Replacing op amps?

In the future (when the warranty expires), would it be possible to upgrade the op amps by simply pulling out the old ones and pressing the new ones in?

I did this on my old Sonar ST soundcard and it worked wonders.

 

No - you'll have to get the soldering iron out. They are very small SMDs - it can be done, but you'll need good eyesight and a steady hand.

 

I see, that's a risk I wouldn't want to take. Thanks.

 

I do a lot of SMD work and to get surface mount components on and off PCBs you really need the proper equipment. Hot air rework station, microscope, liquid flux, tweezers and a very steady hand as minimum.
Whilst it's possible to do this with just a soldering iron and products like "Solder Wick" I certainly don't recommend it as it is quite easy to damage the very thin traces on the PCB and then you are more than likely facing an expensive repair.

Not that long ago I had someone send me a PCB for repair. There were no SMD components involved but the person who attempted to remove several wires literally butchered the board and delaminated quite a few pads, vias and traces in the process.

Other considerations are that most hobbyists don't have a proper anti-static workspace. Static electricity can easily build up on your body and clothing. When it discharges to the electronics it can cause damage which you can't see but can completely destroy ICs and static sensitive discrete components without you even being aware of it until you power up the device to discover it no longer works or has developed an intermittent fault as a result of ESD.

As a person who has long worked in the electronics industry I highly recommend leaving these sorts of modifications / upgrades to experienced professionals. That way if it goes horribly wrong you've got someone to point the figure at.

 

This is not a good idea. Leave it to experts doing this regularly as their job or a serious hobby.
There is a good reason electronic boards are hardly repaired these days.

Only my Zidoo Neo X uses sockets for the amps.