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Authorized dealers for Matrix Audio MP-1

  • Absoulute Audio plus Video — in-store — Aiken, South Carolina, United States (website)
  • A/V Solutions — in-store — Pleasanton, California, United States (website)
  • A1 Futureshop — online and in-store — North Rocks, New South Wales, Australia (website)
  • Abt Electronics — online and in-store — Glenview, Illinois, United States (website)
  • Addicted to Audio — online and in-store — Epping, Victoria, Australia (website)
  • Alen Audio — in-store — Extramurs, Comunidad Valenciana, Spain (website)
  • All Elite Audio — online and in-store — Perry Hall, Maryland, United States (website)
  • Altitudo Audio — online and in-store — Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada (website)
  • Analog Matters — online and in-store — Ormond Beach, Florida, United States (website)
  • Apos Audio — online and in-store — Oakland, California, United States (website)

and 61 more verified dealers

Matrix Audio MP-1 #1
Matrix Audio MP-1 variant 1
Matrix Audio MP-1 variant 2
Matrix Audio MP-1 variant 3
Matrix Audio MP-1 variant 4
Matrix Audio MP-1 variant 5
Matrix Audio MP-1 variant 6
Matrix Audio MP-1 variant 7
Matrix Audio MP-1 variant 8
Matrix Audio MP-1 variant 9
Matrix Audio MP-1 variant 10
Matrix Audio MP-1 variant 11

Matrix Audio MP-1

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View at Matrix Audio
Specifications6 reviews & sources
91/100
Rating for MP-1

Deliciously Crispy

Sound Quality

93/100

Build Quality

94/100

Features Connectivity

87/100

Value for Money

88/100

Matrix Audio’s MP-1 brings a jet-black noise floor, vivid dynamics and richly refined tone to ambitious analogue systems. Tharbamar found its balanced Class A design consistently delivered transparent detail without glare, deep controlled bass and a wide, speaker-vanishing soundstage across varied amplifiers and loudspeakers. Serious construction and extensive XLR connectivity reinforce its flagship preamplifier appeal.

Pros

Exceptionally quiet, clean presentation with superb channel separation and controlled background noise.

Combines immediacy and vivid dynamics with rich, warm, articulate tonality and no reported brightness.

Produces a deep, wide soundstage that can make loudspeakers disappear from the presentation.

Premium dual-mono-style construction, flexible three-XLR/three-RCA inputs, and multiple outputs support high-end system matching.

Cons

The touch volume control lacks the tactile satisfaction of a dedicated physical knob.

Its smooth, mellow character may reduce upper-frequency air with already warm loudspeakers or DACs.

A premium purchase, with the reviewer noting that it is not inexpensive.

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What Reviewers Are Saying

"it can make totally disappearing act on your speakers right so these speakers they both can be totally disappeared all you have is you and your music"

— Tharbamar

SOUND QUALITY PERFORMANCE 93/100

The MP-1 is described as combining a notably quiet, transparent presentation with rich tonality, strong control and an unusually convincing disappearing act. The review also reports wide, deep spatial presentation and lively dynamics without brightness, across several amplifier and speaker pairings.

Transparency Resolution

92/100

The reviewer repeatedly praises the exceptionally controlled background noise, saying it surpassed their Accuphase E-4000 integrated amplifier in this respect. It is also said to retain the revealing, transparent character of the connected components and recordings while avoiding an etched or unforgiving presentation.

Tonal Balance Musicality

94/100

The MP-1 is described as sweet, mellow, rich and engaging, with a refined warmth that remains articulate rather than dull. It reportedly tames forward upper-midrange energy while preserving deep bass, strong midrange presence and all-day listenability.

Dynamics

93/100

The review highlights immediacy, attack and dynamics as major strengths, describing the tube-output presentation as vivid and energetic yet well controlled. Bass is also praised for its depth and control, with articulated notes maintained across music and movie material.

Soundstage Imaging

94/100

The reviewer hears a spacious, deep and wide presentation, with speakers seeming to disappear from the musical picture. This convincing sense of scale and speaker-disappearance is reported with more than one loudspeaker pairing.

Assessments of Build Quality, Usability, and Overall Propositions.

