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

[bracko]

I cut 1 mm off the potentiometer shaft and installed the knob anew. Now there is no gap whatsoever and the amp looks much nicer.

 

[fuzzybaffy]

People don't have to answer. That's fine. 

 

[bracko]

Oh my... I always thought the idea that a headphone's sound would change by adjusting the gain on the amp was balony, but... just now I was feeling a little dissatisfied with my HD-650's bass output, and when I realized the gain was at the 10db level, I kicked it up a couple of notches to the 20db level, and the bass all of a sudden opened up. 

Am I imagining things? I must admit I'm adjusting the volume by hand to level the volumes when comparing different gain levels. But the difference definitely seems there (and that's why I'm asking here just to confirm!). 

It's not like the bass got an immediate bump, as if I was EQing them, but, the bass just seems little more forward, and seems like a more "there". Does anyone share similar experiences? Observations? 

Maybe it is the distortion in the bass region fooling your ears?

 

[fuzzybaffy]

It may be! 

 

[KimChee]

Isn't the 650 pretty power hungry?  Maybe it wasn't getting enough til you upped the gain..

 

[KimChee]

I just went downstairs and dremeled off the very end..it does look much better now thanks for the idea

I cut 1 mm off the potentiometer shaft and installed the knob anew. Now there is no gap whatsoever and the amp looks much nicer.

 

[Chris J]

Quote:

Oh my... I always thought the idea that a headphone's sound would change by adjusting the gain on the amp was balony, but... just now I was feeling a little dissatisfied with my HD-650's bass output, and when I realized the gain was at the 10db level, I kicked it up a couple of notches to the 20db level, and the bass all of a sudden opened up. 
 
Am I imagining things? I must admit I'm adjusting the volume by hand to level the volumes when comparing different gain levels. But the difference definitely seems there (and that's why I'm asking here just to confirm!). 
 
It's not like the bass got an immediate bump, as if I was EQing them, but, the bass just seems little more forward, and seems like a more "there". Does anyone share similar experiences? Observations? 

 
Well..................I actually don't like the sound of the 20 dB setting. But I'm OK with 18, 10 and 0 dB settings. If I adjust for volume, I really can't hear the difference between 18, 10 and 0 dB. But something about 20 dB of gain in the M Stage doesn't sound right to me.
BTW, changing the gain from 0 to 10 to 20 dB doesn't increase the maximum output power available from the M Stage. I only use 18 dB with my 600 Ohm headphones because I run out of volume control travel on the 10 dB setting with quiet recordings.
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Got my knob in today...

 
I won't even touch this one!

 

[Change is Good]

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Well..................I actually don't like the sound of the 20 dB setting. But I'm OK with 18, 10 and 0 dB settings.

 
I agree. For me, personally, I prefer 18dB for my Q701 and have kept it there since day one.

 

[chicolom]

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I won't even touch this one!

 
What about this one?

 
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I just went downstairs and dremeled off the very end...

 

[LugBug1]

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shaft and install the knob anew. Now there is no gap whatsoever 

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I won't even touch this one!

At least not with surgical gloves on

 

[Chris J]

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Ouch!

 

[KimChee]

Finally got my OPA2227P in, now to let it run for a bit...then no more mods..I got a spare opa2227p and volume pot..anyone interested?

 

[rawrster]

I would be interested in the volume pot. I don't really know much about the opamp however.

 

[Chris J]

Quote:

Finally got my OPA2227P in, now to let it run for a bit...then no more mods..I got a spare opa2227p and volume pot..anyone interested?

 
I think you mean a spare volume knob?

 

[KimChee]

Yep