Op Amp recommendations?

[sjconolly]

I'm looking for some recommendations on op-amps to try for a few guitar  pedal designs I'm working on. These aren't high-end boutique pedals, but I  am trying try to get low noise and distortion, with a fairly wide frequency  response, but with a low idle current.

For a benchmark I'm using the venerable NE5532, which is acceptable in  every way but the current draw. I used two of these (four channels) in one  of the prototypes with a pair of nine volt batteries, and it was pulling  60ma at idle, so it eats batteries pretty quickly. I have a design which is  going to require six channels so I'd like to see what I can find that pulls  less than 1ma per channel.

I'm going to place an order soon for a number of devices to try out, just  going by the published specs and information from Mr. Groner's wonderful analysis at http://www.sg-acoustics.ch/analogue_audio/ic_opamps/index.html

I'd just like to throw in a few more that people have used and can recommend. I suppose I'm equally interested in ones that people would NOT recommend :-)

Thanks in advance,
Sean

[armdnrdy]

Your request brings to mind a Stones song.

The 353 will get you some of what you want....or what you need.
http://www.brown.edu/Departments/Engineering/Courses/En162/DataSheets/LF353.pdf

I not too sure that you should be overly concerned about the op amps being low noise for your intended purpose.
An audiofile distortion pedal??

Edit:
I guess that I read though your original post too quickly. 

I saw the words pedals, distortion, and low noise, and thought the obvious.
I've had way too much coffee today! 

What is it that you're designing?

[Pojo]

There's always the Texas Instruments free sample program so you can try a few of several different kinds for no monetary investment.

http://www.ti.com/

[PRR]

> NE5532...four channels....was pulling  60ma at idle

That's not right. Two chips is 32mA max.

So what are you doing wrong? (Will probably still be wrong with another chip.)

(Oh: four channels on 30V supply driving 600 ohms each at MAXimum sine level adds another 32mA dynamic current... but that's so unlikely that we don't even deal with it in large mixers with a hundred '5532s.)

For all-purpose guitar audio it is dang hard to beat the TL072. On the other hand, if it isn't very-good with TL072, it probably won't be great with any other chip, you need a different approach.

FWIW: TL072 is a simplified (cheaper) LM353. The '353 was a minor hit the year it came out. Within a few years nearly everybod had switched to TL072, even in hi-bucks work. I don't say they are identical, just that the difference is super-slim.

[sjconolly]

Not right indeed! I had one channel that was unused and I don't think I had it properly terminated. I also found another mistake in my understanding which let me drop another channel, so now it's down to one op-amp. The 5532 is now pulling about 6.5ma off 9 volts, and a TL082 in the same circuit pulls a little under 4ma.

The circuit is pretty basic - just a preamp with a single mid-high shelving EQ. It's intended for all of my buddies with cheaper guitars that don't seem to match that well with their amps. I also use it as a DI into my recording interface. The next version will have a single band full parametric EQ.

[R.G.]

There are different opamps with better this, that, and the other characteristic. But the TL072 line is a remarkable value.

My approach to selection is to (1) know what I'm asking the opamp to do and (2) use a TL07x unless there is something specific I know about (1) that it won't do.

The TL07x line has issues with (1) wide output swing near the power supplies (2) operating with low power supply voltages (3) providing high currents on its output (4) oscillation when driving a capacitive load. Other opamps have their own different mixes of issues.

What's the best automobile? Would you pick a Lamborghini or a Freightliner dump truck? That depends on whether your objective is to impress girls or move gravel.
... although I've seen some pretty nifty girls who like guys in dump trucks, too.   

[garcho]

NE5532, which is acceptable in  every way but the current draw.

And input impedance - BJT vs. FET