Matrix Audio NA-1 Headphone Amplifier

Matrix Audio NA-1 Headphone Amplifier

The Matrix Audio NA-1 puts 20 watts of pure Class A power behind every headphone in your collection. Built entirely from discrete components with four independent balanced amplifier circuits and a 60V high-power rail, the NA-1 has the grip and authority to control planar magnetics, high-impedance dynamics, and sensitive IEMs with equal confidence. A configurable dual-gain system and sub-1-ohm output impedance mean it adapts to your headphones, not the other way around. And with dedicated XLR and RCA preamplifier outputs, the NA-1 doubles as the analog heart of a two-channel system, feeding active monitors or a power amplifier directly from its Class A signal path.

Key Features of the Matrix Audio NA-1

• Pure Class A, fully discrete: No op-amps anywhere in the signal path. Every amplification stage uses hand-selected discrete components for maximum transparency and dynamic range.
• 20W balanced output per channel: Driven by a 60V high-power rail, delivering real current into demanding loads where lesser amps compress and distort.
• Four independent balanced amplifier circuits: Fully balanced topology with dedicated amplification units per phase, suppressing common-mode interference at every stage.
• Three headphone outputs: 4-pin XLR balanced, 4.4mm Pentaconn balanced, and 6.35mm single-ended cover every cable termination.
• Dual-purpose preamplifier: XLR and RCA preamp outputs let the NA-1 drive a power amplifier or active monitors, turning your headphone rig into a two-channel system.
• Configurable dual gain: Two gain settings per output (up to +21dB preamp, +23dB headphone) match everything from sensitive IEMs to 600-ohm dynamics.
• 80W potted toroidal transformer: Magnetically shielded and vibration-dampened, feeding separate regulated power supplies for voltage and current amplification stages.
• 39,000 microfarad capacitor array: Massive energy reserves for instantaneous current delivery on transient peaks.
• ALPS Type 27 motorized potentiometer: Quad-unit precision volume control with remote operation.
• MA-DAMPER PRO isolation: Five-material composite feet (aluminum, stainless steel, rubber, isolation beads, composite cork) decouple the chassis from external vibration.

Fully Discrete Class A Circuit Architecture

The NA-1 runs pure Class A bias through its entire signal path, meaning the output transistors conduct continuously rather than switching on and off at the signal's zero-crossing point. The result is the smoothest possible amplification with no crossover distortion, period. Every active stage uses discrete transistors and resistors rather than integrated op-amps, giving Matrix's engineers control over each component's operating point. The fully balanced topology splits the signal into four independent amplification units, one for each phase of each channel, so common-mode noise picked up along the way gets cancelled rather than amplified. THD+N sits below 0.0007% on the headphone output and below 0.0003% on the preamp output, with signal-to-noise ratios exceeding 120dB.

Power Supply: 80W Toroidal Transformer and 39,000 Microfarad Capacitor Array

The power supply defines what an amplifier can actually deliver under load, and the NA-1's supply is built for headroom. An 80W fully potted toroidal transformer eliminates mechanical vibration and magnetic interference at the source. From there, the power splits into independent regulated supplies for the voltage amplification and current amplification stages, each built from discrete components rather than off-the-shelf regulator ICs. A capacitor array totaling 39,000 microfarads stores the energy reserves needed to slam transient peaks without voltage sag. The vertical PCB layout physically separates the power supply (lower board) from the amplification circuits (upper board), minimizing electromagnetic coupling between the two.

Three Headphone Outputs for Every Termination

The NA-1 provides three front-panel headphone outputs: a 4-pin XLR balanced output, a 4.4mm Pentaconn balanced output, and a 6.35mm single-ended output. The balanced outputs deliver 18W into 33 ohms, 4.5W into 300 ohms, and 2.3W into 600 ohms, enough to drive the most power-hungry planar magnetics to their full potential. The single-ended output pushes 7W into 33 ohms and 1.1W into 300 ohms. With an output impedance below 1 ohm across all outputs, the NA-1 maintains a high damping factor that keeps bass tight and controlled regardless of what headphone is connected. Sensitive IEMs will appreciate the dual gain system, which drops to a lower setting that reduces the noise floor without sacrificing dynamics.

Dual-Purpose Preamplifier Output

The rear panel carries both XLR balanced and RCA single-ended preamplifier outputs, letting the NA-1 serve as a standalone preamp for active monitors, a power amplifier, or an integrated amplifier with a direct input. The preamp path runs through the same Class A discrete signal chain as the headphone outputs, with its own gain structure (switchable between +15dB and +21dB). Frequency response extends to 140kHz at -3dB on the preamp output, with crosstalk below -134dB. For headphone listeners who also run a speaker system, this eliminates the need for a separate preamplifier.

Connect Any Source to the Matrix Audio NA-1

The rear panel accepts one balanced XLR input and two single-ended RCA inputs, covering most source components. A typical setup might run a Matrix ND-1 DAC via XLR for critical listening while keeping a second source (turntable phono stage, CD player, or streaming DAC) connected via RCA. Input impedance sits at 47 kilohms on both XLR and RCA, ensuring compatibility with virtually any source component. A 12V trigger input and output enable automatic power-on/off with connected components in a system chain.

ALPS Motorized Volume and Dual Gain Control

Volume control uses a quad-unit ALPS Type 27 potentiometer, a precision analog component with four matched sections that maintain channel balance and stereo imaging across the entire rotation range. The motorized mechanism enables remote control operation through the included remote while preserving the direct analog signal path (no digital volume processing). Both the preamp and headphone outputs have independently switchable dual gain modes. The lower gain setting reduces the noise floor for sensitive headphones and IEMs, while the higher setting (+21dB preamp, +23dB headphone) provides the voltage swing needed for high-impedance loads.

MA-DAMPER PRO Isolation System

Each of the NA-1's four feet uses Matrix's MA-DAMPER PRO system, a five-layer composite of aluminum, stainless steel, rubber, isolation beads, and composite cork. The different materials target different vibration frequencies, absorbing everything from low-frequency structural resonance to high-frequency airborne interference. For a Class A amplifier that generates meaningful heat during operation, the perforated chassis panels also serve double duty as passive ventilation while maintaining structural rigidity.

Explore the Matrix Audio N-Series Desktop Separates

The NA-1 is one third of Matrix Audio's N-Series, a desktop separates system designed to work as a complete chain. Pair it with the NT-1 Digital Transport for bit-perfect playback from streaming services, NAS, or USB storage, and the ND-1 Audio DAC to convert that digital signal into the balanced analog output the NA-1 was built to amplify. Three components, one system, no compromises.

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 NA-1 Specifications