Matrix M-Stage amp review: simple, cheap, and excellent. - Page 253

Picked up one of these a week ago and popped in a LM4562. Sounds great with my K701's, very good match. I really like the tone it has, quite refined and slightly warm at the lower end, also good airy soundstage that is welcome for classical music. I'd say its a better match for the AKG's than the Magni that I got recently aswell. The magni is a little too "neutral" for the ultra transparent K701's.

The m-stage is struggling with my LCD2's though, but that was to be expected with the power specs. The bass is loose and they lose authority and control from the mids down compared to more powerful amps including the Magni. I know the LCD2's are easier to drive than the HE500's so I'm surprised that the m-stage could drive them to satisfactory levels (and I don't mean volume wise). It's not that I don't believe you hifimanrookie, just saying :) 

I've got a 627ap bias thingy coming and so I'll post some impressions when I receive this compared to the popular LM4562.

All in all, the M-stage is great value and performs well above its price, but I wouldn't recommend it for orthos.   

Quote:

Originally Posted by LugBug1 

Picked up one of these a week ago and popped in a LM4562. Sounds great with my K701's, very good match. I really like the tone it has, quite refined and slightly warm at the lower end, also good airy soundstage that is welcome for classical music. I'd say its a better match for the AKG's than the Magni that I got recently aswell. The magni is a little too "neutral" for the ultra transparent K701's.

The m-stage is struggling with my LCD2's though, but that was to be expected with the power specs. The bass is loose and they lose authority and control from the mids down compared to more powerful amps including the Magni. I know the LCD2's are easier to drive than the HE500's so I'm surprised that the m-stage could drive them to satisfactory levels (and I don't mean volume wise). It's not that I don't believe you hifimanrookie, just saying :) 

 

I've got a 627ap bias thingy coming and so I'll post some impressions when I receive this compared to the popular LM4562.

 

All in all, the M-stage is great value and performs well above its price, but I wouldn't recommend it for orthos.   

I said it drove the he500 well..didnt say excellent..ofcourse u have better amps..like the one i have now..but for the price it did well driving the he500 on gain 10 db..but i had the  first version and the class a opa 627 mod..maybe that made a difference in sound? Dont know..but for 249 the mstage did a fine job..but ofcourse if u do buy a he500 its best to invest more on an amp..the 337 with the tubes i have is best sounding amp i heard for the he500 under 1000 until now..and am not only one who says that..the 339 is his brother.

funny is that the 337 dont do well with the hd800 and so so with the lcd series..it does well with the he400/500.. To my ears ofcourse..

nice review but does it have S/PDIF? any good DAC for it?

Quote:

Originally Posted by beaver316 

 

It's linked in my comment above, this one

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/PKG1-30x22-Aluminum-STEREO-Hi-Fi-VOLUME-CONTROL-KNOB-w-/390317545470?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5ae0bd17fe#ht_2869wt_1108

 

It will better match my silver plated m-stage.

Did it fit? Pics!

Quote:

Originally Posted by lawrywild 

Did it fit? Pics!

It should fit, the measurements are equal. But it hasn't arrived yet, i ordered from China which usually means 3-4 weeks shipping. I've tought myself patience having ordered many things from China in the past.

Hey all! Just bought a used M-Stage. It is the Class A version from Matrix Digi. The owner put in the Burr Brown OPA637AP with Class A Biasing Mod from Tam Audio. I thought that this opamp was for turning the M-Stage into a Class A amp? Am I crazy? Is it doing a disservice if the amp is already Class A? (I still have the original opamp). 

So I'm listening to a recording of Beethoven's 9th on high gain w/ my HD600 and the volume is almost maxed out and its just barely at a comfortable listening level? Is this because, as I've often heard, the M-stage benefits lower impedance phones, like the AKG line? Is it not ideal for the HD6xx headphones? (I know classical music is often mastered at lower volume levels...)

Thanks patience w/ all the matrix-newb questions.  

Quote:

Originally Posted by imackler 

Hey all! Just bought a used M-Stage. It is the Class A version from Matrix Digi. The owner put in the Burr Brown OPA637AP with Class A Biasing Mod from Tam Audio. I thought that this opamp was for turning the M-Stage into a Class A amp? Am I crazy? Is it doing a disservice if the amp is already Class A? (I still have the original opamp). 

 

So I'm listening to a recording of Beethoven's 9th on high gain w/ my HD600 and the volume is almost maxed out and its just barely at a comfortable listening level? Is this because, as I've often heard, the M-stage benefits lower impedance phones, like the AKG line? Is it not ideal for the HD6xx headphones? (I know classical music is often mastered at lower volume levels...)

 

Thanks patience w/ all the matrix-newb questions.  

Hi: 

It's not class A until after the biasing mod -- 'AB' I think.

Also, make sure you're not on low gain, the dip switch diagram is misleading. Just try reversing your settings.  GLTY

Quote:

Originally Posted by LCMusicLover 

Hi: 

 

It's not class A until after the biasing mod -- 'AB' I think.

