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

[putente]

For someone like me, who's electronics knowledge are around zero/null, would these opamp mods be something I should consider or not? 

 

[Guess?]

These mods are for everybody who wants their m-stages to perform a bit (or more) better, don't be frightened, the mods are quite easy, it's almost 'plug and play' if you order the right thing.

 

[putente]

Well, apart from opamp's I also read stuff about dual adaptors, class A biasing, etc., and I don't know what I might be getting myself into if I start doing these mods. But still, the fact one can change the way the M-Stage sounds to each one's liking is very nice and appealing... 

 
Quote:

These mods are for everybody who wants their m-stages to perform a bit (or more) better, don't be frightened, the mods are quite easy, it's almost 'plug and play' if you order the right thing.

 

 

[Guess?]

It's great indeed.

 

[GreatDane]

I just unboxed my M-Stage(w/ factory mod). Still cold and needs to cook for a few days. First impression is that it is surely brighter than my WA3. I ended up using highest gain, although 18 would be enough. I use a digital parametric EQ and bring the gain down 10 dB. so that causes the amp to need more gain. With this in mind, I'm using the M-Stage volume at 2 o'clock w/ T1 for 85dB+ listening.

 

[putente]

Any news on the M-Stage with USB DAC? I'd really like to know if that DAC is any good, because for me that option will cost more $60 (in Europe) than the regular M-Stage... 

 

[chicolom]

Quote:

Any news on the M-Stage with USB DAC? I'd really like to know if that DAC is any good, because for me that option will cost more $60 (in Europe) than the regular M-Stage... 

Ive got one coming in the mail.  I can compare the M-stage DAC to my E10, and later (after Christmas) an HRT music Streamer II.  I will post back here with my impressions.
 

 

[putente]

You're heading the exact same way I'm planning to! 

I'm currently using the E10+E9, but my plan was/is to upgrade to an M-Stage and a MSII. But now, that new M-Stage with USB DAC came out, and I don't know which way to go.. I mean, even for me in Europe, the M-Stage with USB DAC will be around $150 cheaper than the M-Stage amp, plus the MSII and a good stereo RCA cable. If the new M-Stage USB DAC could get near the MSII, than I would save some money. But in the end, I think I'll go for the best option, regarding the sound quality in  first place... 

 
But then again, you'll be able to clear all my doubts! I'll be eagerly waiting for your conclusions... 

 
Quote:

Ive got one coming in the mail.  I can compare the M-stage DAC to my E10, and later (after Christmas) an HRT music Streamer II.  I will post back here with my impressions.
 

 

 

[chicolom]

Quote:

You're heading the exact same way I'm planning to! 

I'm currently using the E10+E9, but my plan was/is to upgrade to an M-Stage and a MSII. But now, that new M-Stage with USB DAC came out, and I don't know which way to go.. I mean, even for me in Europe, the M-Stage with USB DAC will be around $150 cheaper than the M-Stage amp, plus the MSII and a good stereo RCA cable. If the new M-Stage USB DAC could get near the MSII, than I would save some money. But in the end, I think I'll go for the best option, regarding the sound quality in  first place... 

 
But then again, you'll be able to clear all my doubts! I'll be eagerly waiting for your conclusions... 

 

 

Lol.  Nice 

 
I did research a year ago and picked out the  Q701, M-Stage, and HRT MS II as the the combo I wanted to eventually acquire.  Now, a year later, I've finally been able to acquire the gear piece by piece. 

I saw the M-stage USB version and decided now was the time to purchase.  Plus it's only + $30 for the DAC in the US, so it was an easy choice since I don't need 2 x RCA inputs.  I still plan on getting the HRT MS II.  If if turns out the M-stage is pretty close in performance that would be sweet, but I have a feeling the MS II will still outperform it. But it's will be nice to have a DAC in the m-stage regardless -makes it an all-in-one box

 
 
 

 

[Philharmoniker]

The DAC incorporated version is only 30 bucks more???
Wonder what they did to the circuitry....

 

[SleazyC]

My m-stage is waiting for me at home but I won't be able to listen to it for a couple days until I get my RCA cables from Blue Jean. 
 
I am planning to power it from a v1 uDAC but saw some mention of the Maverick TubeMagic 1 earlier in the thread and was wondering if owners of both could elaborate on how well they pair together. I see the Maverick is putting out a TubeMagic 2 and would be very interested in purchasing it if the m-stage + TubeMagic 1 combo sounded good.

 

[holylucifer]

Its a nice amp for the money.
 
I am using stock opamp matrix m stage and it goes better then with my ld mk 3 with my selected tubes.
 
Goes alot better with the transient speed of my t50rp.
 
As for the k701 is does do the low end justice on the m stage.

 

[Wysockisauce]

So does anyone have the usb version with the dac? How does it sound compared to the standard m-stage? How is the Dac?
 
I'm interested in this dac/amp for my d5000's.

 

[chetlanin]

Perhaps not for everybody, but the Matrix M and all the Lehmann clones are easy to equip with a bass boost function, see picture. One has to remove the 3 resistors and the dip switch in the original feedback circuit, and substitute with these parts. The shown values are optimised to give AKG K701/702 a more satisfying response in the 3 lowest octaves. In particular if one is listening at moderate levels to mostly neutral acoustical recordings, these cans really need some “bassistance”.

The 22k resistor can be substituted with a variable resistor of 100k (use two pins on a 100k potentiometer) to increase or diminish the boost. The 44 nF capacitor can be made bigger to lower the cut-off frequency,  & vice versa. I ended up with the given values after a test period, listening mostly to classical recordings.

The basic values to start with I took from here:
http://gilmore2.chem.northwestern.edu/projects/opamp_prj.htm
You will notice that in the similar bass boost diagram it says 22 p(ico Farad) instead of 22 nano for the capacitor: Consequently his circuit would not work at all, except far outside the audible range.

With the defeat switch activated amplification will be around 10dB, perhaps setting most people prefer with the M anyway.
 Olaf
 

 

 

[leylandi]

How to have a synergy hd600