It’s all about perceived value added. By adding the Matrix I was finally able to use I2S input on the DS with my Aurender server. The improvement over USB was worth every penny even without external PS. I’m sure if they added an internal PS to the Matrix similar to the LPS1.2 the price would have been much higher and you can get other external supplies for less if you want or live without and be very happy. The WW HDMI cable was the same level of improvement as the Matrix on it’s own and the addition of the LPS1.2. Unfortunately cables make a difference – in this case a very big difference. I suppose if the DS wasn’t so good none of these tweeks would make much difference or be worth it. But it is…
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Regarding using a Mac to send native DSD out via USB, the developer of HQPlayer said the following, though I’m not entirely sure if it means the Matrix needs Linux device or his NAA image:
“Through Mac CoreAudio you can only send out DoP. If HQPlayer running on macOS outputs to a NAA that is running something else than macOS, then yes. When output is to a NAA, there’s no CoreAudio involved anywhere (unless NAA is running on a macOS).
So I would go with some small suitable Linux device (you can use my NAA image). IIRC, the Matrix is XMOS-based so it should work.”
It means that you can have HQPlayer on macOS sending native DSD over a network connection to a non-Mac NAA, which in turn can supply native DSD over USB to something else. The Matrix knows how to receive native DSD over USB. So the question is which “small suitable Linux device” you’d use in between HQPlayer and the Matrix.
I see. So the Matrix would require a NAA, like the MicroRendu et al in order to send native DSD to the Matrix. If I try to send native DSD to the Matrix without a NAA, it won’t work. Do I understand that correctly? Thanks.
What you’re trying to work around is the lack of support in macOS for sending native DSD out of the computer’s own USB port. The Matrix’s USB port can receive native DSD, but a USB port that’s being controlled by macOS can’t send it. So the NAA is used to get the native DSD data out of the Mac via a network connection, and then route it through a USB system which does have the ability to send native DSD.
I can’t imagine it being worth the effort, honestly. But technically that’s what it is.
I agree, its not worth buying an UltraRendu just to send native DSD out of a Mac. But if one is already owned, it would be fun to experiment. Is DSD over DoP similar to FLAC, compressed but lossless? And then native DSD would be uncompressed? Or does it work differently?
DoP is lossless but not compressed. It’s an “envelope” around 16 bits of DSD / 24 bit sample of PCM - so in some sense instead of compressed it’s expanded 
In both cases the DSD bits are sent unencoded. Translation to and from DoP is trivial (inside the DS’s FPGA all DSD travels around as DoP so if we are being pedantic Native DSD goes thru the “extra” step
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https://dsd-guide.com/dop-open-standard
DoP is a means to convey DSD data through a transport chain which was designed to support only PCM. DoP actually uses more bits overall than native DSD does, so it’s the opposite of compression. It is more properly called encapsulation, where 16 bits of native DSD data are carried inside a specially-marked 24-bit PCM sample. The top 8 bits in each sample follow a pattern which a DoP-compatible receiver will recognise as saying “my bottom 16 bits are actually DSD data not PCM”.
What’s really interesting for us on this forum is that whenever the DS DAC’s FPGA receives native DSD data, the very first thing it does… is to encapsulate it in DoP for transfer to the next internal stage of processing
So there’s absolutely nothing about DoP which mangles the data. The only question is whether systems which interpret and unpack the DoP data cause electrical disturbance in a way that impacts the final audio quality.
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Although in the case of the DS DAC receiving native DSD vs DoP, the question would be, does interpreting and PACKING the DSD data cause an electrical disturbance that affects SQ?
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Hallo Wijber,
Where did you order the matrix in the netherlands? I can only find it online at amazon.de but it’s sold out. I would love to try it between the dsd sr and the auralic aries femto.
Dank je wel,
Remko
Hoi @remkohuijgen, I don’t have (and want) a Matrix box, but I found this for ya:
https://www.magnahifi.com/nl/webshop/product/matrix_xspdif-usb-int
Hope that helps,
Groet,
Ronald
Super, dank je wel.
Don’t know either if it’s for me but I love to try anything that helps.
Remko
Dag Remko,
Foto video Smits Arnhem, €149,-.
Ordered sunday evening, delivered today 
https://www.smitsarnhem.nl/catalogsearch/result/?cat=0&q=Mocha
(i-EAR got’m too, but at €199,-)
Hallo Wijber,
Funny, I found the Mocha myself and ordered it from Smits today after your post here. My question was about the Matrix x-spdif, I was under the impression that you had one.
Groet, Remko
Hoi Remko, sorry for the omission…must be caused by unpacking the Mocha the moment i saw your post 
(BTW…purchased my Matrix from a german reseller via e-bay;-)
I got mine from here (uk)
And my mocha from here (uk)
https://www.audiovisualonline.co.uk/product/52417/audioquest-mocha-high-speed-hdmi-cable-1m-w-ethernet/
Bedankt,
I’ll keep looking but they seem to sold out everywhere. I didn’t think of ebay.
Groet, Remko
Thnx Chris, but I was looking for the Matrix (sounds funny).
Remko
My 1st link is to the matrix