Matrix Quattro amp: unboxing and initial impressions

[Loquah]

It might be wired wrong. Both the left and right stereo jacks should be wired identically. The positive for each channel goes to the tip connector and the negative goes to the ring connector. The sleave connector should have nothing going to it.

If your adapter is wired for left only and right only (as if they are standard L/R connections) then you probably have the left plug with tip + sleave (no ring) and the right plug with ring + sleave (no tip) and that'll cause problems.

 

[Gibalok]

It might be wired wrong. Both the left and right stereo jacks should be wired identically. The positive for each channel goes to the tip connector and the negative goes to the ring connector. The sleave connector should have nothing going to it.

If your adapter is wired for left only and right only (as if they are standard L/R connections) then you probably have the left plug with tip + sleave (no ring) and the right plug with ring + sleave (no tip) and that'll cause problems.

 
can you please adviso on scheme
 

 

[Loquah]

   
can you please adviso on scheme
 

 
That's the correct diagram. My hunch from what you said is that the adapter you have has the negative (GND) going to the part that says "NC" on the 2 plugs on the right. In both cases the positive wire (hot) should go to the tip (regardless of channel) and the negative (cold) should go to the ring, not the sleave (NC).
 
NC stands for no connection and that's how the Quattro tells if you're using a balanced or single-ended phone.

 

[Gibalok]

I have finally made balanced mode. 
 
Full staisfaction!!!  

 

[Gibalok]

But im lustening flac and hear some sibilants. Is it from fo Senn HD650 or Matrix X-Sabre of Quattro amp? what should I upgrade first? 

 

[Chris J]

But im lustening flac and hear some sibilants. Is it from fo Senn HD650 or Matrix X-Sabre of Quattro amp? what should I upgrade first? 

I suspect it is in the recording.
You have really nice, revealing equipment.
Sometimes we hear things in really good equipment that has always been there, but it's exposed or revealed as you get better equipment. Like your equipment....excellent headphones, excellent amp, excellent DAC.
When I first got my AKG Q701 headphones, I started hearing treble distortion that I didn't hear before.

 

[Chris J]

Loki,
Wot kinda Op Amps do ya use in yer Quattro?

 

[Loquah]

Loki,
Wot kinda Op Amps do ya use in yer Quattro?

 
Is that Gibalok you're asking? My name's Lachlan so I often get called Lachie or other variants, but I'm guessing you wouldn't have known that

 
FWIW, my Quattro has NJM5532 in the dual socket and 4 x OPA627 in the mono sockets

 

[Chris J]

Is that Gibalok you're asking? My name's Lachlan so I often get called Lachie or other variants, but I'm guessing you wouldn't have known that

FWIW, my Quattro has NJM5532 in the dual socket and 4 x OPA627 in the mono sockets

Thanks, Loki.

Edit:
Er.....wait a minute.
The OPA627 is not pin for pin compatible for the OPA604. :eek:

OPA627 offset trims from the positive power supply rail.
OPA604 offset trims from the negative rail.

Check your DC offset to signal common for each amp.

 

[Loquah]

Thanks, Loki.

Edit:
Er.....wait a minute.
The OPA627 is not pin for pin compatible for the OPA604.

OPA627 offset trims from the positive power supply rail.
OPA604 offset trims from the negative rail.

Check your DC offset to signal common for each amp.

 
That's getting beyond my knowledge levels. I measured the DC offset and adjusted it using the 4 trim pots, but is that not enough?

 

[Chris J]

That's getting beyond my knowledge levels. I measured the DC offset and adjusted it using the 4 trim pots, but is that not enough?

basically you are pulling the input stage load resistors low, they expect to be pulled high.
Guaranteed this does something detrimental to the characteristics of the Op Amp as the load characteristics of the input stage are altered.
The input stage transistors will be getting less current than they were designed for.
This changes the gain parameters of the input stage.

You could try lifting pins 1 and 5, this takes the trim pot away from the Op Amp, then measure how much DC offset you get at the output.

I've been trying to find an alternative to the OPA604, so far, no luck.

 

[Loquah]

basically you are pulling the input stage load resistors low, they expect to be pulled high.
Guaranteed this does something detrimental to the characteristics of the Op Amp as the load characteristics of the input stage are altered.
The input stage transistors will be getting less current than they were designed for.
This changes the gain parameters of the input stage.

You could try lifting pins 1 and 5, this takes the trim pot away from the Op Amp, then measure how much DC offset you get at the output.

I've been trying to find an alternative to the OPA604, so far, no luck.

 
Thanks for the info, Chris. I'll put it back how I found it

 
Any issues using a different dual op amp like NJM5532 or LM4562, etc.?

 

[Chris J]

Thanks for the info, Chris. I'll put it back how I found it

Any issues using a different dual op amp like NJM5532 or LM4562, etc.?

Sorry!
It's not easy finding a pin for pin replacement for the OPA604!

The NJM5532 and LM4562 are good replacements for the dual.

 

[Gibalok]

Hello everyone, 
just wanted to share my latest experience 
 
Recently I have added budget USB-SPDIF conevtor Gustard U12. And my current set up looks like:
 
PC Jriver - (USB Wireworld Ultraviolet 7) - Gustard U12 (Power: Isotek premium + furutech connectors) - Matrix X-Sabre (Audio Technica Art Link Coax Cable + Oyaide Tunami + P079 connectors) -  Matrix Quattro Amp (Kimber Kable Tonik Balanced + Oyaide Tunami + P079 connectors) + Isolated power FluxLabs (1700w/500w/200w transformers) 
 
I have HD650 (Silver Cable from Lavriks) + Denon AH-D7100 (upgraded cabe pending)+ Westone UM Pro 50 (upgraded cabe Litz Cu)
 
So You can see I have relatively heavy invested into wires and power. That gave me good dynamics and minimized noise from power network and USB (which is actually horrible). Gustard U12 also mitigates edges of PC and Sabre sound. 
 
As you understand im considering to move on with the amplifier and cables. 
 
So I will not sell my Quattro amp for now since its a bargain for the price, but I want to buy another more expensive amplifier and uprade the cables (USB Wireworld Ultraviolet 7, Audio-technica Digital Cable At-sd2000/1.3, Kimber Kable Tonik Balanced )
 
What is your proposition on amp and wires?

 

[Loquah]

What is it that your looking to improve via the upgrade? (e.g. Resolution, stage size, signature, etc.)