Matrix M-Stage amp review: simple, cheap, and excellent. - Page 226

 

I sent an e-mail just now. I just want to be 100% sure that I get the latest version. If this is too much of a headache...I might just go get an Asgard. Is the Asgard as versatile/good sounding as the M-Stage? 

Ok guys,here it is...

 

    Got my dip-8 sockets this afternoon.Having only one OPA2227 I soldered the two 5.6k resistors on the socket so that I could switch between biased and unbiased configuration.As a procedure,switching was not that easy (one resistor was cut off while trying) as the position  of the resistors makes unpluging difficult.Anyway,the result was so obvious that switching twice sufficed...! It was more obvious than switching between 2227 and 2134.Listening to the same songs for the past month seems to have helped distinguishing subtle changes.''Paper Airplane" album by Alison Krauss and Union Station at a 24/96 recording and there it was:

    Bass got a little deeper.I felt I didn't have to use the extra gradually decreased 6db-3db gain of the 50Hz-220Hz bands on foobar's equilizer( AKG K701....yes I know....)

    Mids came out warm and highs  were less sibilant.Some slight granulation previously present in the vocals, vanished completely.My overall impression was that sound came out in a more tamed and civilized way without losing any detail.I detected a  tiny decrease in openess but nothing diminishing the overall improvemet. I'm quite happy with the result and biased OPA2227 is a keeper.How much better can Matrix sound anyway? I don't think I'll bother trying the 627 setup.

The op-amp is running some 10-15 C hotter (~38-40C right after switch on so I guess higher than this a couple of hours later) but nothing to worry about since it can handle temps up to 85 C.I think I could use one of those mini heat sinks used in VGA's RAM chips.Wouldn't hurt anyway...
 

 

DONE!!!

 

Edited by George_63 - 12/8/12 at 2:41pm

Why u want the last version persee? All versions of mstage sounds good..and for me the version 1 sounds warmer and more neutral then the newer version..so for me its a nobrainer..the asgard is a completely different amp...more in ur face amp..also a very good amp for the money!..if thats ur thing..u better forget mstage and go directly for a shiit..imho u cant compare those two..maybe only in pricing..
For me..if u buy from a reputable seller (tamaudio) u will get the most recent model. If its 1.1 or 1.2..for me..and i know..i just sold mine 2weeks ago..the version 1.0 of 2011 stays my favorite for laidback listening to my he300 that i had..only when i changed to the he500 just recently i bought my 337. But ofcourse this is how i feel about it.. I would look for a good condition mstage of 2011..it will be much cheaper and as the quality of the amp is excellent it will be faultless for many years to come
Good luck with ur search
Edited by hifimanrookie - 12/4/12 at 3:23pm

How does the M-Stage compare to the Lyr? I know it's SS vs Tube, but just so I know I'm making the right decision, value wise. 

Its SS vs hybrid actually

i never made a 1 to 1 comparision between both asi sold the mstage since i now have a 337...but i did owned a modded mstage for a year and i did listen to the lyr for at least an hour seperately..so i do this from memory..and all i can say is..compared to the mstage the lyr is a powerhouse.. Allthough i loved the mstage the lyr is a step up..but then again it does cost almost double.. If u have a hard to drive phone and ur budget is around 400.. Then this is the amp to go..and u can upgrade it with other tubes to improve it... I did find it to be a bit blurry on the lcd2 rev 2 and he500 compared to my excellent 337.. For around 400 the shiit is a great deal..as is the matrix for 249. Imho

 

I had a very similar experience with the Lyr, I own an M Stage and tried a Lyr out one day.

I agree, the Lyr is a step up!

 

Thanks for the responses guys! Good to know! 

I'm not too versed with turntables and how they work, but would it be able to hook one up directly to the M-stage into the rca input? Or is something else needed in between?

Yes, you need "something else".
You need a phono pre-amp.
I think the cheaper ones start at $100.00 and up.

Yes, and I'd advise spending closer to 200 as a minimum.

 

 

Although this was 2 weeks 5 days ago posted, I am just reading back from when I left off from this thread, but my with my Matrix, I can hear both headphones and speakers at the same time, i'm not sure why this is different for everyone  else but I prefer it like this. Could 'burn in' headphones whilst actually listening to the music using speakers for e.g. 
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What headphones were you using with the Lyr?  Do you think it would be better for something like k701s than the M stage?

How can it be both warmer and more neutral?  Do you mean the version 1 is warmer, but version two more neutral?

yes thats what i mean..sorry for the confusement..the newer one has a more US apreciated tuned sound then the chinese appreciated more darker tuned sound v.1 has

I used the AKG Q701s.
Based on a short listen, I thought it sounded better than the Q and M Stage.
It added a bit of warmth and fullness and just sounded "right".

Hey, this is post 2100!
Edited by Chris J - 12/10/12 at 2:55pm