Firstly I would like to thank Matrix Audio for sending me this sample to review, in exchange for my honest opinion. I always try to write honest reviews, this unit received over 50hrs of burn-in before reviewing, no differences were noted.
 
Gear Used:
Dell XPS 15 / Audio Opus #1 > Matrix Quattro II DAC > Matrix HPA-2C
Dell XPS 15 > Matrix HPA-2C
Headphones: Fischer Audio FA-003ti W / Fostex T50rp Mk3 / Fostex TH-500rp (IEM’s more on that later)
 

 
Tech Specs:
A comprehensive list can be found on the Matrix Website: http://www.matrix-digi.com/en/specifications/102/index.html
MSRP: $289
 

Packaging, Build Quality and Accessories:
The HPA-2C comes in the standard White Matrix Audio box, it is made of quality cardboard and has a good finish, albeit plain. This is a device you will have read about or seen rather than needing the packaging to sell it, because of this no specs or images are needed on the box. Inside the box you get the HPA-2C very well padded in a foam insert, along with the accessories and instructions. The device is well packaged being held with foam, and also the device has a thin protective pouch over it. Overall the packaging is plain, but very well made and serves it purpose of getting the product to you undamaged, even when handled by the worst of couriers.
 

 
The build quality is superb, I didn’t find any blemishes on my unit, the finish is a neat matte black and everything fits together very nicely. All the inputs and outputs are gold plated and of excellent quality, the headphone socket is tight, the volume knob rotates every so smoothly. It all feels very sleek, smooth and solid. The full metal design with small opening on the sides also help keep the unit cool, and it only gets a little warm when being used, considering it is a class A amplifier.
 
Accessories included are the power cable, which is a standard 3 pin kettle lead, a USB cable, manual and CD which includes the driver. All in all you get everything you need to get it up and running.
 

 
Functionality and Setup:
The main improvement Matrix have done is add a high quality DAC to the HPA-2 amp as standard, not longer having it as an optional extra. The HPA-2C can be used as a pre-amp for a stereo setup, as a headphone amp only and as a DAC/Amp combo, you can also use it as just a DAC but the volume control controls the RCA output level, so as a DAC it doesn’t have a fixed line level out.
This amp has 2 gain settings, however I have never needed high gain, it is only really needed for very hard to drive headphones.
 
Setup was nice and easy, I am using windows 10 and just installed the driver and it was simple to setup and use.
 

 
Sound:
Well what can I say, this is a powerful desktop amp that has a great built in DAC for a neat all in one solution. It is suitable for full size headphones, and inefficient IEM’s only, with most IEM’s there is a constant audible hum unfortunately, which is never audible with full size headphones, no matter how efficient they are, a little odd. I should add that the output impedance is 10 Ohms so it is best suited to headphones 80 Ohms and over really.
 
This as an amp on its own tries not to add too much flavour, it is powerful and balanced, well refined and ever so slightly smooth. It takes the slightly sharp edge off the sound which makes it an enjoyable listen. It may not be the flattest in terms of overall sound, but it is also not as smooth as a valve amp at the same price. It works wonders with Beyerdynamic T1 1^st Generation as it takes the edge off the slight sharpness in the treble without taking away the detailed nature of the headphones. The sound is articulate and extended on both ends, with the FA-003ti you get the great separation and soundstage, along with the very tight and detailed sound, but the amp adds a little warmth and adds a little something that makes them sound tonally correct.
 
Using it as a DAC/Amp also works very well, I cannot hear a huge difference between the Quattro II and the internal DAC, the Quattro II definitely has the upper hand in detail retrieval and also refinement where you can nitpick things a little easier, and the Quattro II is fantastic in its own right, but if you only need a USB input I cannot see anyone going wrong with just using the internal DAC and this as a standalone device.
 

 
Using the Fostex TH-500rp I still find myself going to my Feliks Audio Espressivo Valve amp, as it sound smoother and overall compliments the TH-500rp better than the HPA-2C, the HPA-2C does make them sound a little more open and also extension up top is better, but with the Espressivo they sound buttery smooth. This is not a fault of the HPA-2C, just personal preference.
 
Comparing it to the JDS Labs Element, the HPA-2C has a touch more authority and body, the Element sounds a little cold in comparison, even though it is an exceedingly good product. I feel the HPA-2C adds some realism to the sound. Both very good products, and the Element works better with IEM’s but the HPA-2C works better with hard to drive headphones.
 
Conclusion:
This is a great looking, well built amp/DAC combo that would stand proud as an all in one desktop solution, or as a lone headphone amp fed by another source. It is perfect for driving hard to drive full size headphones effortlessly with control, body and refinement. It may not be the most versatile amp out there, nor is it the flattest sounding amp, but is does offer a slightly full sound which I find works very well with the Beyerdynamic T1, Fischer Audio FA-003ti and others. Overall a great device, with an MSRP of $289 I can highly recommend it.
And if you are adventurous the op-amp is interchangeable too, so it opens up the possibility to roll others.
 