 

Also, make sure you're not on low gain, the dip switch diagram is misleading. Just try reversing your settings.  GLTY

Ha! Yup, I was on low gain...Well, that problem is solved! 

I was just confused why Matrix would sell it as a Class A amp if you had to change the opamp before it became CLASS A. 

The original opamp that came with it is OPA134PA. Would that have made it CLASS A as well? 

Quote:

Originally Posted by imackler 

 

Ha! Yup, I was on low gain...Well, that problem is solved! 

 

I was just confused why Matrix would sell it as a Class A amp if you had to change the opamp before it became CLASS A. 

 

The original opamp that came with it is OPA134PA. Would that have made it CLASS A as well? 

The Op Amp does not drive the headphones directly.

There is a discrete transistor Class A buffer between the Op Amp and the Headphone Jack.

Personally, I'm not a big fan of the Class A OPA637. Gain must always be set to 18 dB or 20 dB as the OPA637 is NOT stable at lower gains.

Take a look at their spec sheet: stable at gain > 5.

http://www.ti.com/lit/ds/symlink/opa637.pdf

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris J 

 

The Op Amp does not drive the headphones directly.

 

There is a discrete transistor Class A buffer between the Op Amp and the Headphone Jack.

 

Personally, I'm not a big fan of the Class A OPA637. Gain must always be set to 18 dB or 20 dB as the OPA637 is NOT stable at lower gains.

Take a look at their spec sheet: stable at gain > 5.

http://www.ti.com/lit/ds/symlink/opa637.pdf

I had my. Class a opa627 stabile on db gain 10.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris J 


Q. How do you know it wasn't oscillating at 1.2 MHz?

A. If you didn't measure it with an oscilloscope, then you don't know. Unless you fried your headphones, but are not sure why.

First of all..i dont need any equipment to see if the amp is clipping or having troubles in maintaining stable..

an unstable amp..or any product for that matter sounds dirty..and in dirty i mean off...i feel that its forcing..i feel it with my cars..u can hear the engine struggling...i have the same with amps..my ears tell me a equipment is stable and working within the right borders..

ofcourse to te 10000 % sure u need equipment..but most of us are not technicians..me either..am just a genius in putting pc's together for myself and friends..as u can see on my pics am now working on a completely watercooled hyper pc..yes everything! Except the psu..

So to come back to ur line...as long my amp dont overheat or clip or even sound muddy and closed in..and sounds wonderfull open and loose..then i believe its okay..

.i had a mstage for more then 2 years..using it for at least 2 hours at night straight sometimes 5!.. First with the he300 then the he400 and the last 4 weeks i used it with a he500..everyday..and the one who i sold it to uses it now with a he300 ( he also boight from me) and has been using it very loudly to metallica every day..no problems whatsoever .he loves the mstage..

.so who knows that little amp wont  maybe have the whole mechanical lifecycle as a non opa627has.....

but what i know is this..longtime rigourious testing of my own (using it) and the high level listening the new owner does since oktober last year.. ( that guy must be almost deaf i think..that high he listens to metallica) the little man didnt blink..for 3 years straight..not one single problem..for me thats proof its stable..a unstable amp would have broken down a long time ago..imho ofcourse..

but its also possible ihad that unique one of a kind model that can cope with anything..

i do have to say i had version 1...i heard newer versions are a bit more picky..like the old mercedes w123 diesels...they were built like tanks to last forever..and when i look on the highways..they do!but am doubting the newer models will do the same..no matter how much better they are.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris J 


You used it with an OPA637 in it for two years?

Do you know what 800 kHz ocsillation sounds like?

Do you know how to get rid of it?

Do you have any experience designing analog signal processing gear?

Opa627...pls read..and its by now 3 years..

rest of the questions:

no

no

no

and my answer to all..who cares? I wanna enjoy my music..not bothering bout technicalities

u have to admit though..having an amp working for 3 years for hours a day without any mishaps..also not in the sound...that means somthing is right..right?

many audiophile friends i have of which actually own multi thousand worth of rigs actually were surprised how my budget little friend sounded..and not one said it was sounding weird or clipping ..yes they said it didnt sound as a premium amp..but they said..and i mean all of them..that it sounded much better then the price it has..yes on gain 10db and OPA627 class a from tamaudio..

i actually had contact with them concerning updating from standard to opa627...i heard a rumor bout heat.... And they told me it would have no problems at all...no extreme gain needed..and they are one of the most respected matrix dealers in the world..and i trust my experience of 3 years and their good name more then bothering myself with statistics about oscillation..

but hey..i am probably only one who only trust on own experience and specialists of the brand then on litterally multi thousands worth of equipment u have to calibrate professionally before u can even trust the outcome of that stuff...so call me crazy

but as i said many times..i respect any other opinion..if u feel it important to use that kind of equipment to decide if something is right or not..its ur choice..and i respect that..

thats why headfi is so good to be on..sharing each others thought and opinions..