Introducing the Matrix M-Stage HPA-3U and HPA-3B, review to follow!

[omegaorgun]

How many of you have the HPA-3B? with the opa1656 I am preferring it to my 789.

 

[Filipash]

How many of you have the HPA-3B? with the opa1656 I am preferring it to my 789.

I am running opa 1656 in my hpa 3b , was planning to lower the voltage to 16v but my hd6xx are power hungry , it's running hot , but not big differences in temperature from stock

 

[raoultrifan]

I'm still on OPA1652, because with OPA1656 the DC-output was a bit higher. With OPA1652, in HPA-3B, I get lowest DC and lowest background noise, but of course YMMV.

 

[omegaorgun]

I'm still on OPA1652, because with OPA1656 the DC-output was a bit higher. With OPA1652, in HPA-3B, I get lowest DC and lowest background noise, but of course YMMV.

Interesting, both from the same family so sound is probably similar. I wasn't overly impressed with sound initially but over time it opened up or grew on me. Right now it sounds fantastic with an SU-8.

it does run warm, my unit came pre fitted with sparkos regulators. I might opamp roll this week and I remember having issues with the bursons but appear to have two different looking sets to test.

 

[rodel808]

I have an unmodified fully stock hpa-3b and want to try swapping out the op amp. Is the opa1656 simply just a swap and drop replacement? Also is there a list of op amps that I can try that will work in this amp?

 

[raoultrifan]

https://www.ti.com/product/OPA1656 - just SOIC8 package, so you need to DIY on adapters.

 

[Filipash]

I have an unmodified fully stock hpa-3b and want to try swapping out the op amp. Is the opa1656 simply just a swap and drop replacement? Also is there a list of op amps that I can try that will work in this amp?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/124186391989

 

[lambdastorm]

The original HPA-3B is powered from +/-18V (JRC7818/7918 regulators), whike FireLion's version is powered from +/-15V (Sparkos 7815/7915). There is no need to remove any resistors, please check first pages of this thread for detailed pictures.

With the original regulators, the AC ripple and noise was lower than 1mV RMS, so quite good.

V5i are not compatible with this headamp, but I suggest you to try V6 and compare the sound with SS3602.

Are you suggesting that there are two revisions of this amp?

 

[omegaorgun]

Are you suggesting that there are two revisions of this amp?

No the one I bought is modded. I can use burson in it but it's better with opa1656 imo.

 

[lambdastorm]

No the one I bought is modded. I can use burson in it but it's better with opa1656 imo.

Oh okay. I just bought one, hope it sounds good enough

 

[omegaorgun]

Oh okay. I just bought one, hope it sounds good enough

IMO it's fantastic, more natural sounding than a 789 and double the power @ 300/600 Ohm.

Here are my recommendation on op amp. It doesn't look fancy but it is one of Texas instruments latest and greatest and cheap.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/333850298075

 

[rodel808]

IMO it's fantastic, more natural sounding than a 789 and double the power @ 300/600 Ohm.

Here are my recommendation on op amp. It doesn't look fancy but it is one of Texas instruments latest and greatest and cheap.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/333850298075

Will these opamps work with a stock amp? I currently run mines with sparkos opamps. I think they sound great but I'm open to try something different.

 

[omegaorgun]

Will these opamps work with a stock amp? I currently run mines with sparkos opamps. I think they sound great but I'm open to try something different.

Yes it should work fine.

Can I see a pic of the sparkos? I wanted to get a similar looking one but not sure if it would fit.

 

[rodel808]

Yes it should work fine.

Can I see a pic of the sparkos? I wanted to get a similar looking one but not sure if it would fit

 

[omegaorgun]

Thanks, do you know what the dimensions are on that one?