Matrix X2 Pure 10th Anniversary

[geoffalter11]

Hi Head-Fiers:

Matrix created an incredible 10th Anniversary DAC/Streamer that deserves its own thread. Here is a review I just posted and some info on the DAC for those interested. Hopefully we can get some conversation going and people can learn about this incredible product.

https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/matrix-element-x2-pure.27322/reviews#review-34394

I have put in some pics of the product and the specifications for those who are interested in the numbers. They removed the headphone amp and started from scratch outside of the incredible MA App and UI which remains similar to the Element X2. However, the touchscreen is bigger at approximately 3.26". Let's get some conversation going on this beauty.

 

[phoneslave86]

I just got this DAC yesterday. My unit was bought used and is broken in. Wow I gotta say I've never had a better user experience to start. Nice complete feeling app with so many functions with the push of a button from anywhere. Then a touchscreen and then also a great remote. The app can multitask and swap without much clunk between I2s and the X2 streamer in Roon. I learned Roon can work much better than I knew was possible and also noticeably faster. The sound is noticeably crisp, focused, pure and neutral. No need for a long warm up or settle with this one. Record fast good music listening and experience made for a nice relief. Usually I expect up to months of synergizing, tinkering, working and testing to get to a great place with a DAC. Usually updating can be a pain. I updated the firmware remotely while cooking dinner without even trying to figure out how.

I tested for hums my usual brutal test between a couple of amplifiers. I've never seen a DAC have zero hum like this, absolute pure silence, first time to see that! I tested a very long supra excalibur USB from a 1300W gaming PC, it is the first time I have seen zero hum or noise of any kind carried into RCA through a DAC in this scenario as well. Day two I am 100 percent confident I don't need to worry ever again about this DAC. It just wants to produce the same sound every time. My other DACs are moody, require babying and can be all over the place depending on things by comparison.

Usually I use a nice I2s cable with a masterclock/DDC but I do not have a clock at the time. I was looking forward to putting the most potent setup together to enjoy the maximum first experience. Instead I found precise crisp sound to be plenty good without an expensive clock which made for a nice surprise. I feel like with my other DACs the clock is a must-have to get the cleanest sound and they do get really good with it but this DAC is completely acceptable without a clock or I2s for me already. Swapping to the streamer the sound remained very good and clean, better than acceptable, doesn't feel like too much of a swap at all.

I thought this DAC would be more compact it actually has more width than my R26. It also gets quite warm. I'm curious what the best way to maintain the DAC is related to warmth and SQ and turning it on and off.

It could take a long time to figure out the best filters as there are 7 of them, suggestions welcome. Currently using Linear phase slow roll off.

But yea I don't know my opinion of the DAC fully but it is off to a very good start.

Also looking forward to trying out HDMI ARC with TV for the first time. Finally no more optical degradation or bluetooth. I'm hoping this will easily transfer Dolby this would be a large upgrade in SQ for TV/Headphone listening no doubt.

 

[geoffalter11]

I just got this DAC yesterday. My unit was bought used and is broken in. Wow I gotta say I've never had a better user experience to start. Nice complete feeling app with so many functions with the push of a button from anywhere. Then a touchscreen and then also a great remote. The app can multitask and swap without much clunk between I2s and the X2 streamer in Roon. I learned Roon can work much better than I knew was possible and also noticeably faster. The sound is noticeably crisp, focused, pure and neutral. No need for a long warm up or settle with this one. Record fast good music listening and experience made for a nice relief. Usually I expect up to months of synergizing, tinkering, working and testing to get to a great place with a DAC. Usually updating can be a pain. I updated the firmware remotely while cooking dinner without even trying to figure out how.

I tested for hums my usual brutal test between a couple of amplifiers. I've never seen a DAC have zero hum like this, absolute pure silence, first time to see that! I tested a very long supra excalibur USB from a 1300W gaming PC, it is the first time I have seen zero hum or noise of any kind carried into RCA through a DAC in this scenario as well. Day two I am 100 percent confident I don't need to worry ever again about this DAC. It just wants to produce the same sound every time. My other DACs are moody, require babying and can be all over the place depending on things by comparison.

