M-Stage Matrix HPA-2 Classic and Cables
Hello everyone. First off I must thank Eminem, (no, not that one) from Matrix Audio for allowing me the opportunity to review or should I say tinker with this product. Home page of the Classic.
(Rather than do an actual review of this amp I’ve linked here Matrix HPA 2 Classic to what I think is a very good and capable review of this product)
My article deals more with its versatility and use with various dac/daps and cables to show you how and what you need to connect them to the HPA-2 Classic.
The Classic was used with the following products: Music Bee with WASAPI active on a Windows 10 PC, iPad 10.5, Pioneer XDP-300R, Cayin i5, and the Astell & Kern Jr (AKA the Stepchild).
The following cables were used:
USB Type A to B
USB Type B to C
USB Type A (female) to Micro B
RCA stereo audio cables to 3.5 stereo plug
Apple Lighting USB camera adaptor
Special guest iFi Gemini 3.0 USB iFi ‘FINAL’ USB Type A to B
PC
Music Bee link was used as my MP3/Flac player, as you can see it allows you to directly hook up via WASAPI link via USB Type A to B iFi Mercury 3.0 so the Classic signal flows through nice and cleanly!
Figure 1 Music Bee audio player preferences
I used the included USB Type A to B and then ditched them like day old sushi for the absolutely sexy and stunning iFi Gemini 3.0 cable (that gets its own review because this cable made this amp and everything else kick it up several notches!) The last cables you'll ever need!
Figure 2 & 3 iFi Mercury 3.0 iFi “Final” USB-A to B from PC to the Classic
Pioneer XDP-300R
In terms of versatility, the 300R is easily one of the most connection friendly DAPs there is. There is nothing it has not worked with that I have thrown at it. Here it is with the Classic hooked up with a USB Micro B to USB Type A (female) to USB Type A to B. No fuss, recognizes it and you’re ready to rock!
Figure 4, 5, & 6 Pioneer XDP-300R to Classic via USB micro B to USB Type A (female) to USB Type A to B
Shanling M1
Talk about a mighty midget! This little thing is my grab and go DAP! It even acts like a DAC! Anyway, As you can see, I am using USB Type B to C cable. As with the 300R, no fuss! Read the Classic right away and was ready to go!
Figure 7 & 8 Shanling M1 to Classic via a USB-B to C cable.
Astell & Kern Jr (AKA The Stepchild)
Grrrrrrrrrr! I have a love/hate relationship with this thing. Astell & Kern released this product, issued one update, they blew it off completely. Normally not a problem, but with piss poor Bluetooth, a flawed IU, and various other issues that are conveniently ignored, on the FAQ concerning this product, you can see why I have called it The Stepchild. May you rot in hell Astell & Kern!
Sorry, went off on a rant there. So why do I still keep this discarded and flawed DAP? The damn analog sound! Whatever other problems this thing has, the Wolfson WM8740 DAC chip rocks and almost makes you forget all the other flaws with this product. Almost.
As you can see, you can use a 3.5 analog stereo plug to stereo RCA plugs when hooking it up to the Classic. No, don’t bother asking about using the USB Micro connection on the Stepchild, there’s no digital output from the USB micro connection. I told you, this thing can disappoint like a slutty girlfriend. The aforementioned Wolfson chip makes up for this, though. With the HPA-2 Classic, the music comes out very nice.
Figure 9, 10, & 11 Astell & Kern Stepchild to Classic via 3.5 stereo line out to stereo RCA cables.
Cayin i5
While the i5 has digital output, the Classic doesn't have a SPDIF input, so I tried using USB Type B to C but the i5 is very inconsistent being used in this way. Too sensitive and drops the connection too often. So lacking the SPDIF, I went with the line out on the i5. Worked like a champ!
Figure 12, 13, & 14 Cayin i5 to Classic via 3.5 stereo line out to stereo RCA cable.
iPad 10.5
Apple, being Apple, makes it necessary to get the proprietary Apple Lighting USB camera adaptor to get it to work with DACs. So here it is working with the Classic in conjunction with the USB Type A to B cable. And work it did.
Figure 15, 16, & 17 iPad 10.5 to Classic via the Apple Camera Adapter to USB Type A to B.
There you have it, this puppy can be used with many different items and all you need are cables!
Thank you for reading, take care!
PS
Thank you Pat, Karina, and Vince from iFi for letting me use these Mercury cables and the other items from your company! Good luck getting these cables back! ;-p