[Sid-Fi]

Just curious if you guys think it would pair better with the HD 600s as opposed to HD 650. I'll be picking up one of them soon.

 

[sainthoodx]

Hey did you guys with the M-Stage and Beyer DT880 / 600ohms get a chance to test the combo? Will one of you please report on the little details of...it?

 

[Ruffle]

This looks like a Lehman clone to me.  Just a lot more affordable.  Does Lehman have anything to do with this project, or it's just a clone?

 

[fluffygdog95]

I just received the M-Stage "Mk2" and am setting it up now. Expect impressions soon!
 
First edit: Initial impressions versus the Compass. The M-Stage brings a larger soundstage and a scary level of command over transient response. Listening to Infected Mushroom, everything seems to be tighter.
 
#2: Also, it seems like this amp needs a bit of burn-in. Or maybe it is just my ears. This is a different sound than with which I am familiar.
 
#3: I'm going to have to hold off more impressions until tomorrow. I need to let this sound really sink in. I also have to try the Denons.

 

[Sid-Fi]

Thanks fluffygdog95. I'm particularly interested in your followup impressions since M-Stage and Audio-gd FUN are my top two upgrade choices, with Nuforce HDP right around there as well.

 

[TK33]

ditto
 
Hoping to place an order for one of these soon too.  Probably will once I know when I can actually be around when the delivery guy comes knocking.  Always great to hear the first impressions though.

 

[Balmoral]

 
Quote:

This looks like a Lehman clone to me.  Just a lot more affordable.  Does Lehman have anything to do with this project, or it's just a clone?

I haven't read anything about Lehman having anything to do with the amp...A clone is all, albeit a very good one.  Perhaps someone knows something different.

 

[lescanard]

Quote:

Hey did you guys with the M-Stage and Beyer DT880 / 600ohms get a chance to test the combo? Will one of you please report on the little details of...it?

Not quite the DT880 - 600ohms, but today I just received my new DT990 - 600ohms - after about 3-4 hours of some burn-in I am listening through the M-Stage for the first time. I wasn't sure how it would handle the 600ohm phones - have my gain at 10 for my k701s and D2000s - and would like to keep a common gain and not have to switch for each phone unless I have to. My initial first impression is that I am incredibly impressed. Volume wise I just need to bump it up to 1:30-ish - my Denon and AKGs are at 10 o'clock with the Matrix on 10 gain. Controlled, quiet, smooth and really a beautiful soundstage - I do not notice any recessed mids some talk about with these phones.
 
I've always wanted some Beyers - chose the 990s over the 880s because I wanted a little more on the low end - with strong highs and thought the 880s may be too similar to my k701s. It's early early but I think I'm gonna really love these - they seem to be a combo of what I love about both the Denons and the AKGs - really beautiful detail (esp. on the high end) while some great thump on the low end. Hopefully I'm not being redundant owning these 3 - if so - I'll just sell the one that gets the least head time.
 
In summary after a first listen - the M-Stage handles these 600ohm Beyers just like I thought it would - this should be a superb match!   

 

[Hank_Venture]

Thinking about grabbing this myself, what would be a good DAC to pair it with? as part of a future desktop PC setup.
 
There was mention of a new DAC a few pages back, so maybe I should just wait until then.

 

[Sid-Fi]

Matrix also makes a D/A amp combo called Mini-i. The DAC seems to be a knock-off of Bel Canto much like M-Stage is of Lehmann BCL. It is supposed to be pretty awesome bang for the buck as well. I just wish they had a version where you are only paying for the DAC and not the headphone stage, but at $320 I guess I'm splitting hairs.
 
Also, CFG mentioned a few days ago that they are announcing a new DAC in the next week or so. We'll see...

 

[sainthoodx]

 
Quote:

Thinking about grabbing this myself, what would be a good DAC to pair it with? as part of a future desktop PC setup.
 
There was mention of a new DAC a few pages back, so maybe I should just wait until then.

