Matrix Element S - finally a dedicated streamer from Matrix!

[FiGuY1017]

I wonder the difference between how many of these have been beaten to death with a baseball bat vs sold? I don't see many on the fs forums so maybe it leans alittle bit to one side. Think, hmm maybe airplay will be better, Matrix says, hey watch this bro " album removed" you want that song? Ahh maybe in five minutes bro calm down.. sounds to good to be this terrible, I'd have a guilty conscious selling this piece of garbage

 

[thecrow]

I wonder the difference between how many of these have been beaten to death with a baseball bat vs sold? I don't see many on the fs forums so maybe it leans alittle bit to one side. Think, hmm maybe airplay will be better, Matrix says, hey watch this bro " album removed" you want that song? Ahh maybe in five minutes bro calm down.. sounds to good to be this terrible, I'd have a guilty conscious selling this piece of garbage

Did you buy it second hand here?

Maybe it’s only really / works best as a roon option?

@project86

 

[FiGuY1017]

Second hand, maybe so but I have no use for roon so I'll never know

 

[project86]

Weird mine seems fairly solid/stable. Or about as much as the better streamers out there which I'd call "pretty good but not perfect". They all have some quirks here and there but some are better than others. And for me the Element S has been mostly trouble free.

Are you folks using wired or wireless networking? I always use Ethernet and while I've testing wifi a bit, I can't say I've used it a ton. Maybe that is a source of trouble? Also I do tend to use Roon more often than not which of course is the great equalizer (no pun intended) when it comes to usability among different streaming devices.

 

[FiGuY1017]

Wlan for now have a Supra Ethernet cable coming and will use an extender, hopefully that'll solve a lot of the issues. It seemed to do better this evening so hopefully that'll fix it, because man this thing sounds so so good!

 

[loaizaprat]

Weird mine seems fairly solid/stable. Or about as much as the better streamers out there which I'd call "pretty good but not perfect". They all have some quirks here and there but some are better than others. And for me the Element S has been mostly trouble free.

Are you folks using wired or wireless networking? I always use Ethernet and while I've testing wifi a bit, I can't say I've used it a ton. Maybe that is a source of trouble? Also I do tend to use Roon more often than not which of course is the great equalizer (no pun intended) when it comes to usability among different streaming devices.

I have a mesh network wireless endpoint next to the streamer and from that endpoint it goes wired to the element S, so I guess that qualifies as Wi-Fi connection. Another recurrent issue: if the element S is on stand by and I want to wake it up through Tidal Connect, it takes at least two attempts (sometimes more) to start playing music. Normally first attempt does nothing, second attempt wakes it up, and third attempt it starts playing music. I have a Naim Uniti Atom HE and at the first attempt from Tidal Connect it wakes up and starts playing music in 3 seconds.

 

[FiGuY1017]

 

[project86]

I have a mesh network wireless endpoint next to the streamer and from that endpoint it goes wired to the element S, so I guess that qualifies as Wi-Fi connection. Another recurrent issue: if the element S is on stand by and I want to wake it up through Tidal Connect, it takes at least two attempts (sometimes more) to start playing music. Normally first attempt does nothing, second attempt wakes it up, and third attempt it starts playing music. I have a Naim Uniti Atom HE and at the first attempt from Tidal Connect it wakes up and starts playing music in 3 seconds.

Interesting. Mesh network should be fine I would think, but networking can be tricky sometimes.

I don't normally use Tidal Connect aside from testing once in a while, and have probably never asked it to "wake up" that way. So can't speak on that issue but it does sound like obnoxious behavior. Especially if your Naim does it right every time. That's weird and I can see why it is frustrating. Sorry don't really know where to start on a fix though... I usually do Tidal through Roon anyway.

 

[Jacek J]

Hi, I'm thinking about buying Element S, but I can't rent it in my country to listen to it...
Has anyone compared the sound of Element S via USB with the following devices:

Auralic Aries S1
Lumin U2 mini

What do you think will play best with ROON? Which device should I choose...?

