「Matrix Audio」SS-1 Pro Audio Grade Network Switch Review By Wilson BC Teoh

𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐱 𝐀𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐨 𝐒𝐒𝟏 𝐏𝐫𝐨: 𝐒𝐧𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐎𝐢𝐥 𝐨𝐫 𝐒𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐜 𝐒𝐚𝐮𝐜𝐞?

Audiophiles can be a sceptical bunch, especially when it comes to network switches. The very idea that a switch, which merely manages data packets, could influence sound quality is enough to raise a few eyebrows. But the Matrix Audio SS1 Pro isn't just here to ride the wave of audiophile voodoo. It claims to offer genuine sonic gains. So we plugged it in, let it warm up, and asked the one question that matters: does it actually make a difference?

Yes … there is an audible difference. It’s undeniable. For better or worse? Well, that really depends.

𝗣𝗹𝘂𝗴𝗴𝗲𝗱 𝗜𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗨𝗽

Inserting the SS1 Pro into the system is easy. You replace your existing switch or network hub, plug in your streamer or server, and listen. No special software, no configuration headaches. Just plug, play and judge.

Right off the bat, you don’t hear night-and-day transformation. It’s not that kind of tweak. But give it some listening time, revisit a few reference tracks, and you begin to notice ... things.

𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗽𝗲𝗿 𝗙𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀, 𝗖𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗻𝗲𝗿 𝗟𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀

What the SS1 Pro seems to bring to the table is better focus of the overall presentation. The soundstage feels a bit better organised. There’s a touch more space between instruments, and a slight improvement in clarity, particularly in busy or layered tracks. It’s like cleaning a window you didn’t realise was smudged until it was wiped.

Vocals feel just a tad more “presence” in the mix. Highs have a smoother sheen, and complex passages unravel with a bit more ease. It’s not a giant leap, but it’s enough to make you lean in and listen longer.

𝗚𝗶𝗺𝗺𝗶𝗰𝗸 𝗼𝗿 𝗚𝗮𝗶𝗻?

So is it a gimmick? That depends on your system and expectations. If you're running a casual setup, you might not hear a huge difference. But in a revealing chain where each component is capable of exposing tiny improvements, the SS1 Pro can contribute something. It’s not a miracle worker, but it is a fine-tuner.

This isn’t about changing the character of your system. That would be nonsense. It's about lifting a light haze and revealing what’s already there, more cleanly. It removes any wooliness.

𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗱

If you're already deep into the streaming game, you've optimised your DAC, isolated your power, and sorted your cables, the SS1 Pro makes sense. It’s a finishing touch. A final pass of the polish cloth.

But if your streaming gear is still mid-tier or your system isn’t particularly transparent, you might want to focus elsewhere first. Better speakers, better DACs, better amplification’s … those will yield far greater returns.

𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗩𝗲𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗰𝘁: 𝗦𝘂𝗯𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹

The Matrix Audio SS1 Pro does something. And that something is apparent in my system. 

For the curious audiophile chasing the final 5%, those micro improvements that bring you closer to the music, it’s worth exploring. But for the casual listener, it might feel like money spent on a mystery.

Talking about money, the SS1 Pro retails for RM7,590. It’s a load of money to spend on a network switch. 

Call it what you will … snake oil, secret sauce, or just good engineering but in the right system, the SS1 Pro delivers a small but real nudge toward better sound.