Usually I use a nice I2s cable with a masterclock/DDC but I do not have a clock at the time. I was looking forward to putting the most potent setup together to enjoy the maximum first experience. Instead I found precise crisp sound to be plenty good without an expensive clock which made for a nice surprise. I feel like with my other DACs the clock is a must-have to get the cleanest sound and they do get really good with it but this DAC is completely acceptable without a clock or I2s for me already. Swapping to the streamer the sound remained very good and clean, better than acceptable, doesn't feel like too much of a swap at all.

I thought this DAC would be more compact it actually has more width than my R26. It also gets quite warm. I'm curious what the best way to maintain the DAC is related to warmth and SQ and turning it on and off.

It could take a long time to figure out the best filters as there are 7 of them, suggestions welcome. Currently using Linear phase slow roll off.

But yea I don't know my opinion of the DAC fully but it is off to a very good start.

Also looking forward to trying out HDMI ARC with TV for the first time. Finally no more optical degradation or bluetooth. I'm hoping this will easily transfer Dolby this would be a large upgrade in SQ for TV/Headphone listening no doubt.

Great post. Thank you for posting. I love this DAC. It is the first time in a long time that I don't feel the need to DAC shop. I am always wanting a different DAC, but the first time I listened to it the hairs stood up and I haven't looked back. I got it to review and immediately bought my review unit before I reviewed it. Then I got backlogged on products to review and I just didn't have the bandwidth. I finally put together a pretty comprehensive review. Matrix didn't market this DAC in the west. Apos who is actually Shenzhen Audio did a comparison with the X2, but their comparison was wrong.They had the wrong specs and kinda missed all the things that makes this DAC so good. I have heard the X2, and while it is a very good DAC, the Pure is a better DAC. If you want a capable headphone amp if you don't like separates it is a really good product. But, I am swimming in amps and my Meier Corda Soul is a better AIO as the amp is so good and the DAC is also wonderful. But, it cannot be used as just a fixed DAC, so I use it solely as an AIO for reviewing and simplicity from time to time. When I don't want to fire up the whole big rig.

You are very right about the DAC being very quiet. Every part is isolated creating an extremely quiet DAC which enables the music to come from all angles and what feels like Deep Space. There are better DACs out there, but you have to spend quite a bit to get something noticeably better. That has been my experience. I don't game or use the HDMI arc, so looking forward to your impressions of those functions.

I haven't found a reason to upgrade for my headphone rig, I don't feel like I would get much more unless using a 2 channel set up, then I might look for something a bit different. But, with headphones I don't see a reason right now to try an upgrade. Their new MS-1 is intriguing, but $9600 as well with a 2 month lead time. We will see if they give me a unit to review. There are only 3 reviews of this DAC from what I can find. Part Time Audiophile, Hifinews and mine here on head-fi. It is not a very well known product. I believe Wave Theory is going to post a review on You Tube. Interesting to watch his impressions when he uploads onto YT.

As for clocks, I don't tend to hear a huge difference unless using a really high end clock. When listening to the DCS stuff, their $8k clock made a noticeable difference to the sound of the DAC. This DAC has such excellent engineering I don't feel like anything is missing. I use it as a Roon Ready device with a Roon NUC as my server and the Ethernet port. I love not worrying about a digital cable other than the CAT8 cable and then my network picks up the Pure into my NUC. Love it!

 

[phoneslave86]

Great post. Thank you for posting. I love this DAC. It is the first time in a long time that I don't feel the need to DAC shop. I am always wanting a different DAC, but the first time I listened to it the hairs stood up and I haven't looked back. I got it to review and immediately bought my review unit before I reviewed it. Then I got backlogged on products to review and I just didn't have the bandwidth. I finally put together a pretty comprehensive review. Matrix didn't market this DAC in the west. Apos who is actually Shenzhen Audio did a comparison with the X2, but their comparison was wrong.They had the wrong specs and kinda missed all the things that makes this DAC so good. I have heard the X2, and while it is a very good DAC, the Pure is a better DAC. If you want a capable headphone amp if you don't like separates it is a really good product. But, I am swimming in amps and my Meier Corda Soul is a better AIO as the amp is so good and the DAC is also wonderful. But, it cannot be used as just a fixed DAC, so I use it solely as an AIO for reviewing and simplicity from time to time. When I don't want to fire up the whole big rig.

