audio experts discuss the role of distortion levels in what we hear. The debate was caused by an article titled “Amplifier Musicality - A Study of Amplifier Harmonic Distortion Spectrum Analysis” by Jean Hiraga, which originated comments by Jan Didden, Dennis Colin and a subsequent response by Jean Hiraga. The original article appeared in audioXpress March 2004 and the resulting conversation was published in audioXpress October 2005.