Matrix Audio MS-1c Music Streamer

The Matrix Audio MS-1c is a transformer-coupled music streamer and DAC that pairs flagship AKM digital conversion with Lundahl analog output transformers, giving the 1-Series a warm, organic voice that conventional solid-state streamers don't deliver. The "c" stands for Classic, a nod to the tube-era output stage Matrix revisited for this release, and it sits as the new entry point into the flagship M-Series alongside the MS-1 and MP-1.

Key Features of the Matrix Audio MS-1c

• AKM VELVETSOUND Flagship DAC: AK4191 modulator paired with dual AK4499EX converters, supporting PCM up to 32-bit / 768kHz and DSD up to 24.58MHz.
• Lundahl Transformer-Coupled Analog Output: Swedish-made precision audio transformers on XLR and RCA deliver a warm, full-bodied signature not typical of digital sources.
• Dual Femtosecond Clock Architecture: Independent clocks for the 44.1kHz and 48kHz sample-rate families, with FPGA jitter reduction for low phase noise.
• Separate Digital and Analog Power Supplies: Linear supply with multi-channel LDO regulators on the analog stage, isolated from the digital section.
• Full Digital Output Suite: AES/EBU plus coaxial, optical, USB DAC, and IIS-LVDS for pairing with any external DAC.
• Configurable Analog Output Levels: XLR at 4.5VRMS and RCA at 2.25VRMS (both adjustable), with 100-step digital volume for direct-to-amp use.
• MA Player Hi-Fi Streamer OS: Roon Ready certification plus Audirvana, Apple Music, TIDAL Connect, Qobuz Connect, Spotify Connect, AirPlay 2, UPnP/DLNA, and NAA.
• Internal NVMe SSD Slot: Expand storage with a PCIe NVMe drive, served to the network with a dedicated low-noise supply.
• Gigabit Ethernet and Wi-Fi 6: Stable high-resolution streaming wired or wireless.
• CD Ripping and Playback: Attach a USB CD drive to rip or play discs directly through the MS-1c.
• CNC-Machined Aluminum Chassis: MA-DAMPER STD internal isolation, co-developed with Audio Bastion, for a quiet mechanical foundation.

Matrix Audio

Matrix Audio engineers and manufactures high-resolution digital audio components in Xi'an, China, with a reputation for packing flagship DAC chipsets and careful circuit design into products that punch above their price. The Listening Room carries the full 1-Series lineup because Matrix consistently nails the hard parts of digital audio: clock design, power isolation, clean analog output stages, at a fraction of what the European and American boutique brands charge for similar performance.

Flagship AKM DAC Core

At the heart of the MS-1c is AKM's VELVETSOUND flagship conversion system: the AK4191EQ delta-sigma modulator feeding dual AK4499EXEQ current-output converters. This split-chip architecture separates the noise-sensitive modulator from the current-steering output stage, lifting dynamic range to 125dB and pushing the noise floor below what most amplifiers downstream can resolve. The MS-1c handles native PCM up to 32-bit / 768kHz and DSD up to 1-bit / 24.58MHz, so there is no hi-res format it cannot play without sample-rate conversion.

Dual Femtosecond Clock System

The MS-1c uses two independent femtosecond clocks, one for the 44.1kHz sample-rate family (CD, most streaming) and one for the 48kHz family (hi-res studio masters). A high-speed FPGA handles frequency division and jitter attenuation, so the signal presented to the DAC chip is timed to within femtoseconds of ideal. The audible result is tighter transient edges and more air around instruments, without the smeared stereo image that poorly clocked streamers produce. If you want to reference a single master clock across multiple sources, the MS-1c integrates cleanly with the Matrix Audio SC-1 Reference Clock.

Lundahl Transformer-Coupled Analog Output

This is where the MS-1c earns its Classic badge. Instead of op-amp buffering or direct coupling, Matrix specified Lundahl audio transformers, the Swedish manufacturer used throughout professional and high-end audio for decades, to couple the DAC output to the XLR and RCA jacks. Transformers provide galvanic isolation, naturally roll off the ultrasonic noise that digital systems produce, and add the faint harmonic texture that pulls digital playback closer to the organic presentation of analog sources. You hear it as weight in the lower midrange, a relaxed top end, and vocals that sit forward without etch.

