Op Amp Questions

[Todzilla]

Forgive my ignorance about the topic.

I have successfully built an N72 and two A12 preamps and love them. I was excited to see CODEMAN015 has picked up the product line, so I can get more.

I'm very interested in a golden vocal preamp and I figure the J99 could be the starting point. I have a Neumann U-89 and a pair of Peluso P-12s that might sound great when paired. But I see SCA no longer sells their own op amps. This leads me to a few questions:

1) Is an op amp necessary for basic functioning? i.e., can I test the unit out for basic functionality before putting the op amps in?

2) Are the John Hardy 990s the gold standard, or should I consider other brands of compatible op amps with this unit? It'll end up costing me close to $500 to put it all together, which I'm willing to do as long as the end result is silky gorgeousness.

Thanks, Todilla

[codeman015]

A J99 needs TWO opamps to work. I would definitely say that the JH990's are the gold standard. While building J99's for others, I built them with 990s WAY more than anything else combined!