Integrated amplifiers — Matrix Audio MD-1

The MD-1 is a streaming integrated amplifier from Matrix Audio, the Chinese company known for its DACs and network players. Released in 2025 together with the more powerful MD-1P, it combines a network streamer, DAC, analogue preamplifier, phono stage and Class D power amplifier in one chassis, designed to replace a stack of separates with a single component driving passive speakers.

Key specs that matter

Output is 150 W per channel into 8 ohms from nCore Class D modules. THD+N is below 0.0005% from 20 Hz to 20 kHz, signal-to-noise is 120 dB and output impedance is below 5 mohm. Conversion uses an AKM AK4493SEQ DAC. Streaming covers Roon Ready, TIDAL, Qobuz and Spotify Connect, AirPlay 2 and UPnP/DLNA over gigabit Ethernet or Wi-Fi 6, with Bluetooth, HDMI ARC and NVMe storage also available. Analogue inputs include one balanced and one single-ended pair plus a phono input with 47 kohm loading. The chassis measures 430 x 96 x 331 mm and weighs 7 kg.

Engineering and use context

The digital section uses two femtosecond clocks designed by Matrix Audio, one for the 44.1 kHz family and one for the 48 kHz family, and a high-speed FPGA applies the company's clock division and jitter reduction algorithms. Level control happens in the analogue domain, stepped digitally in 256 increments from -80 dB to +12 dB at 0.5 dB each, which avoids the wear and channel imbalance of a mechanical potentiometer, and channel balance adjusts in 12 steps. The Class D output stage uses PWM switching for high efficiency and low heat. Speaker terminals are custom gold-plated solid copper. Preamplifier and subwoofer outputs track the volume setting, so an external power amplifier or active subwoofer can join the system. The aluminium front panel carries a volume display, and control is by remote or app. The NVMe slot lets a local music library live inside the amplifier.

Pairing

The MD-1 has enough power for typical stand-mount and tower speakers in rooms up to about 35 m2. HDMI ARC connects a television, the phono input takes a turntable directly, and the subwoofer output feeds a powered sub. The very low output impedance suits speakers with large impedance variations. Because streaming, DAC and amplification share one chassis, cabling is limited to speaker leads, a network connection and optional HDMI, which suits living rooms where a rack of separates is not wanted.

Alternatives

Matrix Audio's MD-1P is the higher-power version of the same platform with 300 W per channel and two sets of speaker terminals.