paulmapp8306
Fractal Fanatic
Matrix XT-800 Review, and v VHT 2:50:2 now with video
This will be spread over several posts I think. I will put some pics up when I get some taken - and will also do some video clips of both the Matrix and the VHT for comparrison (as best you can on the net).
Well, the new Matrix XT-800 arrived yesterday. First thoughts were, my god this suckers light. The pics on Matrix's Website make the amp look kind of grey and industrial looking which isnt to my tastes. In the flesh though, the amp is much darker, verging on black, and looks very smart. i took the lid off (Matrix have OK'd this though I cant take pics of the inside). Its very clean, and well build. solid solder joints and HUGH heat sinks. The cooling air flow is certainly well thought out, with the fans drawing the air directly through the sinks, and eddies in the airflow being created (on purpose) so no hot spots develope in the case. My only concern is the volume knobs are directly soldered onto the PCB - and are not bolted/screwed to the case. if you dropped the amp on the knobs there would be a lot of stress directly on the board. The pots threaded shank isnt long enough to allow them to be secured to the outer plate by nuts, and the PCB cant be moved closer to the pannel. I have suggested that a couple of U brackets are attaced to the inside of the facia, deep enough for the threaded portion of the pot to go through and locking nuts placed on both sides of the bracket. This would mean any iimpact would be taken by the bracket, and front facia rather than the solder joint and PCB. Matrix have never had any amps returned from damage caused this way, and the joint to the PCB is certainly solid, so maybe I'm being picky - however It would give be a bit more piece of mind.
My amp has been fitted with the Speakon/Jack combi outputs which is a bonus as I use stock guitar cabs so need that 1/4" jack output. Mine has also had the modification on the fans, so first up - how loud/quiet it the amp? Well it is noisier than the Axe, and from memory the Art too - but TBH I dont think its too much. Even at bedroom levels you cant really hear it over the guitar so? i followed DADAs lead and used a phone app to take some measurments (all at 1 meter).
Background noise: 25 db
Axe-FX (Silent fans as fitted by G66): 30db
Matrix XT-800: 35 db
VHT 2-50-2: 43 db
So, not as quiet as the Axe, but not as noisey as the VHT.
i havent had a lot of time to play yet, around 10 minutes at failrly loud volume followed by 20 minutes or so at bedroom levels. Firstly, I couldnt get the protection led to light at all !! while not a bad thing, it is how I tend to set the O/P (that is get a SS amp to clip slightly so I know its kicking out its max Watts, then back off the input signal so that its kickout out what I want for my speakers). Even with the Axe's OP clipping slightly the green Signal LED on the Matrix wasnt solid. Now according to Matrix the green LED is on at -10db to -8db and as I need 6db of headroom (to get the 250W from the Matrix down to the 60W my cab takes) Im probably about right even with everything on full. Ill try tonight with XLRs feeding the amp (currently use jacks) as that signal would be 6db hotter.
Initial thoughts on the sound is wow. Dynamically it is there. Reacts to the guitar just like my VHT. the clean was just lush. I then switched to the VHT, and there is a difference. Not much played clean however the VHT did seem a touch louder. As different amps have different input sensetivities I wasnt surprised TBH.
So - upped the gain and the differences betwen the amps start to show. the VHT had a deeper body on crunch sounds, and on high gain just seemed more satisfying. It had more punch in the gut, more thud/thump whatever, and also some sizzle in the high frequencies (the Matrix is clear and smooth). Unfortunately I ran out of "loud" time at this point as the wife and kids came home.
So - down went the volume. comparing the two amps now didnt show any difference in feel, but you could hear an EQ difference. the VHT having more bottom end, and bite. Now, this could be down to three things:
1. Signal level. As I said the Matrix seemed a touch quieter than the VHT with the same input. This will mean the amp sounds and reacts differntly (we know guitar just feels better the louder you go). if this is the case its no issue - just turn up the signal feed level.
2. EQ difference. This is to be expected. a SS amp "should" have a flat frequency response while the valve amp wont have. Again if this is the issue its not a problem, its just a case of tweeking the global EQ initially - and eventually re-tweeking patches for the new amp.
