Matrix Audio Element X2 Music Streamer

The evolution of elements

The element series music streamer, which represents the new design concept of Matrix Audio, is facing an update after they were announced three years ago. The element X2 will be a new start, it acts as a full-featured stand-alone source device for your audio system, and also brings your existing traditional two-channel system into the world of high-res streaming audio. Simplify your audio system and enjoy the music.

New UI New impression

The 2nd gen element series music streamer is equipped with a 3.46 inch LCD touch screen. When playing over the network, or playing local music via MA player, rich information of the track is displayed on the screen. The touch screen allows you to perform various operations more conveniently. The newly added playback touch keys make the new generation of element music streamers easier to use.

Richer than rich

If you own a big treasure of digital audio, MA player allows you to easily browse and play music in USB drives or NAS (Network Attached Storage). If you prefer high-res online streaming, TIDAL, Qobuz, Spotify and Internet radio will be your huge library of music. Roon Ready, DLNA/UPnP and AirPlay 2 bring you different music streaming experiences.

MA Remote APP

You can browse and playback your local music files, online music stream from TIDAL and Qobuz, and even Internet radio stations through the MA Remote App on your iPhone, iPad or Android phones. The device configurations, firmware updates also can be managed by the app.

Sweeter and louder

element X2 has built-in a superb pre-amplifier with +10dB analog gain. When the pre-amp is enabled, it can output high-quality audio signals up to 15.8VRMS, combined with Hyper-Control technology, let the entire output range keep ultra-low noise and distortion. It's no need to add an additional pre-amplifier, simply feed to the amplifier to achieve pure sound.

Full of power Full of details

element X2 has a built-in full-balanced headphone amplifier, which is composed of 8 independent amplification units, every 2 units are connected in parallel, provides higher drive current and output power with a very low distortion and noise, and better control of micro-details to the headphone speaker units. For element X2, there are no hard-to-drive headphones, just plug and play.

Everything In Your Hand

We take every detail of the product seriously, even the remote control is no exception. The new RM4 remote control has added playback control functions, making it more convenient to switch tracks, play, pause and other operations. With the 2 programmable buttons which can be set to your frequently used functions through the MA Remote App. The material of aluminum and plastic makes the remote control comfortable to the touch.

Digital and Analog Sources All-in-One

element X2 not only has multiple digital input ports, it also has added analog input ports. Vinyl turntables with phono outputs, CD players or other devices with analog outputs can be connected to your modern digital audio system by element X2. There are high, medium and low input gain options available to adapt to the different output levels of the front-end device.

Early bird of TV Hi-Fi

We have added HDMI ARC (Audio Return Channel) input port to element X2. When connected to display devices such as TVs and projectors with HDMI ARC functionality, the digital audio from the HDMI signal can be transferred to element X2 for higher quality playback. If the display device supports HDMI CEC (Consumer Electronics Control) protocol, the playback on element X2 can be controlled by this display device.

Femto Clock Built-in

Digital audio is the art of time, a high-precision clock is the basis for accurate playback of digital audio. The element X2 has built-in a Crystek CCHD-950 ultra-low phase noise femtosecond clock, which can effectively reduce the jitter generated in the transmission and processing of digital audio signals, making the sound more realistic and the details more accurate. Laying a solid foundation for the good sound of element X2.

Asynchronous or synchronous, it's up to you

There are async mode and sync mode available on element X2. In the Async mode, the master clock of the D/A chip comes from the built-in Crystek CCHD-950 femtosecond clock, and the clock from the front-end device will be abandoned. In the Sync mode, the built-in femtosecond clock will be turned off, and the D/A chip depends on the clock of the front-end device completely.

Isolated Design

There are 2 independent power supplies dedicated for the ARM processor and the digital audio processing part of element X2. We put the 2 parts in independent circuit units, and joined them by several optocouplers to achieve complete electrical isolation. The audio circuit part uses an independent linear power supply to present a pure music background to you.

Highway of audio data

The element X2 is equipped with a Gigabit Ethernet port to ensure more stable connection when streaming high sampling rate audio files. Make the music data stream in your audio system smoothly.

Follow your way

Under good wireless network signal coverage, you can choose Wi-Fi connection. The integrated 2.4GHz and 5GHz dual-band Wi-Fi antenna, gives element X2 a tidy and clean appearance and a flexible connection option.

Get your pace

The newly added trigger ports allow you no need to turn the amplifier on or off manually, just let the element X2 work as a control center, and enjoy the music with a single touch.

