Matrix M-Stage amp review: simple, cheap, and excellent. - Page 176

Quote:

Originally Posted by Monago 

I think it heavily depends on the headphone. My HD650's sound utterly flat and lifeless on anything less than 10 gain. If I push it up to 18 gain, there's absolutely no increase of treble or sibilance from 0 or 10; just greater soundstage, clarity, transparency, prat, 'presence'...

 

Interesting,

I guess it is heavily dependent on your 'phone of choice.

Throw in a different Op Amp???

I'll have to play around with settings on my M with the DT880, then find my favourite gain for the Q701s.

I guess I should quit assuming what works well on the Q works equally well on the DT880. Or any other 'phone.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris J 

Interesting,

I guess it is heavily dependent on your 'phone of choice.

Throw in a different Op Amp???

I'll have to play around with settings on my M with the DT880, then find my favorite gain for the Q701s.

I guess I should quit assuming what works well on the Q works equally well on the DT880. Or any other 'phone.

 

 

Generally the greatest sound difference in any given setup is *always* the headphone, so starting there and working back 'down the line', so-to-speak, is the best way to optimize. I won't delve into technicalities because I'd be talking out of my rear end, but only to say that with different headphones/sound signatures/impedance's, usually come rather different optimal setups in terms of amplification and the subsequent peripherals or optionals. The best you can do is experiment with various settings to find a 'setup' to your liking. Personally, everything I own--amp, opamps, and dac--are all decisions I made with my particular headphone in mind - the HD650's.

I've owned K701's so know their bright signature quite well. The DT880, as I understand it, have a similar brighter sound, so I'll assume you'd want to gravitate toward a darker or more neutral opamp choice. Whatever opamp you end up choosing should work well with both headphones considering their similar, brighter characteristics. Edit: That said, the M-Stage is rather inherently dark, so you'd want to consider that while making a decision on your opamp.

As for gain, that's something you'll just have to experiment with. Giving yourself 1 hour with each setting and headphone should be enough time to decide whether you like it or not - or at least it was for me.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Monago 

 

Generally the greatest sound difference in any given setup is *always* the headphone, so starting there and working back 'down the line', so-to-speak, is the best way to optimize. I won't delve into technicalities because I'd be talking out of my rear end, but only to say that with different headphones/sound signatures/impedance's, usually come rather different optimal setups in terms of amplification and the subsequent peripherals or optionals. The best you can do is experiment with various settings to find a 'setup' to your liking. Personally, everything I own--amp, opamps, and dac--are all decisions I made with my particular headphone in mind - the HD650's.

 

I've owned K701's so know their bright signature quite well. The DT880, as I understand it, have a similar brighter sound, so I'll assume you'd want to gravitate toward a darker or more neutral opamp choice. Whatever opamp you end up choosing should work well with both headphones considering their similar, brighter characteristics. Edit: That said, the M-Stage is rather inherently dark, so you'd want to consider that while making a decision on your opamp.

 

As for gain, that's something you'll just have to experiment with. Giving yourself 1 hour with each setting and headphone should be enough time to decide whether you like it or not - or at least it was for me.

The DT880 is "more or less" halfway between the HD650 and the Q701.

The Q701 is a bit closer to the DT990 (bright) than the DT880.

I am starting to think that the M Stage is too dark for the DT880. Just my opinion..............YMMV.

I tend to be more of an Objectivist and lean toward neatralitiy and a sense of openness and clarity.
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris J 

The DT880 is "more or less" halfway between the HD650 and the Q701.

The Q701 is a bit closer to the DT990 (bright) than the DT880.

I am starting to think that the M Stage is too dark for the DT880. Just my opinion..............YMMV.

I tend to be more of an Objectivist and lean toward neatralitiy and a sense of openness and clarity.
 

 

Ah. Well, if you're interested in an open, neutral, clear sound, you might consider the LM4562 or OPA2111 as potential options for your Opamps. Both are very neutral and detailed, although the LM4562 is far cheaper, and probably a more practical solution. I've tried both, and preferred the OPA2111AM by a VERY small margin (and I mean small).

