Never ever any network and/or streaming concern using my Melco network streamer controlled by an Android tablet with BubbleUPnP & the native Qobuz / Tidal apps (no pops 
).
Removed BridgeII after years of -happy- use (losing full MQA decoding, but who cares…)
“I think we are violently agreeing”
I’ve not heard that one. I’m stealing it.
Question for someone without a DSD or similar… I’ll try to hunt down the answer but is anyone running the Matrix to a DAC via Optical/Coax?
I have a Topping D50 DAC. Nice little device (DSD512 32Bit/768kHz).
But it looks like I2S is really the optimal connection, and the D50 doesn’t accommodate it. Optical/Coax seems limited.
Maybe it will make an audible difference, even without I2S, but thought i’d ask the cognoscenti.
I use all outputs of the Matrix, they are all high quality. Which is best probably depends on your DAC and to a lesser extent on the rest of your system.
@speed-racer, I just ordered the Matrix and currently use the SGC i7 Ultrarendu and their SGC LPS. Did you try powering the Matrix off Ultrarendu SGC PS first? If so how was it. Also did you swap LPS ever? Wondering if the last link in chain prefers on PS over the other or vice versa?
I am excited to try Matrix given your posts on improvements. I had found lots of improvement swapping ethernet cords to Ultrarendu first with a Certicable CAT7A the current winner. Have you tried the ethernet cable rabbit holes yet with this set up?
+1 on the Certicable CAT 7A (actually, I think I bought it on your recommendation). I use it from a Fiberoptic Media Converter to the Bridge.
I am using the SGS 7v LPS to power my ultraRendu and the Teddy Pardo 7v LPS to power the Matrix.
I initially used the Matrix with no LPS and used the Teddy Pardo to power the ultraRendu. That actually sounded pretty good. Once I got the SGC LPS, I tried that on the Matrix with the Teddy Pardo on the ultraRendu. That sounded much better. But, the current setup mentioned above sounds the best. The difference is small and it may be expectation bias.
Glad it worked for you too! I noticed inakustik sells a similar construction ethernet but with a special outer-wrap of dampening cloth for significantly more. I like their USB cords and they are all about construction and testing for audiophile sound so a great budget saver the Certicable though wrapping to dampen vibrations I might try.
I was considering two SGCs a 6V for Matrix as a budget saver. It appears the standard cords Andrew at SGC sells are only 2.5 mm inner diameter. So may go the Teddy Pardo route since you like well. I saw a post where you tried Uptone LPS. Where does that fall in your testing relative to difference by margin?
Subscribing…
Thanks for the welcome. Hoping for a new pinnacle.
The issue with my Matrix was the blue DSD light would flicker, go out, and come back on again. Matrix thought it was a bad LED. Arthur tested the bulb and it’s ok. Matrix can’t figure out what’s going on, so Arthur is going to arrange for a new unit to be sent to me.
Arthur was very good to deal with. Totally straight and honest.
so… is anyone actually using the coaxial or optical outputs?
I got sucked into the vortex and I ordered one. Nice, hefty piece of kit. Got it because I was mulling over the Stellar Gain Cell DAC, and its I2S input. But not sure I’m going that route. So I tried going from my Mac Mini USB > Matrix optical/coax > Topping D50 DAC.
Getting nothing. The DAC doesn’t receive any signal. (Shuts down after a minute when no signal received.) Tried both Coax and Optical. Nada.
Looked through Matrix X-SPDIF manual but not seeing anything I can do to try to force those outputs.
Thoughts?
Ask Arthur, if anyone knows, it’s him… artpower@optonline.net
Optical out works fine on my matrix. Plugged in the cable and switched the input on the DAC
The coax and optical worked with no issues going into my DS DAC.
hmmm. Arthur’s doing some digging. Might have bad outputs, which he’s never seen.
One thing of interest, when USB gets a signal, the optical port displays the red light for about a second or two, then goes out.
Things that make you go hmmmm
Silly question. If you’re using windows you have installed the windows driver?
Mac mini.
Appears to be a defective unit. Arthur’s on the case, and it sounds like they’ll send me a replacement.
I bought the thing thinking I was going with the Stellar Gain Cell DAC, and its ability to use the I2S input, but now I doubt it. So not sure I’ll realize the gains/improvements with coax/optical that others have seen with I2S.
Anyhoo.
