Matrix Audio OCC Hi-Fi Analog Audio Interconnect Cable

Matrix Audio designed the OCC Hi-Fi Analog Audio Interconnect Cable to match the resolving power of their MS-1, MP-1, and MD-1 components. The conductor is a pair of 1mm by 0.3mm flat 6N OCC wires, flat instead of round, for more conducting surface area and a fuller low end. Double-shielded with aluminum foil and braided OFC. Available in XLR at 0.3m, 1m or 2.5m, and in RCA at 1m or 2.5m.

Key Features of the Matrix Audio OCC Interconnect

• Flat OCC conductors: Two 1mm × 0.3mm flat 6N OCC wires per channel, more surface area than round conductors for richer low-frequency reproduction.
• Unsilvered on purpose: No silver plating to introduce velocity mismatch between high and low frequencies, treble extends smoothly without losing warmth.
• Triple-layer shielding: Aluminum foil first layer, braided OFC outer shield, braided nylon outer sleeve, rejects EMI and RFI for a quieter background.
• V2 copper connectors: Matrix Audio's second-generation plugs move the connector body from aluminum to high-purity copper for stronger electromagnetic shielding, cut with a diamond-tool CNC process and mirror-polished.
• Gold-plated pins: The V2 pins are plated with 24K gold over the base metal for long-term conductivity; the first-generation plugs used 50µm gold plating to cut contact resistance and resist oxidation.
• Three lengths, two terminations: 0.3m XLR for stacked N Series components, 1m for runs within a rack, 2.5m for two-channel speaker systems, RCA for unbalanced or XLR for balanced.
• Voiced for Matrix Audio: Designed and tuned to complement the MS-1, MP-1, MA-1, MD-1, MD-1P, NT-1, TT-1, TS-1, ND-1, and NA-1 components.

Why Flat OCC Conductors

Most analog interconnects use round conductors. Matrix Audio specified rectangular 1mm by 0.3mm flat wires to increase the conducting surface area, which produces a fuller, more powerful low-frequency reproduction. The OCC (Ohno Continuous Cast) copper is a single-crystal draw process that produces fewer grain boundaries than standard OFC, giving a cleaner signal path. Matrix Audio kept the OCC unsilvered on purpose. Matrix Audio says silver plating puts high and low frequencies out of step and brings harshness with it. Without it, the highs extend smoothly and the warmth stays intact.

Triple-Layer Shielding

The conductor pair is wrapped in aluminum foil for the first shield layer, then a braided OFC (oxygen-free copper) outer shield, finished with a braided nylon sleeve. The result is a cable that rejects external EMI and RFI, leaving a clean, deep background. This matters most when paired with high-resolution streamers like the MS-1 or MS-1c, where the noise floor is already very low and any cable-induced noise becomes audible.

V2 Connectors: Copper Bodies and Gold-Plated Pins

Matrix Audio's V2 connectors replace the aluminum body of the first generation with high-purity copper, which gives the plug significantly stronger electromagnetic shielding. Each housing is cut with Matrix's diamond-tool CNC process, mirror-polished, and finished with multi-layer precision electroplating instead of anodizing. The bright silver contact pins are plated with 24K gold over the base metal. Matrix also refined the plug's weight distribution for a more substantial, balanced feel when connected, and credits the upgraded design with a lower noise floor and a cleaner sonic background.

The first-generation plugs used CNC-machined aluminum housings with 50µm gold-plated pins, designed in-house by Matrix Audio to reduce contact resistance and prevent oxidation.

Choose Your Length and Termination

The 0.3m XLR is purpose-built for a stacked Matrix Audio N Series system, linking the NT-1 transport, ND-1 DAC and NA-1 headphone amplifier with no excess cable to coil. The 1m length is right for connecting between rack-mounted components without coiling slack. The 2.5m length gives flexibility for active-speaker placement or when source and amplification sit further apart. RCA terminations work with any unbalanced input. XLR terminations work with balanced sources, preamps, and active speakers. Pick the termination that matches your DAC, preamp, or active speakers.

Compatibility

Voiced for Matrix Audio's Hi-Fi line (MS-1, MS-1c, MP-1, MA-1, MD-1, MD-1P, NT-1, TT-1, TS-1, ND-1, NA-1) but works equally well as a general-purpose analog interconnect for any RCA-unbalanced or XLR-balanced source-to-preamp or preamp-to-amplifier connection.

Matrix Audio OCC Hi-Fi Analog Audio Interconnect Cable Specifications