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Matrix Element X2 Streamer Review

Rate this streamer:

  • 1. Poor (headless panther)

    Votes: 15 5.5%
  • 2. Not terrible (postman panther)

    Votes: 81 29.6%
  • 3. Fine (happy panther)

    Votes: 131 47.8%
  • 4. Great (golfing panther)

    Votes: 47 17.2%

  • Total voters
    274
Thanks, @amirm !


Except these are... separates. The all point of these kind of Streamer/DAC/Headamp combo is to be all-in-one. ;)


Absolutely no way that such a packed unit at this level of build quality would retail for <1k$.

But I agree for the rest: while I'm perfectly fine with the 118dB SINAD, @MatrixAudio should have pay more attention to details... ESS Hump with one of both channels, in particular, is clearly a miss. :confused:

About Jitter, it's not great either, but maybe some DPLL settings could fix that, as I found in my measurements of the Matrix X-SABRE 3.

Just look at the latest FIIO R7 ... much much cheapper and plenty of functions ..

Similar product .... but not fancy looking
 
The graph above shows a 107dB THD+Noise ratio. The 155-160dB noise floor is visible on Amir’s first set of graphs.
We are both not really on the right way in the discussion.
I was focused on the THD/noise graph because I was in a discussion with a friend about it. So I was a little unconcentrated, below you can see the right thing.
Sorry.:facepalm:
To your graph, THD is the case here and the noise is suppressed by HW or SW
to pull it out from the signal.
But you are right @amirm shows here a lower noise floor, like measurements before.
Edit: thanks @staticV3
Noise performance likewise is a hair below the last generation:
Matrix Element X2 Streamer Stereo DAC Preamplifier Toslink Dynamic Range  Measurements.png
 
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I don't know with Roon Ready device, but with a non-Roon Ready device and Roon, I didn't find such a feature, and the closest thing I found was to use a device with two independent headphones output, and in this case, Roon can apply for each output a different EQ (and other settings) and stream the same track to both outputs by creating a group with the two outputs (you can also do it with two different devices, or twice the same device that would have only one headphones output).
So your two headphones stays plugged in and each have their own EQ, you just have to swap between both on your head, nothing more

Yeah you just create zones.

Let's say I have convolution filters for my loudspeakers - zone 1.
But I have a headphone amp connected to that DAC as well that will be - zone 2.

Now I just move what I'm playing from zone 1 to 2 and it applies the EQ settings of Zone 2.

If I have multiple headphones you can either create another zone for each headphone or you change the presets for that zone. (Multiple presets for one zone are possible).

Zone 1 (loudspeaker) transfer to Zone 2 (Headphone) with preset A/B/C/....

But it does not automatically switch zones , because you could play different music on all these zones through roon. All with their unique DSP settings.

Or play in 2 zones the same music at the same time (party for example).

So it makes sense that there are no RME like DSP features here.. because U don't need them with roon.
 
This has a hybrid analog/digital volume control -> https://hifigo.com/blogs/news/matri...l-analog-volume-controls-under-the-same-shell.

The low end of that graph is about 10 dB than you would expect based on digital volume control alone.

Michael

It is (I ran the traditional test as well). I think the volume control here is NOT done in the DAC but in another stage later. This is required to handle analog input without digitizing it. This likely also explains slight hit to measurements. Very hard to have a volume control logic that performs at the level of state of the art DAC. I don't think we have ever tested another one with this architecture that performs this well.

Here is the older test:
View attachment 265678
I made sure the attenuation was exactly the same: -30 dB.
Brilliant! So it is a real improvement and a plus point for the device (use the volume control within their device), and as @mdsimon2 pointed out it looks like it's due to an amalgamation of both analog & digital volume control within the device being used together for best results. I'm not gonna change my vote though, it's just too expensive for what it is.
 
I voted Poor. At some point, value for features offered must be considered. I can spend 5-10x less and fit the bill just as well. With the poor RCA performance and HDMI not tested - (but probably poor as well) it's hard to recommend this amazingly over-priced DAC. The RME ADI-2 gives me loudness and EQ and works with a TV via Optical. No need to pay 4x more.
 
Majority of folks would be just better off with KEF LS50W II, which has built-in DAC+AMP combo, HDMI EARC input, SUB out, app controlled EQ, and network streaming capability for 2.5k (speakers included :) ).
 
I voted Poor. At some point, value for features offered must be considered. I can spend 5-10x less and fit the bill just as well. With the poor RCA performance and HDMI not tested - (but probably poor as well) it's hard to recommend this amazingly over-priced DAC. The RME ADI-2 gives me loudness and EQ and works with a TV via Optical. No need to pay 4x more.
For me the internal volume control of the device that retains most of the SINAD performance of the device is the game-changer in terms of the measurements, so there is that, but the price does kill it.
 
