tolame4aname
New Head-Fier
- Joined
- Apr 12, 2012
- Posts
- 20
- Likes
- 10
Hey guys,
First off thanks for such a great thread, I am new to the world of cans and was very thankful to find lots of info on this forum and this thread. I to purchased the ebay version of this amp with the free HLLY t-amp and with all the op amp swapping going on, though I would share my own experiences so far.
I only received the amp and my cans (akg k-702) on Tuesday so please keep in mind nothing is burnt in. But that kind of the point and may help anyone considering this combo new.
I am using the s/pdif out from a Auzen Meridian 2g soundcard, to a Rega DAC (only around 200hours use), to the headphone amp.
I am adoring the amp and phones. The matrix has more than enough power to drive them even with 0dB gain, but i am still deciding if i prefer or can tell a difference between 0 and 10dB. Thankfully i read this thread and was not tricked by the switch settings printed in the book
, but I am yet to try the high gain settings.
The K-702's sound fantastic! I was scared from a few of the reviews around that they would be lacking in bass, but with this amp I cant see how you would want too much more. Even heavy d&b songs and dance music sound as they should. I mean, I don't think I am ever going to get that full body rumble you get from dedicated sub, but I don't feel I am missing much if anything through the phones and the sound stage is just that much sweeter. Can't wait until it all burns in!!!
Op amps - The meridian soundcard is also made for op amp rolling and when i was using it with logitech z-5500 speakers, i had a play. I honestly couldn't pick a difference between the stock, the 4562, or the 627 but convinced myself 4562 was best. These were very crappy speakers though...
So having the amps already..... :-D
So if you happen to have these cans at their ear peircing new, with a Rega DAC, maybe best to stay clear of 4562 at least to start with. If you are desperate to play, try some others first. I can't find my 627 right now (click!!! might be still in the soundcard! lol). but 4562 was sooo soo fatiguing, even on low volume it was killer in the highs. Yes i do think it made the highs clearer and more prominent and possibly slightly extended the bass, my first thoughts after were wow!, but it quickly became uncomfortable listening. I gave it to my partner to try without even telling her about the change and she said it hurt her ears within about 20 seconds.
I was not convinced of op amps changing much from the past experience, but this really was a drastic change in the sound. I guess it really depends on the equipment in the setup.
I am going to hold off for a few hundred hours of can/amp burn in before testing them some more, but thought i'd let you all know how I went with the initial setup.
Cheers
First off thanks for such a great thread, I am new to the world of cans and was very thankful to find lots of info on this forum and this thread. I to purchased the ebay version of this amp with the free HLLY t-amp and with all the op amp swapping going on, though I would share my own experiences so far.
I only received the amp and my cans (akg k-702) on Tuesday so please keep in mind nothing is burnt in. But that kind of the point and may help anyone considering this combo new.
I am using the s/pdif out from a Auzen Meridian 2g soundcard, to a Rega DAC (only around 200hours use), to the headphone amp.
I am adoring the amp and phones. The matrix has more than enough power to drive them even with 0dB gain, but i am still deciding if i prefer or can tell a difference between 0 and 10dB. Thankfully i read this thread and was not tricked by the switch settings printed in the book

The K-702's sound fantastic! I was scared from a few of the reviews around that they would be lacking in bass, but with this amp I cant see how you would want too much more. Even heavy d&b songs and dance music sound as they should. I mean, I don't think I am ever going to get that full body rumble you get from dedicated sub, but I don't feel I am missing much if anything through the phones and the sound stage is just that much sweeter. Can't wait until it all burns in!!!
Op amps - The meridian soundcard is also made for op amp rolling and when i was using it with logitech z-5500 speakers, i had a play. I honestly couldn't pick a difference between the stock, the 4562, or the 627 but convinced myself 4562 was best. These were very crappy speakers though...
So having the amps already..... :-D
So if you happen to have these cans at their ear peircing new, with a Rega DAC, maybe best to stay clear of 4562 at least to start with. If you are desperate to play, try some others first. I can't find my 627 right now (click!!! might be still in the soundcard! lol). but 4562 was sooo soo fatiguing, even on low volume it was killer in the highs. Yes i do think it made the highs clearer and more prominent and possibly slightly extended the bass, my first thoughts after were wow!, but it quickly became uncomfortable listening. I gave it to my partner to try without even telling her about the change and she said it hurt her ears within about 20 seconds.
I was not convinced of op amps changing much from the past experience, but this really was a drastic change in the sound. I guess it really depends on the equipment in the setup.
I am going to hold off for a few hundred hours of can/amp burn in before testing them some more, but thought i'd let you all know how I went with the initial setup.
Cheers