Build Quality

94/100

The review cites independent channel power supplies, separated internal compartments, resistor-network gain control and a balanced Class A circuit as evidence of serious engineering. Thick-gauge steel and aluminium construction are also specifically praised, alongside the unit's isolation and channel-separation measures.

Features Connectivity

87/100

The MP-1 provides three balanced XLR inputs, three RCA inputs, two XLR outputs and one RCA output, giving it useful flexibility for a high-end analogue system. The supplied remote and trigger connections add practical convenience, although it remains a focused line-level preamplifier without built-in digital, phono or headphone facilities.

Value for Money

88/100

At roughly $6,700 to $7,550, the MP-1 is acknowledged as far from inexpensive. However, the reviewer considers its refinement, bass control, noise performance and spatial ability broadly comparable with a much more expensive Luxman flagship preamplifier, making the asking price appear well supported within its class.

Reviews & Sources

Professional reviews and sources for this product's Watt'n Potatoes analysis.

Online Reviews & Mentions

YouTube Reviews

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Specifications

XLR input Impedance
40kΩ
RCA input Impedance
20kΩ
XLR Output Impedance
40Ω
RCA Output Impedance
20Ω
XLR Max Input Level
9Vrms
XLR Max Output Level
36Vrms
RCA Max Input Level
4.5Vrms
RCA Max Output Level
18Vrms
Frequency Response
20-20kHz ± 0.1 250kHz@-3dB
Dynamic Range of XLR Output
129dB@A-weighting, 125dB@Unweighting
Dynamic Range of RCA Output
125dB@A-weighting, 120dB@Unweighting
THD+N of XLR Output
< 0.00015%@A-weighting, < 0.00020%@Unweighting
THD+N of RCA Output
< 0.00040%@A-weighting, < 0.00040%@Unweighting
Crosstalk of XLR Output
-140dB
Crosstalk of RCA Output
-130dB
Gain
+12dB
Volume Steps
100
Trigger in
DC 6-12V < 10mA
Trigger out
DC 12V/50mA MAX
Power Voltage
AC 100V-120V 50/60Hz or AC 220V-240V 50/60Hz Factory fixed
Standby Power Consumption
< 1W
Maximum Power Consumption
< 70W
Weight
15.7kg (34.6 pounds)
Dimensions
Width: 430 mm (16.93 inches) Depth: 349 mm (13.74 inches) Height: 106 mm (4.17 inches)
Accessory
RM4C remote control x 1 Power cable x 1 Trigger cable x 1 User manual x 1 Warranty card x 1
Balanced Output

Manufacturer's Description — Matrix Audio

Perfect Creation

The all-new M series marks a milestone for Matrix Audio as it advances towards traditional Hi-Fi systems. This series includes the music streamer MS-1, the preamplifier MP-1 and the power amplifier MA-1, forming a complete flagship system of Matrix Audio that presents our understanding of Hi-Fi audio. The M series is the first lineup to adopt the new Matrix Design language, serving as a precursor to the future evolution of Matrix Audio products.


Matrix Design

Evaluating audio products from the dimensions of "listening" and "looking" has always been our consistent philosophy. From concept to design, every step contains the love for music and the pursuit of beauty. MP-1 is Matrix Audio's first Class A preamplifier. Its industrial design showcases our concept of simplicity. With hundreds of circular perforations of varying sizes and depths arranged in an array on the simple hexahedron, resembling rhythmic beats dancing and emerging on the surface.

Key Point Of Audio System

The preamplifier acts as the commander in the audio system. Only precise orders can bring out the best performance from the audio source and power amplifier. The MP-1 is the key point in the chain, it needs to process the input music accurately, endowing it with rich tones and textures, allowing you to hear the sound of music, see the face of music, and feel the soul of music. It is also the sculptor of music.

Warm & Mellow

The fully differential transistor input stage circuit design features extremely low noise and excellent linearity. The output stage is designed as a high-bias current pure Class A output, free from crossover distortion. It operates under a low-noise power supply of up to 60V to achieve extraordinary dynamic range. The output DC servo circuit keeps the output midpoint offset within 1mV, no coupling capacitors involving ensures a flatter frequency response, allowing the original sound to be presented as it is.

United Efforts

The main amplifier of MP-1 consists of four independent fully balanced amplification units. Each channel has two amplification units working together, responsible for amplifying the in-phase and inverted signals. Even in RCA input mode, the signal will be converted into a bipolar signal for amplification, effectively suppressing common-mode noise and improving dynamic performance.

