Product Review | Matrix Audio MS-1 Music Streamer Reviewed By Renowned Hi-Fi Channel Moon Audio
·Review Basic Informa
·Platform: MoonAudio.com
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Original:
https://www.moon-audio.com/blogs/expert-advice/matrix-audio-ms-1-review
Review Product:
Matrix Audio MS-1 Music Streamer
Matrix Audio MS-1 Music Streamer Review: Flagship Performance Under $10K
TL;DR:
Flagship music streamer/DAC featuring dual DAC chips in dual mono configuration for reference-level sound quality
Transparent, neutral sound signature with exceptional detail retrieval, natural tonal balance, and expansive soundstage
Advanced engineering includes ultra-low jitter clock, fiber optic network option, and internal SSD slot for optimal performance
Premium build quality with sophisticated power supply design and complete electrical isolation between channels
Best suited for discerning audiophiles seeking uncompromising transparency and musicality at the $9,999 price point
MS-1 Music Streamer: The Newest Hi-Fi Component
From the Element series of music streamers to theMini-i Pro 4, Matrix Audio has developed a knack for producing highly capable music streamers. Just when you think Matrix Audio has done it all, they release an all-new flagship system consisting of a preamplifier, music streamer, and power amplifier, dubbed the M-Series of hi-fi components. The Matrix Audio MS-1 Music Streamertakes center stage as the ultimate hi-fi streaming component for your home audio, desktop, and listening room setup. Sporting new technologies, an improved design, and great streaming capabilities, the MS-1 Music Streamer is a truly flexible unit equipped with all the bells and whistles.
It’s worth noting that Moon Audio offers the MS-1 P, a variant that includes built-in preamplifier functionality with variable volume control, making it an ideal solution for those who want to connect directly to power amps without a separate preamp. Both versions share the same exceptional DAC architecture and build quality, giving audiophiles flexibility in how they integrate the MS-1 into their systems.
PROS
Great streaming capabilities
Stellar sound quality
Kitchen sink component
Design
The design of the MS-1 Music Streamer is fairly consistent with that of other Matrix Audio products: Sleek aluminum chassis, black front panel touchscreen, and modular form factor. However, it's arguably the most lux-looking of all Matrix products. They've moved away from the typical front panel we've seen on the Element Series with the obvious touch screen, volume control knob, playback buttons, etc., and introduced a front panel entirely made of glass where the touch screen disappears when the power's off. This design change gives it incredible "curb appeal"–a component definitely worth displaying front and center in your setup.
The touch screen itself takes up about 1/2 of the front panels' full length with all the playback controls and volume adjustments done directly through the screen. When turned on the touch screen splits itself into thirds with a status bar on the left, the main audio info in the middle, and a control bar on the right. The status bar features your basic status information including time, network connection, storage device, NAS, and hardware functions. The settings icon is also located on this side where you can view the entire menu and change the options of the device. The audio information section showcases your basics like album art, title, artist, duration, audio format, sampling rate, and the filter type being used. The control bar on the far right of the screen is where you will control the volume, mute the unit, and select the input channel, output channel, and filters. You'll find a small power button and the MA logo on the bottom edge of the panel, but aside from that it's sleek and minimalist-looking.
The MS-1 is a decently-sized unit with quite a bit more depth than theElement X2 Pure Music Streamercoming in at roughly 16.9" W x 13.9" D x 4.17" H. Make sure you've got enough room for this component in your setup because at a whopping 32 pounds it's not the lightest. Included with the MS-1 is a remote control with all the basic functionality to control the unit without ever leaving the comfort of your listening chair. Let's talk about construction. The MS-1 is built with a H-shaped chassis structure, a unique design exclusive to the new M series that Matrix Audio says took two years of refinement and optimization to get just right. Hey, Rome wasn't built in a day! So what is the H-shaped chassis and why does it matter?
The core of the H-shaped structure is composed of a 20mm CNC aluminum plate that supports the entire device. All components are mounted onto the aluminum plate and the entire weight is supported by heavy-duty feet installed on the main beam, making it solid and stable. After all of 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.
