Having read about the love on here for the MW Ultra G3, I decided to try one in place of the three headed hydra powering my NDX2 and SN3 at the beginning of the year - I didn’t like the results and it was returned to my dealer. On reflection though I wondered if I hadn’t let the Powerline Lites which were previously unused to burn in with it.
Since then I have upgraded to 333/332/250 and when the chance to get a second hand one, albeit the Lite version, I thought I would have another go. Again I replaced my hydra with MW but the effect is similar to before - there is more detail coming through but it’s in a messy kind of way so that the focus of the music gets lost.
Dunno why that’s the case but I am going to stick it out a bit longer in case the new Powerline Lites need running in.
So just after other folks thoughts - whether their experience is similar or different to mine.
Thank you for replying as I know you have a lot of experience in this area.
I don’t really want to spend £3k on Powerlines and another £1.6k on the G3 - for that kind of money I would probably go for an NPX300 - so when a used Reflex Lite came up for £350 I just thought I would like to try it with the PL Lites that came with the electronic units.
Like I said I am going to persevere with it for a while. Out of interest, did you have a hydra before embarking on the MW route?
Experiment with plug positions. Musicworks claim star earthing but the internal wires are not the same length so sockets are not all equivalently grounded, though they radiate from one point the star has different length rays. The live and neutral connections are on a ring.
I tried an Ultra 2 and preferred my home made linear block (made from single MK unswitched) but only with a certain plug order, which I had longer to find than the couple of days I had the Musicworks for.
I did used to use a Grahams Hydra (and still have it), but the block I used prior to the MW Ultra G3 was the Wireworld Matrix 2. The MW G3 is way better.
I stopped at the G3 Ultra and changed to something else but praise it highly, very natural and relaxed sound. I am guessing would help and complement the 300s and 250 nicely. Knowing the company, I am sure the newer versions have something more to give.
The order of the plugs was taken from the literature that came with the block - streamer in 1, preamp in 2 and power amp in 3. I did have I have my Melco in 4 but tonight I tried taking out of the MW block and plugging it into the adjacent wall socket but with little effect that I could discern. I press on.
Had a decent listening session last night and it was sounding a bit better but I still found the sound a bit much. So out went the NACA5 and the standard Naim interconnect to be replaced with Kudos KS1 and a Hiline which had a calming effect on the music. My intention is to leave it like this for a while to really get to know it before reverting to the hydra which will hopefully let me draw a conclusion. Oh the madness of it all.
I still have the Matrix 2 - I may try the MW block very soon.
Interested in what you think of the sunjective differences?
The reason for my possible change - after the Firmware update to my ND555 the system balance is tending toward a bit bright at times. The older FW had a softer sound that the Matrix brighter sound complemented and all was well…but perhaps no more!
…it is only used with the ND555 two PS and the S1 Pre - the other items have their own config on the wall I’m retaining, so I will try a swap of Matrix for MW3 or possibly 5 if it is that much better.
I have my Naim boxes on the MW G3 and my digital boxes (router, switch, server etc) on a separate Matrix 2 away from the Naim stack.
It was a while ago, but I do remember an appreciable improvement with the Ultra G3 (with the improved base - ‘sparkly bottom’ fitted). It was an overall improvement, rather than control over brightness specifically, IIRC.
@Gazza upgraded to Ultra G4 (and even G5 IIRC) and suspect he can add more regarding their affect.
Dark bear has the same dealer, so has great access. I found the sound more detailed, but without losing the unforced natural sound i like. But as ever, you have to try in your own room. For me, these blocks are expensive, but worth it, others will and have felt differently.
Yes, and now, with Chord, there is a new kid on the block (did you see what I did there), which may, or may not, work better than the MusicWorks Ultra.
As you say Gazza, blocks are no exception, and you should try in your own system, before you buy.
More than ten years ago I tried the very early version of the MW block and did not like it, as it sounded muddled and dull. That has put me off trying again and since for whatever reason the Matrix 2 worked so well I just did not try to fix what worked.
But I know the Matrix - especially the version I have with the ‘bus-bars’ inside - tends easy to being bright then I’m looking for something more gentle. I have heard the later G3 and upward versions of the MW in a friends system who has ND555 and 2xPS into 552 Pre and I thought his system was superb sounding, so perhaps the later versions have improved where I thought they were poor.
My understanding is that the pre Ultra G3 MW blocks (e.g. Lite) were nothing to write home about. It was from the G3 onwards that the MW Ultra blocks got really good.
But you should also try the posh Chord blocks, as I hear good things about those.
I’m trying the G5 presently - it has been in for a day.
At first I can say I was underwhelmed and was not sure it was really better.
Today perhaps it is better in various ways - my aim is to run it for a week and then switch-back to my old block and see if I get a ‘yuk’ effect or not.
Do these blocks run-in from new - for anyone brave enough to answer?