You also might consider something more dramatic to reach neutrality by removing the input caps like I have. However, be warned: your amp becomes *completely* neutral, so with a neutral amp and neutral/bright opamps inserted along with Q701's as your preferred headphone, you might end up getting more clarity and neutrality than you bargained for. You'd also need to be aware of DC offset from your source without input caps. If you're interested, there's plenty of discussion on removing the input caps around the beginning or middle of this thread - lots of thorough explanations on the cost/benefit of such a modification. I will say that it paid off for me, and can't imagine not having the input caps removed. It elevated my enjoyment of this amplifier to new levels =). Edit: I do however, have HD650's, so... 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris J 

The DT880 is "more or less" halfway between the HD650 and the Q701.

The Q701 is a bit closer to the DT990 (bright) than the DT880.

I am starting to think that the M Stage is too dark for the DT880. Just my opinion..............YMMV.

I tend to be more of an Objectivist and lean toward neatralitiy and a sense of openness and clarity.
 

 

I knew i wouldnt like the OPA2134 with my DT880s from not liking it from having a E9. so I changed it right away.  You gonna have to start op-amp rolling til you find a op-amp you enjoy with your DT880s. You could try LT1124ACN8. Which I liking with the 2x LT1122 in my M-stage.

Quote:

Originally Posted by genclaymore 

I knew i wouldnt like the OPA2134 with my DT880s from not liking it from having a E9. so I changed it right away.  You gonna have to start op-amp rolling til you find a op-amp you enjoy with your DT880s. You could try LT1124ACN8. Which I liking with the 2x LT1122 in my M-stage.

Yeah, I've been through changing various Op Amps and have removed the Input caps.

I've setlled on the LM4562.

Especially with DT880s I still find this amp a bit too dark for my liking with most material.

The DT880/600 and LM4562 work great for a lot of Rock though, tremendous drive and punch.

 I think you should try Earth HDAM with the capacitor mod from the Zero DAC thread, as one said here before several pages ago.

 It will make LM4562 sound like crap in comparison, specially in extension, dynamics and soundstage.

 I was very happy with this combo, but I've upgraded to La Figaro 339 some time ago.

Why not just get an Audio GD amp? 

 I haven't heard any Audio-GD amp, but I can say that to me this amp can be improved very much, spending very little amount of money.

There is a web site by a guy named, um, well, I can't really mention his name on Head Fi 'cos he got, well, you see, um, well, um, He Got Banned!

Anyway, he says (his opinion) some guy named Samuel Groner measured the Earth and said it was shyte.

OTOH for $22.50 plus shipping maybe it's worth a shot. 

I keep thinking I gotta get a more neutral head amp..............................................................................................

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris J 

There is a web site by a guy named, um, well, I can't really mention his name on Head Fi 'cos he got, well, you see, um, well, um, He Got Banned!

 

Anyway, he says (his opinion) some guy named Samuel Groner measured the Earth and said it was shyte.

 

OTOH for $22.50 plus shipping maybe it's worth a shot. 

 

I keep thinking I gotta get a more neutral head amp..............................................................................................

Yeah that guy likes to listen to his audio gear with his measurement tools. But in the end, all that really matters is how it sounds to yours ears.

Not to start anything but he does have good points about certain gear. I've read what he had to say and while I agree with some of his stuff, not all of it I do.

He told me I was a victim of the "Head-Fi hype" and that his amp was better than my Auditor . Blasphemy! I can see it being comparable to $300 amps, but not at the $1K Auditor's level. 

He said he would offer $500 towards charity if some one took up his amp challenge. He told me no one would ever take him up on it because he was right. I told him he could keep the money and I'd like to take him up on the challenge. Well he stopped responding to me after that.
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by KimLaroux 

Yeah that guy likes to listen to his audio gear with his measurement tools. But in the end, all that really matters is how it sounds to yours ears.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zombie_X 

Not to start anything but he does have good points about certain gear. I've read what he had to say and while I agree with some of his stuff, not all of it I do.

 

He told me I was a victim of the "Head-Fi hype" and that his amp was better than my Auditor . Blasphemy! I can see it being comparable to $300 amps, but not at the $1K Auditor's level. 

 

He said he would offer $500 towards charity if some one took up his amp challenge. He told me no one would ever take him up on it because he was right. I told him he could keep the money and I'd like to take him up on the challenge. Well he stopped responding to me after that.
 

 

He knew you would had caught him in a lie, so he ran off ignoring your messages. people like him exist all over the place. Always spreading non-sense then when some one takes them up on the challenge they disappear.

Come on guys, who are you talking about?

Mr. Objective 2.