I agree, mixing too much can really screw things up. I couldn't swing the MA-X speaker cables too so I have the Matrix 90HD speaker cables which I am told is very compatible with the MA-X ic. I do have the MA-X digital cable also. You have what I wanted to get
It's amazing how different the amps sound adding the MA-X, I am running 360 series 1 for now also. The amount of presence, authority and tonal depth is night and day from how they have ever sounded. I think if more people heard Spectral with the higher tier MIT cables of today they may have a much different opinion of both. Honestly, I cannot imagine an amp being too much better so I am pretty curious about the 260 (ships today!....1 week).
The more I listen the more I think I made the correct choice with the MA-X. I may like to hear a tad more air or shimmer in the higher end but some of this is bass overloading my room periodically. I need to adjust speaker placement and acoustic tx's since adding the new ic's, that's how much it's changed the sound. Interesting thing is it does not sound unnatural or tonally modified. In fact, it sounds more lifelike and tonally correct. I think some people see the boxes and assume it is manipulating the signal to color presentation, like an EQ, but in reality it is only repairing damage done in transit so in the end the signal is more complete/accurate. I no longer bring up MIT in discussions or forums because it is so polarizing among audiophiles but I do sometimes read the forums, listen to my rig, sit back and grin