I/O
The back panel of the MS-1 is where all the magic happens. Some big takeaways: The MS-1 features an IIS-LVDS Digital Output enabling the MS-1 to double as a high-level audio transport that can output all playing audio in high-resolution signals when an external DAC is connected. Coinciding with this output is an IIS-LVDS Digital Input allowing you to use the MS-1 as a high-end DAC and connect computers, CD transports, set-top boxes, game consoles, and so on. In addition to this digital input, the MS-1 also features USB, optical, and coaxial digital inputs. With Analog Inputs and Phono Inputs (two pairs of line inputs and one pair of phono inputs), you can integrate any device with an analog output, say a turntable with the MS-1, which supports MC and MM cartridges. On the underside of the MS-1's chassis is a hidden SSD slot where an SSD can be installed as the internal storage of the device.
1: Analog Output (RCA Pair)
2: External Clock Input: Connect an external clock source through a coaxial cable with 50 ohms impedance
3: Coaxial Input: Connect to front-end devices with S/PDIF outputs
4: Optical Toslink Input
5: IIS-LVDS Input: Connect to digital interfaces by MA or other compatible devices through HDMI cables
IIS-LVDS Output: Connect an external DAC and use the MS-1 as a digital audio transport
6: USB-B Audio Port: Connection to a PC
7: USB-A Ports (2x): Connection to USB storage devices or CD drives
8: Ethernet LAN Port
9: SFP Port: SFP optical and SFP to RJ45 modules can be plugged into this port
10: Trigger Input/Output
11: Analog Input (XLR pair)
12: Analog Input (RCA pair)
13: Phono Input (RCA pair)
14: Line Output (Balanced XLR)
15: Power Switch-Fuse Holder-Power Input
NVMe SSD Slot: Slot on the bottom of the chassis where you can install a high-speed SSD as internal storage
Sound
The Matrix Audio MS-1 Music Streamer delivers a sound signature that prioritizes neutrality and accuracy above all else. From the first moments of listening, it quickly became clear that the MS-1 is engineered to deliver a musical experience with tonal finesse, emotional depth, and dynamic contrast–sonic qualities often reserved for far larger and more expensive components.
What immediately strikes you is the MS-1's ability to render a smooth, balanced sound. The soundstage extends naturally in all dimensions, creating an immersive listening experience with great realism. And speaking of spatial realism, I was able to easily pick out certain instruments in a composition. Individual instruments and vocals exist within their own distinct positions, contributing to the MS-1's overall cohesive and organic sound.
Musicality and tonal balance aside, the MS-1's detail retrieval is arguably one of the streamer's greatest strengths. While every hi-fi component claims to have good detail retrieval, the MS-1 actually delivers on its promise. Subtle nuances in recordings emerge effortlessly–the clicking of delicate piano keys in It's Been a Rough Day, the breath before the chorus breaks, the texture of strings–all presented with clarity and refinement. Yet this level of detail retrieval, specifically at the low level, never feels analytical or fatiguing. Instead, the MS-1 achieves a compelling blend of detail, space, and musicality that kept me engaged with the music rather than the equipment.
True to Matrix Audio's design philosophy, no added coloration was present from the component itself. The unit maintains a neutral and transparent character, faithfully reproducing the tonal qualities inherent in the recording without imposing its own sonic fingerprint. This clean and clear performance allows the MS-1 to serve as an exceptionally accurate window into your music library, revealing both the strengths and characteristics of each recording with honesty and precision.
Sit back and enjoy a musical experience rich in dynamic control, delicate nuance, and emotional engagement with the Matrix Audio MS-1 Music Streamer–you won't be disappointed.
Somehow It's Been a Rough Day
By Ai Kuwabara
(Live at Blue Note Tokyo)
Seven Years
By Norah Jones
(Come Away With Me)
Great Day
By Paul McCartney
(Flaming Pie)
Try Me
By James Brown
(Live At the Apollo)
Features
Roon Ready certified component
Apple AirPlay, Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect streaming capabilities
Supports Hi-Res Audio 24-bit/192kHz
Supported audio formats: FLAC, MP3, AAC, ALAC, OGG, Vorbis, WMA, MP4
Full control with MA Player & MA Remote App
PCM resampling and DSD conversion
Dual AKM DAC Chipset (AK4499EX+AK4191 DAC chips) with independent channels
Multitude of audio sources and digital inputs
IIS-LVDS HDMI input/output
Analog inputs with support for MM & MC cartridges
Easy setup with installation wizard
PoE powered
MA Player & MA Remote App
The MS-1 Music Streamer wouldn't be a Matrix Audio product without the integration of its proprietary music streaming application–MA Player. The MA Player is the brains of the entire operation, giving the MS-1 its streaming capabilities. Users can control the MS-1 and its streaming playback control system through the MA Remote App, available on Android and Apple iOS devices.
