「Matrix Audio 」NT-1 Digital Audio Transport Review by Wilson Teoh

𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐀𝐫𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐒𝐨 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐓𝐨 𝐂𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦??!

Aren't we living in the golden age of hi-fi streaming? We are drowning in options. There's a streamer for every rack, setup and budget. It's a buyer's paradise or a decision-making nightmare. Amidst this endless buffet, the Matrix Audio serves up the NT1 and says, “Just listen.”

And listen we did.

𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗺, 𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝗙𝗮𝗻𝗰𝘆

There's nothing shouty or over-designed here, no rainbow LEDs, no gimmicky knobs, no steampunk aesthetics. I like its chique, yet minimalist design. The perforated pattern which adorns the top and side surfaces is tastefully executed.

𝗙𝘂𝗻𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

Daily listening is truly drama-free. The interface is simple and quick to pick up on, whether you're using the front touchscreen or the MA Remote app. It just works. No head-scratching menus. In a world of over-engineered streamers, the NT1's ease of use is welcomed.

𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗡𝗼𝘁𝗲𝘀

From the moment it powered up, the NT1 exuded calm confidence as it delivers a presentation that's effortlessly clean, yet engaging. It doesn't try to dazzle with overly etched detail or artificial sparkle. Instead, it simply resolves. You hear deeper into the mix.

It does bring you closer to the natural sound of instruments. Closer is the operative word.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗜𝘀 𝗦𝗲𝘁

The NT1 may not have an extra wide and tall soundstage but it does go deeper than most streamers. Vocals sit a bit farther back, giving you a sense of depth. However, that may not be everyone's cup of tea. I have mixed feelings about it.

𝑊𝑎𝑙𝑘 𝐴𝑙𝑜𝑛𝑒 by Jane Ira Bloom is a nice track to check soundstage & separation. Give it a shot.

𝗦𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗰 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲

Tonally, the NT1 lands right in that sweet spot: neutral, but not dry … rich, but not romanticised.

With subtle elevated highs, vocals are handled beautifully … natural and flows effortlessly. There's weight and texture to male vocals and a silky airiness to female voices that makes long listening sessions a breeze.

Stevie Nick's voice on 𝐷𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑚𝑠 was soft, wispy and almost hypnotic whilst Sachal Vasandani's 𝐼 𝐶𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑑 𝐻𝑎𝑣𝑒 𝑇𝑜𝑙𝑑 𝑌𝑜𝑢 is tender with a romantic melancholy.

Not many are fans of country western music but Josh Turner had a very robust baritone voice. GiveJosh's track, 𝑌𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑀𝑎𝑛 a spin.

Instruments also benefit from this tonal balance. Acoustic guitars shimmer without edge, strings such as the violin and cello retain their harmonic richness.

The piano on Steely Dan's 𝐴𝑗𝑎 was tonally clear and rich sounding whilst the cymbal work shimmers beautifully as it decays.

Bass performance is slightly thick and articulate. There's no false bloom here, just solid low-end presence. If you run a sub, you might need to dial it back a bit, I had to.

𝗡𝗧𝟭 𝘃𝘀 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿𝘀: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝗮𝗰𝗲-𝗢𝗳𝗳

Compared to the Lumin U1 Mini with the LHY LPSU upgrade, the NT1 delivers a deeper soundstage and slightly more refined top-end detail. The U1 Mini tends to sound more lush and energetic, which can be engaging, but the NT1 presents instruments with greater separation and accuracy.

The NT1 leans toward a neutral, smoother presentation with rounded edges and less transient snap. The NT1 also excels in micro-detail retrieval and low noise floor, offering tighter bass and a more neutral midrange. Where the Lumin U1 Mini might flatter certain recordings, the NT1 simply tells the truth, and it does it gracefully.

Moving up the ladder, the HiFi Rose RS130 does have an edge in terms of resolution, texture and micro detail. However, the NT1 doesn't trail far behind. It approaches the RS130's level of refinement whilst retaining a slightly more natural tone. The RS130 can sound hyper-precise at times, whereas the NT1 strives to maintain a relatively more organic quality that some may prefer.

Sure, there are fancier options. Flashier ones. More expensive ones. In this market, you can spend a small fortune chasing diminishing returns. But the Matrix NT1 hits a wonderful middle ground: high-end performance without a high-maintenance price.

𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗠𝗮𝘆 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗚𝗼 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗢𝗻𝗲 𝗠𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘆

In the end, the Matrix Audio NT1 doesn't try to be everything to everyone. It's not a Swiss army knife and it doesn't pretend to be. What it is—is a focused, musical, quietly brilliant streamer transport that serves the music and thrills the listener.

Spoilt for choice? Yes, absolutely. But once in a while, something like the NT1 comes along to remind us that the best choice isn't the flashiest—it's the one that just makes music feel right.

𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘆, 𝗬𝗲𝘀. 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵 𝗜𝘁? 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗬𝗼𝘂'𝗱 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁

In a world of increasingly expensive hi-fi components, the Matrix Audio NT1 stands out as a streamer that delivers remarkable performance without the eye-watering price tag.

With a MSRP of RM17,550 the Matrix Audio NT1 fills the gap between streamer transports such as the Lumin U2 Mini (RM10,000) and the HiFi Rose RS130 (RM24,000).

It may not have all the bells and whistles of the HiFi Rose RS130, but what it does, it does with polished precision and a sense of musicality. If you're looking to step into the world of high-resolution streaming without breaking the bank, the NT1 is not just a sensible choice — it's a seriously satisfying one.

Matrix Audio components are distributed by Stars Picker Audio Library who are located at 1, Jalan 21/11B, Sea Park, 46300 Petaling Jaya, Selangor.

𝑪𝒂𝒗𝒆𝒂𝒕

These impressions are drawn purely from my own listening experience rather than a formal review. They reflect how this component interacts with my particular system, room, and preferences. Take this as a personal snapshot, one listener's experience rather than a final word.

Naturally, I've considered its performance in light of its price and what it sets out to achieve.