You are very right about the DAC being very quiet. Every part is isolated creating an extremely quiet DAC which enables the music to come from all angles and what feels like Deep Space. There are better DACs out there, but you have to spend quite a bit to get something noticeably better. That has been my experience. I don't game or use the HDMI arc, so looking forward to your impressions of those functions.

I haven't found a reason to upgrade for my headphone rig, I don't feel like I would get much more unless using a 2 channel set up, then I might look for something a bit different. But, with headphones I don't see a reason right now to try an upgrade. Their new MS-1 is intriguing, but $9600 as well with a 2 month lead time. We will see if they give me a unit to review. There are only 3 reviews of this DAC from what I can find. Part Time Audiophile, Hifinews and mine here on head-fi. It is not a very well known product. I believe Wave Theory is going to post a review on You Tube. Interesting to watch his impressions when he uploads onto YT.

As for clocks, I don't tend to hear a huge difference unless using a really high end clock. When listening to the DCS stuff, their $8k clock made a noticeable difference to the sound of the DAC. This DAC has such excellent engineering I don't feel like anything is missing. I use it as a Roon Ready device with a Roon NUC as my server and the Ethernet port. I love not worrying about a digital cable other than the CAT8 cable and then my network picks up the Pure into my NUC. Love it!

I appreciate your review there arn't many and I think it deserves to be recognized. It is an obvious first impression that it sounds pure and that the sound it wants to make is focused and precise. I got a bit extra of that feeling today to listening to the Audio GD DI-HE24 DDC for the first time as well. Good stuff does that. Mid grade DACs can be supported and seem to get there with help. Part of that is using the CenGrand Silver Fox as well which loves to make smooth sound and also using a tube amp.

I forgot to mention that I noticed vocals are noticeably smooth as well. I see that this DAC is under the radar and I am very impressed with Matrix Audio. It will get more good reviews and catch on some day. Matrix background in streaming is legitimate.

 

[geoffalter11]

I appreciate your review there arn't many and I think it deserves to be recognized. It is an obvious first impression that it sounds pure and that the sound it wants to make is focused and precise. I got a bit extra of that feeling today to listening to the Audio GD DI-HE24 DDC for the first time as well. Good stuff does that. Mid grade DACs can be supported and seem to get there with help. Part of that is using the CenGrand Silver Fox as well which loves to make smooth sound and also using a tube amp.

I forgot to mention that I noticed vocals are noticeably smooth as well. I see that this DAC is under the radar and I am very impressed with Matrix Audio. It will get more good reviews and catch on some day. Matrix background in streaming is legitimate.

Silver Fox and Tube amps are perfect for the Pure. I have a CFA3 , Pure BiPolar and an Eddie Current Aficionado for the Pure. I love them all with it. But the ECAF is king.

The silver fox is a great amp and my buddy absolutely loves it. I reviewed their DAC and had it in my system for 6 months until the Pure. The Pure just has a snap to the sound that I love and incredible extension with absolutely none of the Sabre glare. When you have 32 channels per side and the whole thing is electrically isolated with a really good house made transformer you can turn that chip into something truly special. It is the way they designed that DAC that was a huge departure from everything else they’ve made and has led them now to the ultra hi-fi world with their new M series. They are one of very few companies that actually work with the ESS engineers to properly implement 2 of those chips.

I agree, it is wonderful with vocals as the sound is so clear without being that way by brightening the treble. It presents music exactly as it was recorded and then you can color the sound with amps and headphones.