 
Sound Perfection Rating: 8.5/10 (the hum makes it not suitable for IEM’s, but if you use it for what it’s made for, it is fantastic for the price)

Firstly I would like to the The Bit for offering me a discount on the Opus #1 in exchange for a review, I did not receive this sample for free. I always try to write honest reviews.
This DAP has had well over 50hrs of use, no differences were noted.
 
Gear Used:
Opus #1 > Normal output > InEarz IE-P350 / AAW W300 / T5p 2^nd Generation and more
Opus #1 > Balanced out > InEarz IE-P350 / AAW W300
Opus #1 > Optical out > Matrix Quattro II > Feliks Audio Espressivo > Fostex TH-500rp
 

 
Tech Specs:
Comprehensive list can be found on the product page
http://www.thebit.co.kr/content/pubf.action?fn=product/product3
MSRP: $599
 
Packaging, Build Quality and Accessories:
The Opus #1 has very sleek packaging, a matte black outer sleeve with Opus #1 Ver 1.0 in silver on the front, with technical specifications listed on the back. Take this sleeve off and again you have a matte black box, which separates and you are greeted by the Opus #1 held in a foam intray. Underneath this you will find the manual, a screen protector and the USB cable. I really like the understated packaging, no frills just a nice quality box that isn’t unnecessary and looks great, along with keeping the product safe during shipping.
 

 
The Build quality is very nice, The Bit were kind enough to send a genuine leather case with mine. The body is ABS plastic, but this does not detract from the feel of the device. The front has a nice touch screen, the back is glass too. On the sides you have volume buttons along with FF/Pause/REV buttons. All the buttons feel of good quality, you have a standard Micro USB connector on the bottom for charging and file transfer, and on the top you have a 3.5mm headphone out socket which doubles up as the optical out, a 2.5mm Balanced output (A&K Pinout) and the On/Off button. No issues with the build quality at all.
 
Accessory wise you get a screen protector which I installed straight away, and you also get a micro USB cable. That’s it for accessories, the leather case is an optional extra I think, and is well worth purchasing as the finish and fit are excellent, and it does not hinder using the DAP at all.
 

 

 
Features and UI:
This DAP is designed for music playback only, which I think is great. It has no unnecessary features, just a stripped back music player. This DAP supports 2 x MicroSD, so you can get up to 400gb of external storage, along with a 32gb internal memory, that is a lot of music so I really like the fact it supports that much memory.
 
The optical output is very handy if you want to hook it up to your home listening system, the balanced output is slightly more powerful than the regular headphone output, and also has lower crosstalk, another great feature as it uses the same pinout as A&K players so there are plenty of compatible cables out there.
 
The hardware buttons are great for navigating when the player is in your pocket, the screen resolution is great and the screen is also responsive to touches. Viewing angles are not a problem, but you may need higher brightness levels when using it in bright sunlight.
 

 
Battery life is rated at 8-10 hours, and there is no fast charge option. For me this is not a problem, I easily get a couple of days usage on my usual commute and this would only be a problem if you are planning to go away for a few days without a charger (very rare scenario in today’s world).
 
The UI is great, it is based on Android but you wouldn’t notice. It is stripped back to the bare minimum, with just music related options. You have Songs/Albums/Artists/Genres and Folders to find your music. Updating the library only takes a couple of minutes, in the quick settings you have brightness, balanced out, EQ and Sleep.
 
If you dig deeper you can change the L/R balance, user EQ, Languge, Auto Display off, Set Sleep time and all the system info/update/initialize.
 
No wifi, or apps, which I appreciate, The Bit have done what people want, a pure music player that is easy to navigate yet has some great features, and great spec, I have not found the Opus #1 to be slow ever, it is responsive and easy to get around, there is however a very small delay when pressing play/pause sometimes.
 

 
Sound:
I used this with multiple headphones, I have had a few DAP’s to try to replace my iPod Classic, and this is the best one so far, and has replaced my aging iPod Classic.
 
The Opus #1 first off has plenty of power, it can drive sensitive IEM’s with no hiss or background noise, to bigger full size headphones with ease. I was listening between 50-70 on the volume level with my CIEM’s and also the T5p 2^nd Generation, and the volume goes up to 150.
 
Now on to the actual sound signature, to me it sounds flatter than most other DAP’s I’ve tested, the iPod Classic in comparison sounds lifeless and a little dull, it does not have the layering or detail retrieval this has, yet it was my day-to-day player for about 4 years.
 
The Opus #1 has a way of bringing out every detail in your music, in a very neutral way, there are no noticeable dips or peaks anywhere, or any added warmth. With players like the Lotoo Paw5000 and Paw Gold, they are both excellent players, but both have a more lush and warm sound signature, which is great when paired with the right headphones. But I prefer a more neutral sound, it works better with my gear, and it’s also better to match the headphones to the source in my opinion.
The Hidizs AP100 was a very good player too, but the UI was not very intuitive, and I just found it lacking on the whole. The same with the Fiio X3 (1^stgen) I used it for a while, but limited storage and not the best UI made it not quite good enough.
 