So a very popular $300ish mid-fi standalone DAC that you could get to match your standalone $300ish mid-fi standalone AMP (standalone: because I personally wouldn't pair an amp/dac combo with a standalone one or the other) is the Musical Fidelity V-DAC - it is incredible an bang/buck ratio. An ever-so slight step up in quality but bigger step up in price is the Cambridge Dacmagic. The V-DAC was definitely the obvious choice for me and my budget and high SQ requirements.

Read the V-DAC vs Dacmagic post for opinions:
http://www.head-fi.org/forum/thread/409435/it-begs-to-be-asked-v-dac-or-dacmagic
 
More V-DAC opinions:
http://www.head-fi.org/forum/thread/391721/musical-fidelity-v-dac-owners

 

[Pariah1]

 
Quote:

Not quite the DT880 - 600ohms, but today I just received my new DT990 - 600ohms - after about 3-4 hours of some burn-in I am listening through the M-Stage for the first time. I wasn't sure how it would handle the 600ohm phones - have my gain at 10 for my k701s and D2000s - and would like to keep a common gain and not have to switch for each phone unless I have to. My initial first impression is that I am incredibly impressed. Volume wise I just need to bump it up to 1:30-ish - my Denon and AKGs are at 10 o'clock with the Matrix on 10 gain. Controlled, quiet, smooth and really a beautiful soundstage - I do not notice any recessed mids some talk about with these phones.
 
I've always wanted some Beyers - chose the 990s over the 880s because I wanted a little more on the low end - with strong highs and thought the 880s may be too similar to my k701s. It's early early but I think I'm gonna really love these - they seem to be a combo of what I love about both the Denons and the AKGs - really beautiful detail (esp. on the high end) while some great thump on the low end. Hopefully I'm not being redundant owning these 3 - if so - I'll just sell the one that gets the least head time.
 
In summary after a first listen - the M-Stage handles these 600ohm Beyers just like I thought it would - this should be a superb match!   

I've been looking at the both of those Beyers for some time. I may just have to try the 990's (seemed to fit my SS preferences over the 880's too) soon.
 
That's what's great about this amp, I feel I can match about any can with it that I wish to own.

 

[cravenz]

Quote:

 

I've been looking at the both of those Beyers for some time. I may just have to try the 990's (seemed to fit my SS preferences over the 880's too) soon.
 
That's what's great about this amp, I feel I can match about any can with it that I wish to own.

 
I think that pretty much seals the deal for people with loads of cans and it's a very important feature of the amp.
 
Quote:

Not quite the DT880 - 600ohms, but today I just received my new DT990 - 600ohms - after about 3-4 hours of some burn-in I am listening through the M-Stage for the first time. I wasn't sure how it would handle the 600ohm phones - have my gain at 10 for my k701s and D2000s - and would like to keep a common gain and not have to switch for each phone unless I have to. My initial first impression is that I am incredibly impressed. Volume wise I just need to bump it up to 1:30-ish - my Denon and AKGs are at 10 o'clock with the Matrix on 10 gain. Controlled, quiet, smooth and really a beautiful soundstage - I do not notice any recessed mids some talk about with these phones.  

you might want to double check if you really have them at 10 gain lol. I feel that at 10 o'clock, though it's listenable, it is rather soft still and I think the 'oompf/musicality', to me (seeing that I'm probably half deaf already'), really kicks in at 12 o'clock with the gain set at 10 db.

 

[Mr Joboto]

Quote:

Thinking about grabbing this myself, what would be a good DAC to pair it with? as part of a future desktop PC setup.
 
There was mention of a new DAC a few pages back, so maybe I should just wait until then.

Get someone to build you a Gamma2?

 

[lescanard]

Quote:

you might want to double check if you really have them at 10 gain lol. I feel that at 10 o'clock, though it's listenable, it is rather soft still and I think the 'oompf/musicality', to me (seeing that I'm probably half deaf already'), really kicks in at 12 o'clock with the gain set at 10 db.

Haha - No - I have actually made a concerted effort to listen to my music at lower levels so I can still listen when I get "up there" in years. Sometimes I have a craving to juice it up a bit - I just resist the urge now. Obviously depends on the actual phones I'm using...