Streamers — Matrix Audio TT-1

The TT-1 is a digital audio transport that Matrix Audio of China describes as a mid-range model, a network streamer and local player with no internal DAC or analogue output. It follows the newer family design of the brand and, according to the maker, carries the streaming hardware of the M Series with a stronger processing core and a better display. It sits below the NT-1 transport and was designed with room for later upgrades.

Key specs that matter

Coaxial, optical and AES/EBU sockets deliver PCM at 16 to 24 bit and 44.1 to 192 kHz, plus DSD 2.8 MHz in DoP form. The IIS-LVDS port carries PCM up to 32 bit and 768 kHz and native DSD up to 24.58 MHz, and a USB DAC output reaches the same limits depending on the DAC attached. The network link is a 10/100/1000 Mbps LAN socket, with Wi-Fi 6 on the 2.4 and 5 GHz bands as a wireless option. Consumption on AC mains stays below 35 W. The unit is 280 mm wide, 210 mm deep and 82 mm tall, and weighs 2.76 kg.

Engineering and use context

The TT-1 carries a pair of femtosecond oscillators with very low phase noise, one serving 44.1 kHz and its multiples and the other 48 kHz and its multiples. Each has its own low-noise linear regulator, and an FPGA takes care of frequency division and switching between them. A power filter and several low-noise LDOs feed each circuit block separately. Alongside the universal 100 to 240 V AC input there is a 12 V DC socket, 5.5 by 2.1 mm with centre positive, for an external linear supply. When both are connected the TT-1 uses the DC source and drops the AC feed, keeping only its ground connection. Underneath, an M.2 slot accepts NVMe SSDs of 2280, 2260 or 2242 length on a dedicated low-noise supply, and the stored library can be reached over SMB or served to other streamers as a NAS. Two USB 3.0 ports handle one-touch copying, and a USB CD drive can play discs or rip them automatically. For streaming the MA Player system offers Roon Ready, AirPlay 2, DLNA/UPnP and the TIDAL, Spotify and Qobuz Connect protocols, run from the MA Remote App.

Pairing

The TT-1 has to feed an outboard converter or an active speaker with digital inputs, and with the latter a digital volume control can be switched on. A trigger output and a trigger input allow a connected DAC or amplifier to power up automatically. Matrix Audio recommends a wired network link over Wi-Fi when streaming high-resolution files.

Alternatives

The Matrix Audio NT-1 is the larger 4.6 kg transport of the N Series, with a 60 W toroidal linear supply, an SFP port and a 10 MHz external clock input.