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

[alphaphoenix]

USB - nice. Santa is coming early.

 

[chicolom]

Quote:

What ever happened to that Earth opamp by Audio-GD?  What was the consensus on them?  Can you still get it?  Thanks!

I'm sure you can still get it -> http://www.audio-gd.com/Pro/diy/OPA/OPAEN.htm
 
 
 

 

[paulywalnutz]

Cool amP

 

[Mad Max]

 
Quote:

What ever happened to that Earth opamp by Audio-GD?  What was the consensus on them?  Can you still get it?  Thanks!

 
It's meh and has rolled-off bass.

 

[Majestyk]

Ah, so it's passé now.    I remember when it first came out it was quite hyped up.

 

[putente]

Same here. One of the reasons I'm about to buy the M-Stage is because of the dual RCA input. I guess I'll keep my initial plan to buy the HRT MS2 as dedicated USB DAC...

 
Quote:

No USB for me.  The USB takes away one set of RCA inputs, and I'll be using both...Although most people would not.

 

Great find, that link! In that page, we can see the new coolling chassis for the M-Stage. And there's also an "USB Audio DAC" from Matrix, which I never seen before, that looks very promising (http://www.matrix-digi.com/english/cpshow.asp?pid=33).
 
Quote:

 

No kidding.  And what looks like a rollable output opamp to boot.
The BCL USB board is probably using PCM2704 and as both receiver and DAC.

 

 

[Chris J]

Makes me wanna sell my 4 month old M Stage!

 

[EraserXIV]

I should be content with my y2 to M-stage, but for some reason I'm curious how this new USB module sounds. I'm sure it's not going to be on the same level of the y2, but if it even comes somewhat close, at the fraction of the price it may be nice as a one-box solution.

 

[Mad Max]

 
Quote:

Makes me wanna sell my 4 month old M Stage!

Just get an NFB-2 instead. 

 

[francisdemarte]

 
Has anyone tried the NJM2903 op amp?
 
 
I just finished building the much talked about O2 Amp which uses this op amp. It's excellent for the price and was an easy build. The sound is very clean and clear and tips more toward the neutral side.
 
If you like a sound thats more up front and with more treble energy than the OPA627 than this is well worth a try. It's also dirt cheap at $0.39/chip at Mouser.
 
http://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/NJR/NJM2903D/?qs=sGAEpiMZZMuS%2fmO2LfY7hmY4WczzinzbK0Vhar5ZiHI%3d
 
Datasheet:
http://semicon.njr.co.jp/njr/hp/productDetail.do?_isTopPage=false&_productId=951&_moveKbn=PRODUCT_DETAIL_MOVE_SPEC

 

[chicolom]

Argh!! 
I've been reading through this thread for an hour or two looking at all the the different opamp mods.  Its a bit confusing, there's so many of them. 

 
Is there any posts or threads listing them all and comparing them?  And saying where to buy the different ones?
 
 
Seems like that would be a great thread to make.  That way you could update keep a list of opamps on the front page and update it with new opamps, impressions, where to buy, etc.  Sure would beat searching through this thread and peoples' post history trying to round them all up.
 
Something like:
 
"Matrix M-Stage: Guide to Opamp Rolling"
"Matrix M-Stage: Tweaking the Sound with Opamps"
"Matrix M-Stage: Opamp Comparisons & Impressions"
 
I don't know....something like that.
 
I'm just throwing that out there.  It sure would really help up noobs who come to this thread trying to play with the M-Stage sound.
 
Anyone want to jump on that ^ ?  Purrin? 

 

[francisdemarte]

Quote:

Argh!! 
I've been reading through this thread for an hour or two looking at all the the different opamp mods.  Its a bit confusing, there's so many of them. 

 
Is there any posts or threads listing them all and comparing them?  And saying where to buy the different ones?
 
 
Seems like that would be a great thread to make.  That way you could update keep a list of opamps on the front page and update it with new opamps, impressions, where to buy, etc.  Sure would beat searching through this thread and peoples' post history trying to round them all up.
 
Something like:
 
"Matrix M-Stage: Guide to Opamp Rolling"
"Matrix M-Stage: Tweaking the Sound with Opamps"
"Matrix M-Stage: Opamp Comparisons & Impressions"
 
I don't know....something like that.
 
I'm just throwing that out there.  It sure would really help up noobs who come to this thread trying to play with the M-Stage sound.
 

 
I think you just volunteered yourself
 
 

 

[putente]

Apart from who should take the iniciative on this, I also think it would be a great help for lots of us! 

 
Quote:

Argh!! 
I've been reading through this thread for an hour or two looking at all the the different opamp mods.  Its a bit confusing, there's so many of them. 

 
Is there any posts or threads listing them all and comparing them?  And saying where to buy the different ones?
 
 
Seems like that would be a great thread to make.  That way you could update keep a list of opamps on the front page and update it with new opamps, impressions, where to buy, etc.  Sure would beat searching through this thread and peoples' post history trying to round them all up.
 
Something like:
 
"Matrix M-Stage: Guide to Opamp Rolling"
"Matrix M-Stage: Tweaking the Sound with Opamps"
"Matrix M-Stage: Opamp Comparisons & Impressions"
 
I don't know....something like that.
 
I'm just throwing that out there.  It sure would really help up noobs who come to this thread trying to play with the M-Stage sound.
 
Anyone want to jump on that ^ ?  Purrin? 

 

 

[Chris J]

Quote:

Argh!! 
I've been reading through this thread for an hour or two looking at all the the different opamp mods.  Its a bit confusing, there's so many of them. 

 
Is there any posts or threads listing them all and comparing them?  And saying where to buy the different ones?
 
 
Seems like that would be a great thread to make.  That way you could update keep a list of opamps on the front page and update it with new opamps, impressions, where to buy, etc.  Sure would beat searching through this thread and peoples' post history trying to round them all up.
 
Something like:
 
"Matrix M-Stage: Guide to Opamp Rolling"
"Matrix M-Stage: Tweaking the Sound with Opamps"
"Matrix M-Stage: Opamp Comparisons & Impressions"
 
I don't know....something like that.
 
I'm just throwing that out there.  It sure would really help up noobs who come to this thread trying to play with the M-Stage sound.
 
Anyone want to jump on that ^ ?  Purrin? 

The good news is that there already is one, you are reading it right now!

The bads news is that you only have to go thru over 2110 posts to find what you are looking for. Ahhhhh!
But you already know this, so you share my agony!

 

 

[chicolom]

Quote:

The good news is that there already is one, you are reading it right now!

The bads news is that you only have to go thru over 2110 posts to find what you are looking for. Ahhhhh!
But you already know this, so you share my agony!

 

 

 
The M-stage opamp discussions should be decoupled into a separate thread to make it easier to find and post opamp specific info! 
 
If someone gave me all the info I would type it up/format it for them...I probably shouldn't be the thread starter though - as I am a m-stage noob.