Multiple Analog Inputs

MP-1 features 3 pairs of RCA inputs and 3 pairs of XLR inputs, with the ability to independently set level attenuation and compensation for each input. This ensures that the amplitude of all input signals remains at a consistent level, avoiding the volume differences when switching between different audio sources.

Flexible Application

MP-1 has 1 pair of RCA outputs and 2 pairs of XLR outputs, capable of output simultaneously or separately. When outputting separately, the volume for each output can be adjusted individually, making it easier to achieve comfortable volume levels when connecting multiple power amplifiers and different speakers. When both XLR outputs are used at the same time, it's possible to connect four power amplifiers to drive the mid-high range drivers and low-range drivers of the speakers separately, to achieve a bi-amping mode.

Precision in Detail

MP-1 features a voltage-divider volume control by resistor array. Four high-quality volume control units composed of 64 precision resistors with 0.001 accuracy and 32 fully sealed reed relays which are switched rapidly by the MCU. This control method not only minimizes any impact on sound quality but also ensures excellent consistency between the two channels. The operation noise of the reed relays is almost inaudible even when changing volume continuously.

Square Copper Wire Transformer & Linear Power

Power is the start point of an audio device, even the preamplifier needs to have enough power reserve. MP-1 is equipped with two 60W high-power square copper wire toroidal transformers, providing power separately to the volume control unit of the left and right channels and the main amplification unit, achieving independent dual-channel design from the source. Compared to traditional toroidal transformers with circular cross-section wire, square copper wire has a larger conductor surface, higher current capacity, and lower resistance, resulting in better transient response and richer low frequencies. Paired with the M-Lytic AG series filter capacitors from MUNDORF, it adds a silky smoothness and mellow to the sound.

H-Shaped Chassis Structure

The H-shaped structure is a unique design created by Matrix Audio for the M series products, born from two years of continuous optimization and improvement considering various aspects such as mechanics relationship, circuit layout, and exterior appearance. The 20mm CNC aluminum plate become the support structure of the entire device after dozens of procedures, serving as the core of the H-shaped structure. All components are mounted on the aluminum plate, and the entire weight is supported by heavy-duty feet installed on the main beam, making it solid and stable. After the panels are installed, multiple isolated cavities are formed with the main beam. Different circuit modules are properly placed in each cavity, effectively reducing interference between circuit modules. The circuit modules for the left and right channels are symmetrically arranged on both sides, creating a balanced visual impression.

Elegant Industrial Design & Refined Build Quality

The ingenious industrial design is an indispensable part of our product, flowing out the brand-new Matrix Design language from dots, lines and surfaces. Each component undergoes multiple delicate CNC machining and surface treatments, providing a exquisite and comfortable matte texture, allowing you to feel the unique craftsmanship in operation, displaying a distinctive elegant temperament.

Warm & Delicate Sound

The MP-1 preamplifier delivers warm and delicate sound, with powerful low frequencies without sacrificing the details in the highs. Whether you are listening to chamber music or symphony orchestra, everything is presented perfectly under the control of the MP-1. Every detail of the M series embodies our pursuit of excellence. Everything you hear, see and touch is the final presentation by team Matrix Audio through continuous trial and fail, meticulous polishing, and careful calibration. We persevere tirelessly, striving to make things more beautiful and the sound more captivating.

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Authorized dealers for Matrix Audio MP-1

  • Absoulute Audio plus Video — in-store — Aiken, South Carolina, United States (website)
  • A/V Solutions — in-store — Pleasanton, California, United States (website)
  • A1 Futureshop — online and in-store — North Rocks, New South Wales, Australia (website)
  • Abt Electronics — online and in-store — Glenview, Illinois, United States (website)
  • Addicted to Audio — online and in-store — Epping, Victoria, Australia (website)
  • Alen Audio — in-store — Extramurs, Comunidad Valenciana, Spain (website)
  • All Elite Audio — online and in-store — Perry Hall, Maryland, United States (website)
  • Altitudo Audio — online and in-store — Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada (website)
  • Analog Matters — online and in-store — Ormond Beach, Florida, United States (website)
  • Apos Audio — online and in-store — Oakland, California, United States (website)

and 61 more verified dealers