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Matrix M-Stage amp review: simple, cheap, and excellent.
Dec 14, 2011 at 4:56 PM Post #2,221 of 5,176
Dec 14, 2011 at 7:33 PM Post #2,222 of 5,176
Installed this Goldpoint knob on the M-stage today.  Think it looks pretty nice.  Fits perfectly.  Available on eBay from this seller (no affiliation other than a happy customer).
 

 
Dec 15, 2011 at 7:19 AM Post #2,226 of 5,176
Can someone please chime in regarding the DT990-600 Ohm / M-Stage (USB model) combination?  How well do they pair up?  I'm currently using an ATH-M50 / E10 combo but I'm looking to upgrade my equipment after the holidays.  Is the M-Stage more than adequate for driving these HPs?  For those of you that have the USB M-Stage, how do you think it compares versus running a dedicated DAC such as the HRT Streamer II, etc.?  Any insight would be greatly appreciated.
 
Thanks,
- Bill
 
Dec 15, 2011 at 7:23 AM Post #2,227 of 5,176


Quote:
unixdog said:
Can someone please chime in regarding the DT990-600 Ohm / M-Stage (USB model) combination?  How well do they pair up?  I'm currently using an ATH-M50 / E10 combo but I'm looking to upgrade my equipment after the holidays.  Is the M-Stage more than adequate for driving these HPs?  For those of you that have the USB M-Stage, how do you think it compares versus running a dedicated DAC such as the HRT Streamer II, etc.?  Any insight would be greatly appreciated.
 
Thanks,
- Bill
Click to expand...



http://www.head-fi.org/t/475618/matrix-m-stage-amp-review-simple-cheap-and-excellent/2190#post_7965475
 
I will compare the M-stage DAC to the HRT MS II after christmas.  Currently I have neither, but I will have both soon.
 
Dec 15, 2011 at 7:31 AM Post #2,228 of 5,176


Quote:
chicolom said:
http://www.head-fi.org/t/475618/matrix-m-stage-amp-review-simple-cheap-and-excellent/2190#post_7965475
 
I will compare the M-stage DAC to the HRT MS II after christmas.  Currently I have neither, but I will have both soon.
Click to expand...



Thanks for the quick reply and link.  Are you getting the M-Stage USB model?  Also, are you purchasing it from TamAudio?  I've never done business with TamAudio and I was curious if they're considered a trusted source.  Best of luck.  
 
Dec 15, 2011 at 7:58 AM Post #2,229 of 5,176


Quote:
unixdog said:
Thanks for the quick reply and link.  Are you getting the M-Stage USB model?  Also, are you purchasing it from TamAudio?  I've never done business with TamAudio and I was curious if they're considered a trusted source.  Best of luck.  
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Ya.  I ordered the USB version from Tamaudio.  I'm pretty sure that's the trusted source for matrix products here on Head-fi.  Although I've read mixed reports on the quality/legitimacy of the extra opamps he sells.
 
If you email Tamaudio, they are also quick to respond which is good.
 
Dec 15, 2011 at 8:23 AM Post #2,230 of 5,176


Quote:
chicolom said:
Ya.  I ordered the USB version from Tamaudio.  I'm pretty sure that's the trusted source for matrix products here on Head-fi.  Although I've read mixed reports on the quality/legitimacy of the extra opamps he sells.
 
If you email Tamaudio, they are also quick to respond which is good.
Click to expand...



Thanks.  I actually sent them an email a couple of days ago with some questions regarding the USB versus non-USB model but I've yet to hear back from them.  I'm glad to hear that they're a trusted source though.  I'd really be interested in hearing your thoughts regarding SQ using the HRT DAC versus the Matrix built-in DAC.  If there's a significant improvement with using the dedicated DAC, I'll probably just pull the trigger on both as you plan to do.  Thanks again for your response.
 
Dec 15, 2011 at 8:39 AM Post #2,231 of 5,176
I received my Audinst HUD-MX1 yesterday and after pairing it with my M-stage I am noticing less distortion/clipping on some of the songs that I was hearing it in previously. I guess I can chalk this up to the previous uDAC I had feeding it. I also testing the amp at home to see if I hear the humming noise I noticed at work and it is still there. Guess I'm going to have to crack open the amp and see if I can pinpoint where the humming is originating.
 