In order to set up, configure, and use your new MS-1 Music Streamer, you must download the MA Remote App. Working n tandem with the MA Remote App is the MA Player. Essentially, the MA Player is the digital audio/streaming playback control system developed by Matrix Audio and implemented into Matrix streamers. It focuses on audio playback quality, decoding various sampling rates of PCM, DSD, MQA and other formats while automatically indexing music files and building a music library. The MA Player supports playback from high-definition audio files in the MS-1's internal storage slot, various mobile storage devices, and LAN NAS. From there the music files will be presented in the "My Music" category in the MA Remote App in the form of albums, tracks, artists, styles, composers, performers, years, labels, etc. It supports PCM audio with a maximum sampling rate of 32-bit/768kHz, DSD audio with a sampling rate of 22.4MHz, and the most common hi-res audio file formats on the market.
If the MA Player is the tires, the MA Remote App is the steering wheel, and one can't work without the other. Available for Apple iPhone, iPad, and Android devices, the MA Remote App is responsible for most of the unit's functionality and is where you'll find your digital music library, internet radio, and music streaming services. You can browse and play high-resolution online audio from TIDAL, Qobuz, and HighRes Audio, and stream locally using QQ Music, NetEase Music, AirPlay, Roon Ready, TIDAL Connect, and Spotify Connect. The MA Remote App is where firmware updates are available for download, settings like input gain level, volume limit, and auto sleep/dimmer/power can be adjusted. If using the included remote control, buttons can be programmed within the app.
Square Copper Wire Transformer and Linear Power
The MS-1 employs two high-power toroidal transformers with square copper wire, separately dedicated to the digital and analog sections. Square copper wire offers distinct advantages over traditional circular cross-section wire, including a larger conductor surface, higher current capacity, and lower resistance. This configuration delivers superior transient response and richer low frequencies. The transformers are paired with M-Lytic AG series filter capacitors from MUNDORF, which add a silky smoothness and mellow character to the sound. Dozens of low-noise LDOs and ultra-low-noise LDOs provide ample, stable power supply to each circuit unit at every stage of the signal path.
PCM Resampling and DSD Conversion
A built-in asynchronous upsampling and DSD conversion engine processes all audio data in the digital stage. This isolates jitter, resulting in improved detail retrieval throughout the frequency range. The DSD converter transforms all audio into DSD format, enhancing sound density and texture. The processing engine features adjustable PCM or DSD conversion configurations, allowing you to experience the sonic differences under various settings.
Dual D/A Chip Independent Channel Design
The MS-1 is Matrix Audio's first product based on an AKM D/A solution, featuring dual AK4191 and AK4499 flagship DAC chipsets. Each chipset operates in parallel in mono mode, with left and right channel PCB assemblies mounted on opposite sides of the device to form a completely dual mono design. This architecture enables precise signal reproduction and outstanding dynamic range, allowing you to catch micro-details in your music.
DPLL High Precision Clock
The MS-1 is equipped with a high-performance DPLL clock system. An ultra-low phase noise reference clock works in conjunction with the DPLL circuit to generate a clock signal with jitter as low as 45fs in real-time, providing a reference for the entire digital audio circuitry. For even enhanced performance, you can connect a 10MHz external clock to the dedicated clock input port.
Verdict
At $9,999–just shy of $10,000–the Matrix Audio MS-1 Music Streamer represents a remarkable achievement in high-performance digital audio, delivering reference-level sound quality that rivals components costing significantly more. The beauty of the MS-1 lies in its refreshing simplicity. Sometimes the simplest solution is the best solution, and that is undeniably the case here. By stripping away unnecessary features and focusing exclusively on what truly matters—exceptional digital-to-analog conversion, pristine signal processing, and uncompromising audio performance—Matrix Audio has created a component that embodies a perfect balance of technical mastery and musical artistry.
Its greatest strength lies in its ability to disappear from the listening experience entirely, serving as a transparent window into your music library without imposing any sonic signature of its own. The MS-1's exceptional detail retrieval, combined with its natural tonal balance and expansive soundstage, creates a listening experience that's both analytically revealing and emotionally engaging.
Whether you're rediscovering familiar recordings or exploring new music, the MS-1's combination of technical excellence and musical authenticity ensures that every listening session reveals something new. For discerning audiophiles seeking an uncompromising digital source that reaffirms the pursuit of purity, precision, and performance, the Matrix Audio MS-1 Music Streamer stands as one of the finest streaming solutions available today.