3. Valve mojo. it is possible that the extra body/punch/push whatever you want to call it is just down to valves (or more likely the speaker interaction with the output transformer on a valve amp). if this is the issue then theres no fix. You either put up with this difference for the size/weight/cost of the Matrix - or put up with thoses points for a valve amp.
So - I turned up the signal to the Matrix compared to the VHT by 2db. this certainly seemed to get them to the same kind of volume level. I also tweeked the global EQ. Basically adding 1db at 100hz and the same at 8khz. At quiet levels this made the two amps much closer. I may need to take out a little at 500hz maybe but I havent tried that yet. I have also not turned back up loud yet. Im hoping the EQ and signal strength will get the Matrix close. Certainly speaking to Mat at Matrix, the thump in the chest is normally around 90hz - so that could be the missing thing at volume. Im not 100% sure it will work yet, and it appeared (after the tweeks) that on clean sounds there was a touch more body to the sound on the Matrix - while on high gain the VHT had a touch more body. Im hoping that will be because of the patch EQs (in the amp block) otherwise the Matrix could be in trouble - that is if the cleans sound better on the Matrix but high gain on the VHT its not juts an EQ issue.
So - I need some more time to play, and particularly at high volume levels. The amp is certainly a good one. if I had no amp already Id probably pick up the Matrix over the VHT I think (due to cost/size/weight/reliability/servicing) - however as I already own the VHT its a harder call as to whether the Matrix will replace it at present. In a way that is a complement to the Matrix - the fact that Im considering replacing the VHT with this amp, and am prepared to work a little to get the two even closer. Its certainly better build, and sounds much better than the Art SLA (although thats from a year old memory of the one I had). I base that on the fact the VHT blew the Art away IMO, while the Matrix is giving me serious headaches making the choice. This amp is a real quality piece of equipment no doubt.
I will take some snaps when I get home, and work on the EQ when I can (around the kids/family). Ill also get some video clips done, of both the Matrix and VHTwith the same patches, both quiet (initially) and louder (when I can). ill also do a "switch on" of all 3 bits of kit (Axe, Matrix, VHT) so you get an idea of the fan noise levels. Any other thoughts I have, ill just add to this post so keep checking back if your interested in the amp.
This will be spread over several posts I think. I will put some pics up when I get some taken - and will also do some video clips of both the Matrix and the VHT for comparrison (as best you can on the net).
Well, the new Matrix XT-800 arrived yesterday. First thoughts were, my god this suckers light. The pics on Matrix's Website make the amp look kind of grey and industrial looking which isnt to my tastes. In the flesh though, the amp is much darker, verging on black, and looks very smart. i took the lid off (Matrix have OK'd this though I cant take pics of the inside). Its very clean, and well build. solid solder joints and HUGH heat sinks. The cooling air flow is certainly well thought out, with the fans drawing the air directly through the sinks, and eddies in the airflow being created (on purpose) so no hot spots develope in the case. My only concern is the volume knobs are directly soldered onto the PCB - and are not bolted/screwed to the case. if you dropped the amp on the knobs there would be a lot of stress directly on the board. The pots threaded shank isnt long enough to allow them to be secured to the outer plate by nuts, and the PCB cant be moved closer to the pannel. I have suggested that a couple of U brackets are attaced to the inside of the facia, deep enough for the threaded portion of the pot to go through and locking nuts placed on both sides of the bracket. This would mean any iimpact would be taken by the bracket, and front facia rather than the solder joint and PCB. Matrix have never had any amps returned from damage caused this way, and the joint to the PCB is certainly solid, so maybe I'm being picky - however It would give be a bit more piece of mind.
My amp has been fitted with the Speakon/Jack combi outputs which is a bonus as I use stock guitar cabs so need that 1/4" jack output. Mine has also had the modification on the fans, so first up - how loud/quiet it the amp? Well it is noisier than the Axe, and from memory the Art too - but TBH I dont think its too much. Even at bedroom levels you cant really hear it over the guitar so? i followed DADAs lead and used a phone app to take some measurments (all at 1 meter).
