EMM Labs MTRX monoblock Input Board Upgrade Review

Have you ever encountered somebody who refuses to depart properly sufficient alone? Almost as quickly as my unique overview of the EMM Labs MTRX amps had been submitted, Ed Meitner started tinkering with the design of the amps’ enter boards. In the following 5 years, three iterations of the boards appeared on my doorstep, courtesy of FedEx. The boards can simply be switched out with no soldering required. In reality, it takes extra time to take away the sixteen screws securing every prime plate than to vary the board. Each new board was an enchancment during the last; the third was fairly a dramatic enchancment, significantly within the bass. For the final 12 months, there have been rumors that new enter boards and different modifications have been imminent in addition to related modifications to the smaller MTRX II, which makes use of the identical enter boards. Those rumors turned out to be true.

What follows are my preliminary impressions of the impact the brand new enter boards had on my amps and must be indicative of the path the brand new variations of the amps (each the MTRX and the MTRX 2) will take and the way they’ll sound. For those that already personal the amps, the manufacturing facility can present replace particulars. The change to the MTRX is designated by the manufacturing facility because the MTRX SE (Special Edition) and is a part of the V2 bundle for the MTRX2 amps.

Listening

(Comments are organized by the piece of music being performed.)

Kurt Rosenwinkel, The Remedy (CD)

I hadn’t heard this recording shortly; had overplayed it a lot during the last couple of years that I had retired it from my playlist, and loved coming again to it. It is a reside recording and isn’t good, being generally considerably congested and dense. Rosenwinkel was drenching his guitar with results, in addition to singing alongside. The singing was calmly miked. Thus, there was ample alternative for aural heavy climate. With the up to date EMMs, I had no actual problem following no matter devices I selected at any second with shocking readability and separation. I like Rosenwinkel’s sound virtually it doesn’t matter what he’s doing to it, and I loved the readability of his density in a method I hadn’t fairly heard earlier than. This was significantly true within the first jiffy of Track 4, which was performed solo by Rosenwinkel, an uncommon stretch of gently shifting chordal figures, going slightly surprising locations in surprising methods, most of which have been plucked with the fingers. The earlier model of the MTRX amps sorted all of this out moderately properly, however I used to be listening to one thing new, a stage of element and realism that I had not beforehand heard.

Weather Report, Tale Spinnin’, Side 2 (vinyl)

From the primary minimize ahead, the soundstage was glorious, very vast, and instrument placement was excellent. This underlines what a wonderful recording this was within the mid-70s — additionally a wonderful urgent by Speakers Corner.

On the second minimize, the very lively drummer was beautifully recorded and reproduced. The kick drum was tight and strong, with glorious presence, however not outsized. Again, the soundstage is uncommonly vast. The audio system successfully disappeared. It is value noting that with audio system just like the Acapella Triolons which can be massive and depend on a number of drivers, it’s not all the time simple to make them disappear.

Synthesized deep bass by Joe Zawinul had higher impression and readability than I recall ever having heard in each the first and 2nd cuts; certainly, I don’t recall listening to it like that earlier than. The bass drum was not solely convincingly positioned, nevertheless it additionally had the rounded, full physique of a drum, not only a disembodied thump. I may really feel its impression and but hear in it the fullness of the instrument that it’s. This type of fullness of soundstage together with spatial element, together with at occasions a depth of silent atmosphere, has given me a larger appreciation for this report that got here at an odd pre-Jaco juncture for Weather Report. They have been creating an electrical jazz that was new and engaging, with out forgetting their roots.

U2, Joshua Tree

Like many others, I’m very keen on this report. I prefer it loud. The rhythm is so potent however, with Eno and Lanois within the background, so is the soundscape, which is dense, advanced, and virtually infinitely fascinating. It can be fertile floor for the most effective programs to penetrate and discover. (That it may nonetheless have a sexy impact on, for instance, a automotive stereo, is a puzzle to me, however so be it.)

The EMM upgraded boards have been revealing of extra of the thriller, in a really satisfying method. The backside finish was terrific: there have been some synthesized bass elements within the first and third cuts that I merely had not heard earlier than in such element and specificity. Indeed, I’m hoping I received’t hear from the neighbors about this! The instrument placement and focus, and that of Bono’s voice, was extraordinarily efficient, as is the house across the devices. Yet, the sum whole was fully efficient, and affecting. In phrases of being carried on a journey by recorded music, that is nearly as good because it will get.

Stokowski, Wagner, Acoustic Sounds reissue of an RCA (vinyl)

Like the Weather Report LP, the soundstage was wall-to-wall. The readability of element was excellent, with no lack of musicality. In different phrases, it’s element within the service of the music, slightly than a easy hi-fi impact. The colour of the winds was introduced totally to life all through the vary of the devices, not simply on the floor.

The EMM’s did a lot of this previous to the brand new boards; nevertheless, what I heard right here struck me merely as the apparent subsequent stage with no change from the elemental sound and musicality of the sooner iteration of the amps. This was carrying an amazing design additional up the chain.

Electric Recording Company, Strauss, Last Songs, Elizabeth Schwarzkopf

This is a completely beautiful reissue of what was already, within the unique urgent, merely beautiful. With the EMM upgrades, the musical expertise was additional heightened. I don’t use the time period “liquid” fairly often in reference to the copy of music. It is a obscure time period, a metaphor that may seize one thing that’s onerous to elucidate, that’s tough to pin down. In listening to this report this night, what I hear was actually liquid. The music moved ahead with an easy sensuality. I discover it considerably tough to be involved about what’s working among the many particular person elements. What I do know is that it’s for moments like this that I stay deeply concerned on the earth of hi-fi.

I do know too that as I discover myself drawn to Schwarzkopf’s beautiful voice, which appears as whether it is fifteen ft in entrance of me, I didn’t hear her with fairly this specificity previous to the latest updates to my amps.

Strauss, “Der Rosenkavalier Suite” from Strauss Box Set, DGG (Boston Symphony Orchestra, Andris Nelsons)

The imaging was glorious, virtually analog — I may virtually hear the again of the corridor. The devices have been totally fleshed out. There have been quite a few sections that have been chamber-like, and these have been beautiful of their convincing intimacy. I discovered it simpler than it was once to neglect concerning the situation of analog versus digital. I consider that is because of the larger element supplied by the upgrades. The bass, when it seems towards the climax in Track 11, was terrifically convincing and strong.

Conclusion

The new enter boards signify a step-change in efficiency, a dramatic enchancment. I actually appreciated the earlier model 3 boards and was not ready for the slightly substantial enchancment I heard from the most recent model. The presentation is extra spacious with larger air round devices, transients are extra graduated and extra sensible, tonal steadiness is just not a lot modified, maybe a bit extra presence within the mid bass. The highs appear much less sharply edged, significantly with digital sources. Note that there’s additionally higher decision of element all through the frequency vary, however most clearly noticeable on the prime. There is not any accompanying brightness or edge. Bass can be improved, not a lot extra bass, however higher outlined, in order that I’m noticing issues that I had missed or ignored earlier than. There can be considerably extra sub-bass, if in reality the supply materials comprises any.

All-in-all, it is a very worthwhile enchancment. Upgrades must be accessible mid to finish summer time 2024.