I also tried popping the gain up to 10db and to my untrained ears it sounded better than at 0db but I got some very noticeable hissing at just about all volume levels. I'm going to have to play with it a bit more to see if the (perceived) improvements outweigh the hiss. 
 
Dec 15, 2011 at 8:56 AM Post #2,232 of 5,176
Quote:
tribbs said:
After reviewing various amps for my 32Ω impedance Grado I opted for Dr. Kevin Gilmore designed DynaLo
 
http://www.head-fi.org/t/461997/lost-link-to-a-dynalo-amp/
Click to expand...

 
Quote:
mad max said:
The combo is awesome, I would know.
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I'm very glad to hear that Max! 
beerchug.gif

 
The M-Stage was on my short list until I remembered the DynaLo.  I had read about it years ago. I still had the link saved but I had forgotten about it - Out of site, out of mind.  It seems that if there are no tubes or opamps to roll, or other improvements to perform an amp gets little attention.  Strange as I'd rather spend my time listening (or building).
 
Cheers!
________________________________________________________________________________________________
Addendum:
 
Originally Posted by Chris J
 
An interesting article on the effect of headphone output impedance on the apparent frequency response of a headphone:
http://www.soundandvisionmag.com/blog/2011/11/14/output-impedance-show-and-tell?page=0,0
 
Grado 325is impedance graph
=390]http://graphs.headphone.com/graphCompare.php?graphType=0&graphID[]=390
 
 
 
Dec 15, 2011 at 9:20 AM Post #2,233 of 5,176


Quote:
sleazyc said:
I received my Audinst HUD-MX1 yesterday and after pairing it with my M-stage I am noticing less distortion/clipping on some of the songs that I was hearing it in previously. I guess I can chalk this up to the previous uDAC I had feeding it. I also testing the amp at home to see if I hear the humming noise I noticed at work and it is still there. Guess I'm going to have to crack open the amp and see if I can pinpoint where the humming is originating.
 
I also tried popping the gain up to 10db and to my untrained ears it sounded better than at 0db but I got some very noticeable hissing at just about all volume levels. I'm going to have to play with it a bit more to see if the (perceived) improvements outweigh the hiss. 
Click to expand...


if you plug your HP into the MX1 (using it as amp), do you hear the humming noise as well? I would suggest to play around with the position of your HP plug into the m-stage. I found out mine was plugged in too tight
that current goes into the HP. Loosen it a bit and the humming is gone.
 
 
Dec 15, 2011 at 12:31 PM Post #2,234 of 5,176

Quote:
cowincanada said:
if you plug your HP into the MX1 (using it as amp), do you hear the humming noise as well? I would suggest to play around with the position of your HP plug into the m-stage. I found out mine was plugged in too tight
that current goes into the HP. Loosen it a bit and the humming is gone.
 
Click to expand...

 
Plugging directly into the MX1 does not produce a humming noise. I get the humming without any source connected the to the M-stage so I do believe that it is an issue with the amp.
 
 
 
Dec 15, 2011 at 7:20 PM Post #2,235 of 5,176


Quote:
riverback said:
Its because of the M-stage's 5 Ohm output impedance. It doesn't mean that it can't drive low impedance headphones. It just means that gain might change depending on the load
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Hey there,  not too sure if I'm following that, I think you mean that a high output impedance amp can mess up the gain because you are loosing voltage across the amp's high output impedance? A low output impedance amp shouldn't interfere with the signal going to a low or a hi impedance can.
 
Quote:
unixdog said:
Can someone please chime in regarding the DT990-600 Ohm / M-Stage (USB model) combination?  How well do they pair up?  I'm currently using an ATH-M50 / E10 combo but I'm looking to upgrade my equipment after the holidays.  Is the M-Stage more than adequate for driving these HPs?  For those of you that have the USB M-Stage, how do you think it compares versus running a dedicated DAC such as the HRT Streamer II, etc.?  Any insight would be greatly appreciated.
 
Thanks,
- Bill
Click to expand...


I can only tell you that DT880/600 work very well with the M Stage, set gain to 18 dB and you have more than enough volume.
The M can even drive my very, very old 2,000 ohm Senn HD 424s.
I don't have any experience with the USB version.
 
 
 
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