I have the Musician Taurus here for review. Insanely good, but no Ethernet. I am addicted to having that port. Otherwise you
need a DDC to create more flexibility.

Is that LHY piece the Ethernet switch? How many gigs of speed can it handle?

Mine doesn’t get hot, though. Barely warm to the touch. Why do you think yours is getting so warm?

 

[geoffalter11]

Hi all head-fiers. I have posted my X2 Pure for sale so I can save up to buy the MS-1 when it becomes available. Here is the link for those interested. It is mint...

https://www.head-fi.org/classifieds/matrix-10th-anniversary-x2-pure.73087/

 

[phoneslave86]

Silver Fox and Tube amps are perfect for the Pure. I have a CFA3 , Pure BiPolar and an Eddie Current Aficionado for the Pure. I love them all with it. But the ECAF is king.

The silver fox is a great amp and my buddy absolutely loves it. I reviewed their DAC and had it in my system for 6 months until the Pure. The Pure just has a snap to the sound that I love and incredible extension with absolutely none of the Sabre glare. When you have 32 channels per side and the whole thing is electrically isolated with a really good house made transformer you can turn that chip into something truly special. It is the way they designed that DAC that was a huge departure from everything else they’ve made and has led them now to the ultra hi-fi world with their new M series. They are one of very few companies that actually work with the ESS engineers to properly implement 2 of those chips.

I agree, it is wonderful with vocals as the sound is so clear without being that way by brightening the treble. It presents music exactly as it was recorded and then you can color the sound with amps and headphones.

I have the Musician Taurus here for review. Insanely good, but no Ethernet. I am addicted to having that port. Otherwise you
need a DDC to create more flexibility.

Is that LHY piece the Ethernet switch? How many gigs of speed can it handle?

Mine doesn’t get hot, though. Barely warm to the touch. Why do you think yours is getting so warm?

LHY SW8 is a switch yes, not sure how much speed it's capable of but it always has done fine. That switch stack was a huge upgrade no doubt. I have since upgraded those switches to Afterdark NETone, it's a really nice. Switches are important especially streaming with a box style system and it's good just like with DACs if adding a clock to them it is audible.

Some of my equipment gets warm and then cools back down after a bit after it is first turned on seems to be normal in cases. It is cool or slightly warm usually. It also gets very warm if streaming a long time in a warm room for me. It isn't hot though I should correct that, I call warm hot

Looking forward to getting good clock and comparing these DACs again. I want to the hear the Pure DAC in synchronous mode with good clock. I don't think it will be near as much of a jump as my R26 and Pegasus with a clock but I do expect to hear something good!

 

[geoffalter11]

LHY SW8 is a switch yes, not sure how much speed it's capable of but it always has done fine. That switch stack was a huge upgrade no doubt. I have since upgraded those switches to Afterdark NETone, it's a really nice. Switches are important especially streaming with a box style system and it's good just like with DACs if adding a clock to them it is audible.

Some of my equipment gets warm and then cools back down after a bit after it is first turned on seems to be normal in cases. It is cool or slightly warm usually. It also gets very warm if streaming a long time in a warm room for me. It isn't hot though I should correct that, I call warm hot

Looking forward to getting good clock and comparing these DACs again. I want to the hear the Pure DAC in synchronous mode with good clock. I don't think it will be near as much of a jump as my R26 and Pegasus with a clock but I do expect to hear something good!

I have heard all 3. The Pure is a better DAC, but that is purely subjective. It is a very different sound from an R2R DAC. Timbre is very different. I have the Musician Taurus here and they are about the same in quality. Very very different sounding though. But a lateral move and the Taurus is the best R2R DAC I've had in my system. I will review it soon.

 

[geoffalter11]

I use a switch with my system. I do not use a clock, but have both the Taurus and Pure running off of my Roon NUC. They both sound incredible. Just different.

 

[geoffalter11]

I use a switch with my system. I do not use a clock, but have both the Taurus and Pure running off of my Roon NUC. They both sound incredible. Just different.

If you are interested in a Pure I will work with you on a good deal for mine.