For me the internal volume control of the device that retains most of the SINAD performance of the device is the game-changer in terms of the measurements, so there is that, but the price does kill it.
Are you sure you're not reading too much into Amir's graph? It shows the X2 having 103.7dB SINAD at -30dB.

For reference, the D90SE using regular old digital attenuation will have 102.8dB SINAD at the same -30dB (you can extrapolate that from the DR measurement).

Is that +0.9dB SINAD boost really of any value? It's certainly not a game-changer.
 
Are you sure you're not reading too much into Amir's graph? It shows the X2 having 103.7dB SINAD at -30dB.

For reference, the D90SE using regular old digital attenuation will have 102.8dB SINAD at the same -30dB (you can extrapolate that from the DR measurement).

Is that +0.9dB SINAD boost really of any value? It's certainly not a game-changer.
lol, agreed!
 
Are you sure you're not reading too much into Amir's graph? It shows the X2 having 103.7dB SINAD at -30dB.

For reference, the D90SE using regular old digital attenuation will have 102.8dB SINAD at the same -30dB (you can extrapolate that from the DR measurement).

Is that +0.9dB SINAD boost really of any value? It's certainly not a game-changer.
But without the trick is much more poor

Matrix Element X2 Streamer Balanced Stereo DAC Preamplifier Toslink THD vs level Measurements.png
 
No you can't compare those two graphs to each other. One plots SINAD vs Volts, the other SINAD vs Time.
:cool:
:cool::cool::)

Edit: your edit was clear for me. Without it was some kind of humor
 
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You can't compare those two graphs to each other directly. One plots SINAD vs Volts, the other SINAD vs Time.

Edit: you can compare only the -30dB point though.
95.8dB SINAD via traditional digital attenuation, 103.7dB via hybrid attenuation.
It's potentially something to think about for other companies & future products - it does help to preserve some SINAD with volume attenuation. How important this is, well probably not very, not if you offset the price.....I mean if it doesn't cost much to implement then you'd do it. I appreciate the idea to improve it though.
 
Hello, curently I own
  • a Raspbeery PI '(around 130 € these days, if you can find one) with RoopieeeXL (free of charge) as a streamer (RopieeeXL which is fed by HQPlayer which by it self is fed by Roon and Spotify)
  • a RMI ADI DAC 2FS (around 1200 € -as far as I can see)
  • a Topping A90D as my headphone amplifier (600 €)
I find the sound superb although this is just my impression - I do not have any measurements like AMIR to prove my point.
Nevertheless, I consider this a really serious rig for less than 2000€. As with many other contributors to this forum, I do have the impression that Matrix seem to be overplaying their hand - pricewise.
 
Hello, curently I own
  • a Raspbeery PI '(around 130 € these days, if you can find one) with RoopieeeXL (free of charge) as a streamer (RopieeeXL which is fed by HQPlayer which by it self is fed by Roon and Spotify)
  • a RMI ADI DAC 2FS (around 1200 € -as far as I can see)
  • a Topping A90D as my headphone amplifier (600 €)
I find the sound superb although this is just my impression - I do not have any measurements like AMIR to prove my point.
Nevertheless, I consider this a really serious rig for less than 2000€. As with many other contributors to this forum, I do have the impression that Matrix seem to be overplaying their hand - pricewise.
I agree. Way too expensive for the M2 and X2 models.

I have the Element I2 and at $1300 open box i was fine with the price of that one.

How does everyone feel about Martix Element M2 or X2 vs Naim Uniti Atom HE? It is better IMHO than Matrix sound wise except no MQA decoding if that matters. Also much better headphone power. I2 struggles with some headphones. Not sure if M2 or X2 would be much better?

I picked up Nam HE under $3k open box. Not a hard decision vs Matrix Element X2.
 
So many unnecessary features that just keeps increasing price. I want nice Dac and not dac/streamer/headphone amp!
Their matrix x sabre pro was their best product and price point was kinda justifiable considering design, build and support. Right now they lost the plot.
 
So many unnecessary features that just keeps increasing price. I want nice Dac and not dac/streamer/headphone amp!
Their matrix x sabre pro was their best product and price point was kinda justifiable considering design, build and support. Right now they lost the plot.
X-SABRE3 performs equally or better than X-SABRE Pro MQA but also they added the streamer part, remote with playback controls, MA app support and other functions. Price is $3000, $1000 more than X-SABRE Pro MQA release price.
 
So many unnecessary features that just keeps increasing price. I want nice Dac and not dac/streamer/headphone amp!
Their matrix x sabre pro was their best product and price point was kinda justifiable considering design, build and support. Right now they lost the plot.


Topping / SMSL would probably make serious money if they could integrate a raspberry pi 4 in their DACs. People could put a streamer software of their choice on it or use it as Roon endpoint. Sell that bundled with a matching headphone amp and XLR cables.

Should be possible for 1000 USD to get a seriously good stack with a small footprint.

With the money that's left over you could buy a pair of Kef LS50II and a iPad Pro! As display
(Ridiculous really how much this thing costs)
 
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