[conquerator2]

  You guys are overcomplicating it...
 
Headphone plugs into the hole in the front.  Turn the knob to the right to make it louder. 

 

Some like plugging it in the back 

Banana plugs style 

 

 

[Chris J]

  You guys are overcomplicating it...
 
Headphone plugs into the hole in the front.  Turn the knob to the right to make it louder. 

 

 
I'll be sure to mention that to the designers next time I see them.
 
BTW,
maybe the next revision should have the option of front and rear entry.

 

[chicolom]

 

[Maxvla]

My view of the HPA-1 and the recently updated HPA-2, both USB DAC versions.

http://www.head-fi.org/products/matrix-m-stage-hpa-2-w-usb-dac/reviews/10470
http://www.head-fi.org/products/matrix-m-stage/reviews/10471

Same review contents and ratings, different pros/cons.

 

[Chodi]

My view of the HPA-1 and the recently updated HPA-2, both USB DAC versions.

http://www.head-fi.org/products/matrix-m-stage-hpa-2-w-usb-dac/reviews/10470
http://www.head-fi.org/products/matrix-m-stage/reviews/10471

Same review contents and ratings, different pros/cons.

Excellent review!! I agree with every comment you made. I believe that the M Stage is very hard to beat with high impedance headphones. I have some much more expensive amps sitting here including tube amps and the M Stage equals or surpasses them all at a fraction of the cost. I originally bought it to use just for watching movies but it is so good it found it's way into my main system. I think you would have to reach over $1500 to safely have reason to retire the M Stage.

 

[formula1]

Thanks Max, i was expecting more feedback about the HPA-2. My classic M-stage will be looking for a new home

 

[elwappo99]

 

My view of the HPA-1 and the recently updated HPA-2, both USB DAC versions.

http://www.head-fi.org/products/matrix-m-stage-hpa-2-w-usb-dac/reviews/10470
http://www.head-fi.org/products/matrix-m-stage/reviews/10471

Same review contents and ratings, different pros/cons.

Excellent review!! I agree with every comment you made. I believe that the M Stage is very hard to beat with high impedance headphones. I have some much more expensive amps sitting here including tube amps and the M Stage equals or surpasses them all at a fraction of the cost. I originally bought it to use just for watching movies but it is so good it found it's way into my main system. I think you would have to reach over $1500 to safely have reason to retire the M Stage.

 
I think the M-Stage is quite excellent for low impedance headphones as well. I can think of very few amplifiers that really worked so well in terms of noise floor and clarity with my Denon D7000. I can't think of any amplifier I've held onto for as long as my HPA-1. It just seems to fit the bill for any headphone. 
 
Still would like to hear more about the HPA-2 vs HPA-1 only using the amplifier section. The HPA-2 does look really really nice. Hard to front that much money for a cosmetic change.

 

[Maxvla]

I couldn't really detect any differences and I am told the circuit is almost identical, so it is to be expected.

 

[elwappo99]

I couldn't really detect any differences and I am told the circuit is almost identical, so it is to be expected.

 
Thanks much for the info. Guess I'll put my wallet away. I really wanted to justify that faceplate 

 

[TwelveTrains]

Where is the official site to buy the M-Stage?
 
The one I found seems kinda sketch...

 

[Maxvla]

www.matrix-digi-USA.com is the official North American distributor.

 

[conquerator2]

Anyone else experiencing great troubles with the drivers? They disappear, they crash my Windows, numerous reintalling, turning the MStage on/off...
Something is amiss :/

 

[GaToMaLaCo]

  Anyone else experiencing great troubles with the drivers? They disappear, they crash my Windows, numerous reintalling, turning the MStage on/off...
Something is amiss :/

Thats usually a consecuence of a bad usb port, cable connector or a vmware usb arbitration filter meesing arround. For de the first a the second use another usb cable an also switch to another usb port on your pc. For the third try to use the matrix on another pc. 

 

[jerrick85]

Anyone else experiencing great troubles with the drivers? They disappear, they crash my Windows, numerous reintalling, turning the MStage on/off...
Something is amiss :/

Great. I just bought one and you already making me nervous about the drivers. Just curious, what's your OS?

 

[conquerator2]

Great. I just bought one and you already making me nervous about the drivers. Just curious, what's your OS?

Win 7 premium, 64-bit.