Matrix Audio MS-1 Pre Music Streamer & Pre-Amplifier

Matrix Audio MS-1 Pre Music Streamer & Pre-Amplifier

The all-new M series marks a milestone for Matrix Audio as it advances towards traditional Hi-Fi systems. This series includes the MS-1 music streamer, the MP-1 preamplifier and the MA-1 power amplifier, forming a complete flagship system of Matrix Audio that presents their deep understanding and love of 2 channel Hi-Fi audio. The M series is the first line-up to adopt the new "Matrix Design" language, serving as an introduction to the future evolution of Matrix Audio devices.

The MS-1 Pre features a built-in preamplifier and a precision resistor array volume control and has a pure sound with natural and balanced tone that remains true to music without any colouration. It accurately interprets every detail in the music with a rational and neutral attitude, providing your system with a clear source.

Key Features:

• Flagship Hi-Res Music Streamer
• Built-in Pre-amplifier with Multi-stage Op-amps
• Precision Resistor Array Volume Control for Lossless Attenuation & Consistent Volume
• Additional Pair of Fixed-level XLR Line Outputs
• Asynchronous Upsampling & DSD Conversion Engine
• Dual AKM AK4191 + AK4499 Based Flagship DAC
• Dual Mono Design with Separate Left/Right Channel PCBs
• DPLL High Precision Clock for Ultra Low Jitter + Support for External Clock
• Dual Toroidal Transformers with Square Copper Wire
• German Made MUNDORF M-Lytic AG Series Filter Capacitors
• Supports Playback of Files up to PCM 768kHz, DSD 24.58MHz, MQA 384kHz
• Supports Roon Ready, AirPlay 2, DLNA/UPnP, TIDAL Connect, Spotify Connect, vTuner etc
• XLR and RCA line inputs
• Dedicated Phono Input (Supports both MM & MC)
• Digital Inputs Including Coax, Optical & USB Audio
• IIS-LVDS Digital Input & Output
• Expandable SFP Fibre Optic Network Port
• Supports Optional M.2 NVMe SSD Drives & USB Mass-storage
• New "Matrix Design" language
• Elegant Industrial Design & Refined Build Quality

User Manual (PDF, 1.31MB)

Matrix Design

MS-1 Pre is Matrix Audio's brand-new flagship music streamer. Its industrial design showcases a new concept of simplicity. With hundreds of circular perforations of varying sizes and depths arranged in an array on the simple hexahedron, resembling rhythmic beats dancing and emerging on the surface.

"Evaluating audio products from the dimensions of 'listening' and 'looking' has always been our consistent philosophy. From concept to design, every step contains the love for music and the pursuit of beauty."

The Source Device is the 'Soul' of an Audio System.

Focused On Software Experience

While exquisite hardware contributes the 'body' of the MS-1 Pre, Matrix Audio's meticulously developed software is the 'soul'. Matrix Audio not only prioritise audio quality but also focus on the user experience. Matrix Audio simplifies the human-machine interaction and emphasises music info display on the device screen, whilst encouraging the listener to comfortably control their entire audio system from the listening position - picking up your phone or tablet to operate it through the MA Remote App, rather than frequently getting up to touch the device. Even from basic functions like volume change, track selection and playback, to configurations such as filters, operating modes and display brightness - everything can be done via the MA Remote App.

MA Player

The Matrix Audio MA Player app is a streamlined and optimised software system based on Linux. It is specially designed for Hi-Fi audio playback exclusively available for Matrix Audio products.

Today, MA Player has evolved to a new level, not only enhancing its playback performance but also introducing numerous new features, improving the interactive experience.

MA Remote App

The MA Remote App serves as the core tool for controlling Matrix Audio devices. By installing the MA Remote App on your iPhone, iPad or Android phone, they become the most convenient control centres, allowing you to browse and play your local music, enjoy high-resolution music from streaming platforms like SONY Select, TIDAL, Qobuz and HIGHRESAUDIO, Baidu Cloud, QQ Music, and listen to exciting online radio stations.

Even when music is streaming from Roon or other apps, you also can view the track information through the MA Remote App. Furthermore, the MA Remote App allows you to set every hardware configuration, completely changing the operation of an audio device.

PCM Resampling & DSD Conversion

The MS-1 Pre features a built-in asynchronous upsampling and DSD conversion engine for processing all audio data in the digital stage.

With asynchronous resampling and interpolation operations, jitter will be isolated and details in the audio will shine through. The DSD convertor transforms all playing audio into DSD format, enhancing sound density. The high quality processing engine features adjustable PCM and DSD conversion configurations, allowing you to experience the sound differences under different settings.

IIS-LVDS Digital Output

The MS-1 Pre also operates as a high-level audio transport that can output all playing audio as high-resolution signals through the IIS-LVDS port. This includes all audio signals from the analogue and phono inputs, which enables you to connect to other DACs to the MS-1 Pre to achieve different listening experiences.

Analogue Input & Phono Input

The MS-1 Pre has two pairs of line inputs and one dedicated phono input. With XLR and RCA line inputs allowing you to integrate any device with analogue output into the digital audio system.

The built-in phono preamplifier supports both MM and MC cartridges, enabling direct connection to a vinyl turntable.