 

[Dalmonegrig]

Has anyone compared the sound of Element S via USB with the following devices:

Auralic Aries S1
Lumin U2 mini

What do you think will play best with ROON? Which device should I choose...?

Eversolo DMP-A6 | Master Edition | Gen 2 | Streamers

 

[Musikfan]

Hi, I'm thinking about buying Element S, but I can't rent it in my country to listen to it...
Has anyone compared the sound of Element S via USB with the following devices:

Auralic Aries S1
Lumin U2 mini

What do you think will play best with ROON? Which device should I choose...?

Hi,

Other than a desire to audition streamers before purchase and Roon use, you didn't provide a lot of other information as to what your requirements are. It seems like you don't need an internal dac with your streamer. Are you limiting the choice of USB for any particular reason?

Both the Auralic and Lumin devices will be a lot more expensive than the Element S, especially if you want to buy the external power supply for the Auralic which will add around $1000. As far as I know (and I could be wrong) the Auralic streamer is not yet Roon Ready.

There are other options that will cost you less, including the new Volumio Rivo Plus and the Mano Ultra mkiii.5 Farad both of which may be tried out and returned. Rivo+ is Roon Ready, and Mano Ultra can be configured as a Roon bridge.

I have both the Element S and original Rivo, and enjoy both streamers very much. They both work flawlessly with Roon and are both Roon Ready.

There is also the Holo Audio Red streamer that is around $1000 and has received a lot of positive reviews. I use the Red wih my Holo Audio May dac and it works flawlessly, and is also Roon Ready.

Let us know which device you end up choosing.

Cheers!

 

[Jacek J]

Hi,

Other than a desire to audition streamers before purchase and Roon use, you didn't provide a lot of other information as to what your requirements are. It seems like you don't need an internal dac with your streamer. Are you limiting the choice of USB for any particular reason?

Both the Auralic and Lumin devices will be a lot more expensive than the Element S, especially if you want to buy the external power supply for the Auralic which will add around $1000. As far as I know (and I could be wrong) the Auralic streamer is not yet Roon Ready.

There are other options that will cost you less, including the new Volumio Rivo Plus and the Mano Ultra mkiii.5 Farad both of which may be tried out and returned. Rivo+ is Roon Ready, and Mano Ultra can be configured as a Roon bridge.

I have both the Element S and original Rivo, and enjoy both streamers very much. They both work flawlessly with Roon and are both Roon Ready.

There is also the Holo Audio Red streamer that is around $1000 and has received a lot of positive reviews. I use the Red wih my Holo Audio May dac and it works flawlessly, and is also Roon Ready.

Let us know which device you end up choosing.

Cheers!

The path to play is as follows:
ROON Server > streamer > iFi IDSD PRO Signature DAC > iFi ICAN PRO Signature Headphone Amplifier > Hifiman HE1000SE headphones

Streamer > DAC connection must be via USB

 

[Musikfan]

Hi, I don't have direct experience with either Lumin or Auralic. However, from your chain, I think that either the Matrix Element S or Volumio Rivo Plus would be good, high quality and less expensive options. If you buy the Rivo Plus, you may want to buy a 5v 3a linear power supply. Volumio sells one of its own, but any decent 5v LPS will do. Also, the USB outputs of both devices are galvanically isolated and both devices have i2s outputs which will give you added flexibility if you decide to change your dac in the future and get one with an i2s input. I hope this helps. Cheers!

 

[FiGuY1017]

Proud to update that for awhile now things have been ironed out and everything is just excellent with Element S. Cornerstone of my reference system and here to stay!

 

[thecrow]

Sadly, but as a necessity I had to sell my Auralic Aries G2 .1 and have been without a streamer ever since.
I tried streaming from an old iMac and another laptop but that was not great.

Then i found that streaming from an iPad Pro sounded rather clean and significantly improved on imac and laptop. Using roon and direct from qobuz app

Curious if anybody here has compared the matrix element S to something like an iPad Pro and if it is a distinctive improvement

Thanks