Focus On the Human-Machine Experience
The source device is the soul of an audio system. Hardware is the body of MS-1, while software is its soul. Matrix Audio not only prioritizes audio quality but also focuses on the user experience. They simplify human-machine interaction and emphasize music information display on the device screen. They insist on allowing you to comfortably control your entire audio system from your listening position, using your phone or tablet to operate it via the MA Remote App, rather than frequently getting up to touch the device. Even basic functions like volume change, track selection, and playback, as well as configurations such as filters, operating modes, and display brightness, can be done in the app. This is all supported by their meticulously developed MA Player software system.
The H-shaped structure is a unique design created by Matrix Audio for the M series products, born from 2 years of continuous optimization and improvement across various aspects, including mechanical relationships, circuit layout, and exterior appearance. The 20mm CNC aluminum plate serves as the support structure for the entire device after dozens of procedures, forming the core of the H-shaped structure. All components are mounted on the aluminum plate, and the whole weight is supported by heavy-duty feet installed on the main beam, ensuring a solid, stable platform. After the panels are installed, multiple isolated cavities are formed with the main beam. Different circuit modules are appropriately placed in each cavity, effectively reducing interference between circuit modules. The circuit modules for the left and right channels are symmetrically arranged on both sides, creating a balanced visual impression.
The ingenious industrial design is an indispensable part of their product, flowing from the brand-new Matrix Design language through dots, lines, and surfaces. Each component undergoes multiple delicate CNC machining and surface treatments, providing an exquisite, comfortable matte texture that allows you to feel the unique craftsmanship in operation and displays a distinctive, elegant temperament.
MA Player & Remote App
This is a streamlined, optimized Linux-based software system. It is designed specifically for Hi-Fi audio playback and is available exclusively with Matrix Audio products. Today, MA Player has evolved to a new level, not only enhancing its playback performance but also introducing numerous new features that improve the interactive experience.
Their in-house app serves as the core tool for controlling your music streamers. By installing the MA Remote App on your iPhone, iPad, or Android phone, you become the most convenient control center, allowing you to browse and play your local music, enjoy high-resolution music from streaming platforms like SONY Select, TIDAL, Qobuz, and HIGHRESAUDIO, and listen to exciting online radio stations. Even when music is streaming from other apps, you can still view track information in the MA Remote App. Furthermore, the MA Remote App allows you to set every hardware configuration, completely changing the operation of an audio device.
Pure & Clear
Matrix Audio's first product, based on AKM D/A solution, features dual AK4191 and AK4499 flagship D/A chipsets. Each chipset works in parallel in mono mode. The left- and right-channel PCB assemblies are mounted on opposite sides of the device, forming a completely dual-mono design. Aiming for precise signal reproduction and outstanding dynamic range, you can catch every micro detail of sound, deeply restoring the essence of music. Resulting in the MS-1 having a pure sound with a natural, balanced tone that remains true to the music without any coloration. It accurately interprets every detail of the music with a rational, neutral attitude, providing your system with a clear source.
You can let the built-in asynchronous upsampling and DSD conversion engine process all the audio data in the digital stage. With asynchronous resampling and interpolation operations, jitters will be isolated and details will be improved. The DSD converter converts all audio to DSD, enhancing sound density. The processing engine features adjustable PCM or DSD conversion configurations, allowing you to experience the sound differences under different settings. Clocks are the cornerstone of digital audio systems. Unlike previous Matrix Audio products, the MS-1 features a high-performance DPLL clock-synthesis circuit. The ultra-low phase noise reference clock, working with the DPLL circuit, generates a clock signal with jitter as low as 45 fs in real time, providing a reference for the entire digital audio circuitry. If you have a higher-precision 10 MHz external clock, you can connect it to the clock input port to improve the performance of the internal audio clock.
Equipped with comprehensive digital input ports, MS-1 can be used as a high-end DAC. With USB, optical, coaxial, or IIS-LVDS digital inputs, it can be connected to computers, CD transports, set-top boxes, game consoles, and other devices, allowing the audio from these devices to be output through a high-quality DAC in MS-1, creating a high-quality audio experience across the board. To isolate high-frequency interference from switches and front-end network devices, they added an SFP interface, enabling the music streamer to connect to the local network via fiber-optic cables. With the electrical isolation provided by fiber-optic transmission, the electrical connection between the front-end switch and the music streamer can be completely disconnected, ensuring purer sound. Of course, they also retain the Ethernet port for convenient connection without altering your network structure.
To avoid the annoying experience of frequently plugging and unplugging USB drives, they have reserved an NVMe SSD slot at the bottom of the MS-1 chassis. You can install a high-speed SSD as internal storage, avoiding the use of a 2.5" or 3.5" HDD and eliminating the impact of HDD vibration and noise on sound quality. Music resources stored on the SSD can be maintained via network sharing, or the music files can be copied from the external storage to the internal storage via the MA Remote App.
Preamplifier & Dual Balanced Output
MS-1 has two pairs of line inputs and one pair of phono inputs, with XLR and RCA line inputs allowing you to integrate any device with an analog output into the digital audio system. The built-in phono preamplifier supports both MM and MC modes, enabling direct connection to a vinyl turntable. All analog audio inputs are converted to digital audio through high-precision ADCs, aggregated into the digital processing unit, and applied to PCM filters. These signals are also allowed to output from the IIS-LVDS port. MS-1 also works as a high-level audio transport, outputting all audio as high-resolution signals via the IIS-LVDS port, including audio signals from the analog input and the phono input. This enables you to connect to other DACs to achieve different listening experiences.
MS-1 Pre features a built-in preamplifier and a precision resistor array volume control. The preamplifier is composed of multi-stage op-amps with a +10dB gain and can output audio signals up to 16 VRMS. It is compatible with power amplifiers or active speakers directly. Providing excellent channel consistency and distortion characteristics even at low volumes. Additionally, MS-1 Pre offers a pair of fixed-level XLR line outputs, which can be used simultaneously with the pre-out. Enables you to connect it to other recording and monitoring devices.
The volume control is a critical factor affecting audio quality; ensuring lossless attenuation and consistent volume levels between channels is the prerequisite for good sound. MS-1 Pre has a built-in preamplifier that uses a resistor array for voltage-divider volume control. Four high-quality volume control units, each composed of 64 precision resistors with 0.001 accuracy and 32 fully sealed reed relays, which are switched rapidly by the MCU. This control method not only minimizes any impact on sound quality but also ensures excellent channel consistency. The operation noise of the reed relays is almost inaudible, even when the volume is continuously adjusted.
Power is the starting point of an audio system. They customized two high-power toroidal transformers with square copper wire for the digital and analog sections of MS-1. Compared to traditional toroidal transformers with circular-section wire, square copper wire offers a larger conductor surface, higher current capacity, and lower resistance, resulting in better transient response and richer low-frequency response. Paired with the M-Lytic AG series filter capacitors from MUNDORF, it adds a silky smoothness and mellowness to the sound. Dozens of low-noise LDOs and ultra-low-noise LDOs provide ample power supply to each circuit unit, even including the SSD, pursuing excellence at every stage.