Background noise: 25 db
Axe-FX (Silent fans as fitted by G66): 30db
Matrix XT-800: 35 db
VHT 2-50-2: 43 db
So, not as quiet as the Axe, but not as noisey as the VHT.
i havent had a lot of time to play yet, around 10 minutes at failrly loud volume followed by 20 minutes or so at bedroom levels. Firstly, I couldnt get the protection led to light at all !! while not a bad thing, it is how I tend to set the O/P (that is get a SS amp to clip slightly so I know its kicking out its max Watts, then back off the input signal so that its kickout out what I want for my speakers). Even with the Axe's OP clipping slightly the green Signal LED on the Matrix wasnt solid. Now according to Matrix the green LED is on at -10db to -8db and as I need 6db of headroom (to get the 250W from the Matrix down to the 60W my cab takes) Im probably about right even with everything on full. Ill try tonight with XLRs feeding the amp (currently use jacks) as that signal would be 6db hotter.
Initial thoughts on the sound is wow. Dynamically it is there. Reacts to the guitar just like my VHT. the clean was just lush. I then switched to the VHT, and there is a difference. Not much played clean however the VHT did seem a touch louder. As different amps have different input sensetivities I wasnt surprised TBH.
So - upped the gain and the differences betwen the amps start to show. the VHT had a deeper body on crunch sounds, and on high gain just seemed more satisfying. It had more punch in the gut, more thud/thump whatever, and also some sizzle in the high frequencies (the Matrix is clear and smooth). Unfortunately I ran out of "loud" time at this point as the wife and kids came home.
So - down went the volume. comparing the two amps now didnt show any difference in feel, but you could hear an EQ difference. the VHT having more bottom end, and bite. Now, this could be down to three things:
1. Signal level. As I said the Matrix seemed a touch quieter than the VHT with the same input. This will mean the amp sounds and reacts differntly (we know guitar just feels better the louder you go). if this is the case its no issue - just turn up the signal feed level.
2. EQ difference. This is to be expected. a SS amp "should" have a flat frequency response while the valve amp wont have. Again if this is the issue its not a problem, its just a case of tweeking the global EQ initially - and eventually re-tweeking patches for the new amp.
3. Valve mojo. it is possible that the extra body/punch/push whatever you want to call it is just down to valves (or more likely the speaker interaction with the output transformer on a valve amp). if this is the issue then theres no fix. You either put up with this difference for the size/weight/cost of the Matrix - or put up with thoses points for a valve amp.
So - I turned up the signal to the Matrix compared to the VHT by 2db. this certainly seemed to get them to the same kind of volume level. I also tweeked the global EQ. Basically adding 1db at 100hz and the same at 8khz. At quiet levels this made the two amps much closer. I may need to take out a little at 500hz maybe but I havent tried that yet. I have also not turned back up loud yet. Im hoping the EQ and signal strength will get the Matrix close. Certainly speaking to Mat at Matrix, the thump in the chest is normally around 90hz - so that could be the missing thing at volume. Im not 100% sure it will work yet, and it appeared (after the tweeks) that on clean sounds there was a touch more body to the sound on the Matrix - while on high gain the VHT had a touch more body. Im hoping that will be because of the patch EQs (in the amp block) otherwise the Matrix could be in trouble - that is if the cleans sound better on the Matrix but high gain on the VHT its not juts an EQ issue.
So - I need some more time to play, and particularly at high volume levels. The amp is certainly a good one. if I had no amp already Id probably pick up the Matrix over the VHT I think (due to cost/size/weight/reliability/servicing) - however as I already own the VHT its a harder call as to whether the Matrix will replace it at present. In a way that is a complement to the Matrix - the fact that Im considering replacing the VHT with this amp, and am prepared to work a little to get the two even closer. Its certainly better build, and sounds much better than the Art SLA (although thats from a year old memory of the one I had). I base that on the fact the VHT blew the Art away IMO, while the Matrix is giving me serious headaches making the choice. This amp is a real quality piece of equipment no doubt.
I will take some snaps when I get home, and work on the EQ when I can (around the kids/family). Ill also get some video clips done, of both the Matrix and VHTwith the same patches, both quiet (initially) and louder (when I can). ill also do a "switch on" of all 3 bits of kit (Axe, Matrix, VHT) so you get an idea of the fan noise levels. Any other thoughts I have, ill just add to this post so keep checking back if your interested in the amp.
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