Change is Good
Headphoneus Supremus
In case anyone is interested in upgrading their volume dial to a larger size, I have a spare one for sale...
Hi, i just got a matrix m-stage to run my new fostex th-600's. I was hoping that someone could point me in the direction of the right dac to use. I have been looking and i have seen recommendations for the music streamer 2. I was wondering how this would compare to the matrix m-stage dac. I was also wondering if it is a bad thing to have a DAC run off of the power supply from my laptop through the usb compared to its own power supply. Lastly would something like the Nuforce icon hdp or the Audio GD 11.32 be a better option sound wise.
Thanks,
Zach
Op amp choice certainly makes a difference but imo the m stage will always be a warm amp. I went from class a bias opA627 to lm4562 and the later seemed much brighter and more neutral to me. That said in the last few days I have compared the m stage with lm4562 to the o2 amp and the shanling d100 mkii amp, both of which I know are truly neutral Because they have published measured frequency response graphs that are razor flat from below 10hz to well beyond 20k.
I'm blown away by how much more treble energy there is on both of those amps compared to the m stage. It is not a subtle difference, the m stage has a rolled of treble and a warm tonality. It's not that the other amps sound better, they are just more neutral. IMO the mids really stand out on the m stage (in a good way). The laid back treble is the reason it pairs so well with k701s ( it also made the top end of the dt990s bearable to my ears, not so much with the o2). On the flip side I think it makes my Mad Dogs overly dark compared to the shanling d100 amp which makes them sound borderline neutral.
IMO op amp changes can tweak the sound, but an m stage will always sound more like an m stage than another amp regardless of what op amp you use.
I'd really like to see some measurements of the m stage if anyone knows where I could find them.
Strange I don't find the Mstage particularly warm or dark. Then again I am using it with the K612 but I tried with the X1 and MA900 and didn't find it too warm. Might be because I have the 2014's HPA-2 with the DAC module, which I use. Could be either the DAC or amp is brighter (probably DAC)...
That's also when the op-amp rolling cones into place. It audibly changes the sound IMO. You can get any flavour you want.
I owned a bunch of different components (check sig) and I did not find the Mstage out of the ordinary in terns of what I consider neutral-ish.
But again, it really is down to the opamp imo...
Strange I don't find the Mstage particularly warm or dark. Then again I am using it with the K612 but I tried with the X1 and MA900 and didn't find it too warm. Might be because I have the 2014's HPA-2 with the DAC module, which I use. Could be either the DAC or amp is brighter (probably DAC)...
That's also when the op-amp rolling cones into place. It audibly changes the sound IMO. You can get any flavour you want.
I owned a bunch of different components (check sig) and I did not find the Mstage out of the ordinary in terns of what I consider neutral-ish.
But again, it really is down to the opamp imo...
Oh, nice post! I've been using my M-stage with my Q701 and just loving the combo. But I recently picked up a pair of Mad Dogs and they're FAR too dark with the M-stage. I've been looking for something to maybe replace the M-stage that works well with both headphones.
On my short list right now are the Yulong D100 and the Audio-GD 15.x (Wolfson DAC) and 11.x (same thing but Sabre DAC). How do you find the D100 pairs with the K701?
Anyone know how those three amps compare with the M-stage when it comes to bright/dark?
Would anyone have any idea why nothing comes out of my Matrix M-Stage to my headphones? Its like it just died for some reason. Ive checked the cabels, no problems. I have set my music player to pass the music through my S/PDIF port, I have PCM enabled in the xonar dg panel, but nothing. It worked fine a week ago, but suddenly it just died overnight. Im not sure what has happend. Any ideas what to check or what to do? Headphones work fine without the amp.
The M Stage may also be a warmer amp as it is possible that the M Stage's output stage adds a touch of second order harmonic distortion.
Without measurements, that's just a theory!