All analogue audio inputs are converted to digital audio through high-precision ADC, aggregated into the digital processing unit and applied PCM filters.

Digital Audio Inputs

Equipped with a comprehensive array of digital inputs, the MS-1 Pre 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 to be output through high-quality DAC in the MS-1 Pre, creating a high-quality audio experience at every aspects.

Preamplifier & Dual Balanced Output

MS-1 Pre features a built-in preamplifier with a precision resistor array volume control. The preamplifier is composed of multi-stage op-amps, which has a +10dB gain and can output audio signals up to 16VRMS. It's compatible with power amplifiers or active speakers directly, providing excellent channel consistency and distortion characteristics even at low volumes.

Additionally, the MS-1 Pre offers an additonal pair of fixed-level XLR line outputs, which can be used simultaneously with the pre-out. This enables the listener to connect it to other recording and monitoring devices.

Precision Resistor Volume Control

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.

The MS-1 Pre has a built-in preamplifier which uses voltage-divider volume control by resistor array. Four high-quality volume control units composed of 64 precision resistors with 1‰ accuracy and 32 fully sealed reed relays which are switched rapidly by the MCU. This control method not only minimises any impact on sound quality but also ensures excellent consistency between the two channels. The operation noise of the reed relays is almost inaudible even when changing volume continuously.

Dual D/A Chip Independent Channel Design

Matrix Audio's features a DAC design based around an AKM D/A solution, featuring dual AK4191 and AK4499 flagship D/A chipsets. Each chipset works in parallel in mono mode.

The left and right channel PCB assemblies are separated and mounted at each side of the device separately, to form a completely dual mono design for outstanding clarity and separation and precise audio signal reproduction and dynamic range - catching every micro detail of the sound.

DPLL High Precision Clock

Clocks are the cornerstone of digital audio systems. Unlike previous Matrix Audio products, the MS-1 Pre is equipped with a high-performance DPLL clock synthesis circuit. The ultra-low phase noise reference clock works with the DPLL circuit generates an clock signal with jitter as low as 45fs in real-time, providing a reference for the entire digital audio circuitry. If you have a higher-precision 10MHz external clock, you can connect it to the clock input port to enhance the performance of the internal audio clock.

Expandable SFP Fiber Optic Network Port

In order to isolate high-frequency interference from switches and front-end network devices, Matrix Audio have added an SFP interface to the MS-1 Pre, enabling the music streamer to connect to the local network via a fibre optic cable. With the electrical isolation properties of fibre optic transmission, the electrical connection between the front-end switch and the music streamer can be completely disconnected, ensuring a purer sound. Of course, the MS-1 Pre also retains a standard Ethernet port for convenient connection without altering your network structure.

NVMe SSD Slot

Add vast amounts of storage to the MS-1 Pre without the need of plugging and unplugging USB drives. The MS-1 Pre features a dedicated NVMe SSD slot on the bottom of the chassis which allows you to install a high-speed M.2 SSD as internal storage. Music resources stored on the SSD can be maintained through network sharing, or by copying music files from external storage to the internal storage through the MA Remote App.

Square Copper Wire Transformer & Linear Power

Power is the starting point of an audio system. Matrix Audio customised two high-power toroidal transformers with square copper wire for the digital and analogue sections of the MS-1 Pre. Compared to traditional toroidal transformers with circular cross-section wire, square copper wire has a larger conductor surface, higher current capacity, and lower resistance, resulting in better transient response and richer low frequencies. Paired with the German made M-Lytic AG series filter capacitors from MUNDORF, it adds a mellow and silky smoothness to the sound. Dozens of low-noise LDOs and ultra-low-noise LDOs provide ample power supply to each circuit, including even the SSD - pursuing excellence at every stage.

Elegant Industrial Design & Refined Build Quality

The ingenious industrial design is an indispensable part of the MS-1 Pre, flowing out of the brand-new 'Matrix Design' language from dots, lines and surfaces. Each component undergoes multiple delicate CNC machining and surface treatments, providing a exquisite and comfortable matte texture, allowing you to feel the unique craftsmanship in operation, displaying a distinctive elegant temperament.

H-Shaped Chassis Structure

The H-shaped structure is a unique design created by Matrix Audio for the M Series products, born from two years of continuous optimisation and improvement considering various aspects such as mechanics relationship, circuit layout, and exterior appearance.

The 20mm CNC aluminium plate become the support structure of the entire device after dozens of procedures, serving as the core of the H-shaped structure. All components are mounted on the aluminium plate, and the entire weight is supported by heavy-duty feet installed on the main beam, making it solid and stable.

After the panels are installed, multiple isolated cavities are formed with the main beam. Different circuit modules are properly 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.

"We persevere tirelessly, striving to make things more beautiful and the sound more captivating."

Pure & Clear

The Matrix Audio MS-1 Pre Music Streamer & Pre-Amplifier has a pure sound with natural and balanced tone that remains true to the source music without adding any colouration. It accurately interprets every detail in the music with a rational and neutral attitude, providing your system with a clear source. Every detail of the M Series embodies Matrix Audio's pursuit of excellence. Everything you hear, see and touch is the final presentation by team Matrix Audio through continuous trial and fail, meticulous polishing, and careful calibration.