Matrix Audio MS-1 Pre

Matrix Audio MS-1 Pre

The flagship: streamer, dual-mono DAC and preamplifier in one chassis

The Matrix Audio MS-1 Pre sits at the top of the M series and is arguably the most ambitious product Matrix Audio has built to date: a network streamer, a dual-mono D/A converter and a full preamplifier with phono input, combined into a single, beautifully machined chassis. If you want a source component that can also run the show as your system's control centre, this is a rare all-in-one solution.

At its heart sits Matrix Audio's first implementation of AKM's flagship pairing: two complete DAC sections, each built around an AK4191 digital modulator feeding an AK4499 converter, arranged in a strict dual-mono layout with the left and right channel boards physically separated on opposite sides of the chassis. That keeps crosstalk to a minimum and gives the MS-1 Pre an unusually stable, wide soundstage with crisp channel separation.

The built-in preamp stage forgoes a conventional potentiometer in favour of four precision resistor arrays – 64 resistors each, switched through 32 sealed reed relays by the control MCU in milliseconds – the kind of volume control normally reserved for dedicated preamplifiers. Add an MM/MC phono input, two line inputs, and fixed XLR line outputs running in parallel with the regulated pre-out, and you get a genuinely complete analogue front end. Everything is controlled through the MA Remote app; the MS-1 Pre is Roon Ready certified and also supports AirPlay 2, Audirvana, UPnP, Spotify Connect, TIDAL Connect, Qobuz and vTuner.

Within the M series, the MS-1 Pre is the top of the range. If you already own a preamplifier you trust, the identical Matrix Audio MS-1 drops the preamp section for a leaner signal path. Want something more compact but still built on the same dual-mono DAC platform? That's exactly what the MS-1c is for.

Technical Specifications