Features

3.46 inch LCD touch screen

MA Remote App

Pre-amplifier with +10dB analog gain

Built-in full-balanced headphone amplifier, which is composed of 8 independent amplification units

Digital and analog input ports

HDMI ARC input port

Built-in a Crystek CCHD-950 ultra-low phase noise femtosecond clock

2 independent power supplies dedicated for the ARM processor and the digital audio processing

Gigabit Ethernet port

Specifications

HARDWARE PLATFORM

CPU

NXP i.MX 6Quad 4x Cortex-A9 @1.2 GHz

D/A Chip

ES9038PRO

Clock Source

Crystek CCHD-950

DIGITAL INPUT

Coaxial & Optical

PCM 16-24Bit /44.1kHz, 48kHz, 88.2kHz, 96kHz, 176.4kHz, 192kHz

DSD 2.8MHz (DoP)

IIS LVDS

PCM 16-32Bit /44.1kHz, 48kHz, 88.2kHz, 96kHz, 176.4kHz, 192kHz, 352.8kHz, 384kHz, 705.6kHz, 768kHz

DSD 2.8MHz, 5.6MHz, 11.2MHz (DoP)

DSD 2.8MHz, 5.6 MHz, 11.2 MHz, 22.4MHz (Native)

USB Audio

PCM 16-24Bit /44.1kHz, 48kHz, 88.2kHz, 96kHz, 176.4kHz, 192kHz, 352.8kHz, 384kHz, 705.6kHz, 768kHz

MQA 16-24Bit /44.1kHz, 48kHz, 88.2kHz, 96kHz, 176.4kHz, 192kHz, 352.8kHz, 384kHz MQA or MQA Studio stream

DSD 2.8MHz, 5.6MHz, 11.2MHz (DoP)

DSD 2.8MHz, 5.6MHz, 11.2MHz, 22.4MHz (Native)

HDMI ARC

PCM 16-24Bit /44.1kHz, 48kHz, 88.2kHz, 96kHz, 176.4kHz, 192kHz

AUX INPUT

RCA

SNR: >-106dB A-weighting

THD+N: <0.0025%@1k, <0.0030%@20Hz-20kHz

Frequency Response: 20Hz-20kHz ±0.07 -3dB@43kHz

Channel Crosstalk: >-102dB

Input Level: 2.1VRMS Maximum

LINE OUTPUT

XLR

SNR: >-131dB A-weighting

THD+N:<0.00012%@1k, <0.00020%@20Hz-20kHz

Frequency Response: 20Hz-20kHz ±0.05 -3dB@85kHz

Crosstalk: >-146dB

Output Level: 4.5VRMS@0dB,15.8VRMS@+10dB

RCA

SNR: >-125dB A-weighting

THD+N:<0.00012%@1k, <0.00020%@20Hz-20kHz

Frequency Response: 20Hz-20kHz ±0.05 -3dB@85kHz

Channel Crosstalk: >-137dB

Output Level: 2.2VRMS@0dB, 7.5VRMS@+10dB

HEADPHONE OUTPUT

4.4 mm balanced

SNR: >-119dB A-weighting

THD+N:<0.00055%@20Hz-20kHz 4VRMS

Frequency Response: 20Hz-20kHz ±0.1 -3dB@85kHz

Output Impedance:<12Ω

Output Power: 2600mW@33Ω, 1100mW@300Ω, 580mW@600Ω, 1%THD

Gain: +18dB@Low Gain, +28dB@High Gain

6.35 mm unbalanced

SNR: >-116dB A-weighting

THD+N:<0.00055%@20Hz-20kHz 2VRMS

Frequency Response: 20Hz-20kHz ±0.1 -3dB@85kHz

Output Impedance:<6Ω

Output Power: 1600mW@33Ω, 290mW@300Ω, 150mW@600Ω, 1%THD

Gain: +18dB@Low Gain, +28dB@High Gain

NETWORK

LAN

10/100/1000 Mbps

WLAN

2.4 GHz / 5 GHz

USB

The USB port provides a maximum power of 5V/1A.

The USB port works with devices which conform to the USB mass storage standard and supports FAT, FAT32, exFAT, and NTFS file formats, but is not guaranteed to be compatible with all storage devices.

TRIGGER

Trigger in

DC 6-12V<10mA

Trigger out

DC 12V/50mA MAX

MA PLAYER

Format Supported

MP3 , WMA , WAV , AIF, AIFC, AIFF, AAC, FLAC, OGG, APE, ALAC, M4A, DSF, DFF, CUE

PCM Sampling Rate

PCM 16-24Bit 44.1kHz, 48kHz, 88.2kHz, 96kHz, 176.4kHz, 192kHz, 352.8kHz, 384kHz, 705.6kHz, 768kHz

MQA 16-24Bit /44.1kHz, 48kHz, 88.2kHz, 96kHz, 176.4kHz, 192kHz, 352.8kHz, 384kHz MQA or MQA Studio stream

DSD Sampling Rate

DSD 2.8MHz, 5.6MHz, 11.2MHz, 22.4MHz

POWER

Power Voltage

AC 100V-120V 50/60Hz / AC 220V-240V 50/60Hz

Standby Power Consumption < 5W

Maximum Power Consumption < 50W

WEIGHT & SIZE

Size Width: 340 mm (13.39 inches)

Depth: 259 mm (10.20 inches)

Height: 58 mm (2.28 inches)

Weight

4 kg (8.82 pounds)