Extensive Digital Outputs

The MS-1c is equally usable as a pure digital transport into an outboard DAC. It carries AES/EBU on XLR, coaxial on RCA, optical on TOSLINK, plus USB DAC and IIS-LVDS on HDMI, covering every digital interface a modern DAC might accept. The USB DAC output supports the same 32-bit / 768kHz PCM and 24.58MHz DSD ceiling, and IIS-LVDS transmits true differential I2S for the cleanest possible link to DACs that accept it.

Dual Analog Outputs with Configurable Level

Balanced XLR outputs sit at 4.5VRMS (adjustable to 0V) and single-ended RCA at 2.25VRMS (adjustable to 0V). The selectable levels let you match the MS-1c to preamplifiers of different input sensitivities, or run it direct into a power amplifier or active speakers using the 100-step digital volume control. Output impedance on both is 20 ohms, low enough to drive any amplifier cable without loss.

MA Player OS and App Control

The MS-1c runs Matrix Audio's MA Player operating system, the same Linux-based streaming platform used across the 1-Series. Control is through the MA Remote App for iOS and Android devices, which handles library browsing, streaming service integration, playback control, and device setup from any mobile on the network. The front-panel IPS display doubles as a secondary control surface for direct interaction at the rack.

Streaming Services and Protocols

Native integration covers Apple Music, TIDAL, Qobuz, HIGHRESAUDIO, plus internet radio. Protocol support spans Roon Ready, Audirvana, TIDAL Connect, Qobuz Connect, Spotify Connect, AirPlay 2, UPnP/DLNA, and NAA, plus direct streaming from Dropbox. If you run Roon, the MS-1c is a certified Roon endpoint with full hi-res and DSD support.

CD Ripping and Playback

Attach any USB CD drive and the MS-1c will play discs directly or rip them into its internal library. This matters if you have a CD collection you want to bring forward into a streaming workflow without running a separate computer.

Flexible Storage Expansion

A bottom-accessible M.2 NVMe slot accepts PCIe drives in 2280 / 2242 / 2230 form factors across PCIe 3.0 through 5.0, giving you an internal music library fed by a dedicated ultra-low-noise power rail, far cleaner than anything a general-purpose computer can provide. The internal storage is exposed over the network, so the MS-1c itself functions as a NAS and can serve other streamers on your network.

Wired and Wireless Networking

Gigabit Ethernet handles the highest hi-res PCM and DSD files without drop-outs. When cabling is inconvenient, dual-band Wi-Fi 6 (2.4GHz / 5GHz) provides a stable wireless alternative for standard hi-res streaming.

Robust Power Architecture

The MS-1c runs entirely separate power supplies for the digital and analog sections. The analog side uses a dedicated linear supply feeding multi-channel LDO regulators, which flatten ripple and suppress noise before it can reach the output stage. This is the design choice that lets the transformer-coupled output actually do its job: any noise on the analog rails would ride straight through to the XLR and RCA jacks.

Chassis and Internal Isolation

Matrix's signature CNC-machined aluminum chassis houses the MS-1c, with the MA-DAMPER STD isolation system co-developed with Audio Bastion absorbing external vibration and supporting the internal boards. The damper pairs an aluminum housing, a rubber damping element, and stainless-steel hardware to decouple the chassis from whatever rack or surface it sits on. Weight is 6.5kg on a footprint of 430 x 315 x 96mm, the same rack-friendly profile as the rest of the 1-Series.

Explore the Matrix Audio 1-Series

The MS-1c is the newest and most accessible streamer in the flagship M-Series. If you're assembling or expanding a 1-Series system, it pairs naturally with:

• Matrix Audio MS-1 Flagship Music Streamer, the senior streamer, with a fully balanced output stage and optional preamplifier configuration (MS-1P).
• Matrix Audio MP-1 Flagship Preamplifier, balanced analog preamplification for a full separates system.
• Matrix Audio MA-1 Flagship Power Amplifier, 250W x 2 stereo or 500W mono, designed to anchor an M-Series stack.

The Listening Room Difference

We're a third-generation family business with a brick-and-mortar showroom in Chestertown, Maryland, and a reputation built on exceptional service and relentless passion for hifi. Whether you're visiting in person or ordering online, we bring decades of experience, personalized service, and honest guidance to every interaction. We don't just ship boxes. We help build systems, answer your questions like real humans, and make sure every detail of your setup is right, from the cables to the final connection. Our passion is helping you get the most out of your gear, with support that lasts well beyond the sale.

Matrix Audio MS-1c Specifications