The Opus #1 sounds very clean and precise, I don’t feel like the player is the weak link anymore as it has enough resolution to outdo what most headphones can portray. I don’t need to carry 2 devices to get the level of fidelity this player has, I never feel the need to carry a separate DAC/amp with this, and it works very well with some headphones that sounded a little dull out of my iPod Classic.
Some might find the Opus #1 to sound a little clinical and analytical, but to my ears, it is not harsh in its portrayal of detail, it just has it all there where it should be. It is also not thin, what it will do is show you the true sound of your headphones of choice.
 
The overall sound is very well balanced, open and detailed, the soundstage is wide, there is no hiss and overall a superb sounding player if you want neutral and detailed sound.
 

 
Conclusion: Well in terms of audio quality, this punches above its price point, it can compete with higher priced players, and also deliver the detail from many good desktop systems. The firmware gets updated quite quickly, so I can see this being a killer player once it is fully stable (very stable already, only a few improvements to be made). UI is very good, storage is excellent and it has the high quality sound and also file format support you would expect from a player like this. I see good things in the future for The Bit, and look forward to seeing what they have in store.
 
Rating: 8/10 (A great player, at a great price, just need a few minor firmware updates)

Firstly I would like to thank iFi Audio for sending me this sample to review, I always try to write honest reviews. This unit received over 30hrs of burn-in, no differences were noted.
 
Gear Used:
Dell XPS 15 > iDAC2 > GMP 8.35D / GMP 400 / Inearz IE-P350
Dell XPS 15 > iPurifier2 > iDAC2 > GMP 8.35D / GMP 400 / Inearz IE-P350
Dell XPS 15 > iPurifier2 > iDAC2 > Feliks Audio Espressivo > GMP 400 / DT880 600ohm
 

 
 
Tech Specs:
iFi list a very comprehensive list of specs on the product page:
http://ifi-audio.com/portfolio-view/micro-idac2/
MSRP: £295 (£315 bundled with the iPurifier2 from select stores)
 
Packaging, Build Quality and Accessories:
 
Anyone that has had any iFi products before will be familiar with the packaging, a sleek white box with a picture of the product on the front and specifications on the back. There are some details on the side of the box too. This is all on an outer sheath, once you slide this off you are greeted with a plain white 2 part box that has iFi written in silver on it. Once you take the top half off you are greeted by the iDAC2 held neatly in a card in tray. Underneath this in tray you will find the accessories. Everything looks very neat, and appealing, along with protecting the unit well during shipping.
 

 
The iPurifier comes in a smaller white box, which if nice and simple to open and it has information on the back of the box. Again very neat, tidy, and easy to open.
 
Build quality is excellent as with all iFi products, it is part of the micro family and they are all the same size which means you can stack them neatly. The casing is all aluminium and has a very nice finish to it, the 3.5mm headphone socket is a little loose which was an issue with the original iDAC, it just means you have to be careful not to knock it when you have your headphones plugged in. The volume knob is very smooth, the RCA jacks are all very solid and have rubber caps on them for when not in use.
 

 
 The USB connector is gold plated and feels solid, the phase switch is also very sturdy. Overall the unit is very well built and also looks fantastic, I really like the design of the iFi products.
 
The iPurifier is very simple in design, the colour does not match the iDAC2 and other iFi products but that is only a minor grip, as I actually really like the gun metal colour. Both connectors are solid and I have no worries about the long term durability.
 

 
Accessories included are fine, you get a USB cable, rubber feet, a pair of RCA interconnects and a manual, nothing else is needed, everything you need is included and I cannot fault the included accessories.
 
Functionality:
The iDAC2 is easy to set up, just download the driver from the iFi website, plug in the iDAC2 and install. You can also download a tool to update the firmware, and iFi are brilliant, there are different firmwares for people using the iDAC2 in different systems. I am running the Vanilla firmware as I have no specific requirements for the iDAC2.
 

 
It is fully DSD compatible, but personally I mainly have 44.1khz 16bit Flac files with a handful of 192khz 24bit tracks. The LED that shows it is playing changes colour depending on the sample rate of the track playing, a neat little feature.
 
Also all tracks are played native, no upsampling or converting is going on inside, even when playing DSD and PCM files.
 

 
The RCA outputs run in Class A, always a nice feature quality wise.
It also has an optical output, so you can use this as a USB to coaxial converter.
 
Sound:
I will write the sound as a whole rather than splitting like the usual headphone reviews.
 
The iDAC2 has improved upon its predecessor in a few ways. Mainly you get better file support but they have also tweaked the insides and in my opinion it is audible.
 
This time they have decided to go with a burr-brown DAC chip, in my opinion it is not so much the chip that is used, but rather the implementation that is important. The iDAC was in my opinion one of the cleanest DAC’s I’ve ever heard, but it always lacked a little something. It was a little too clinical I think, where the iDAC2 is as detailed but has a little more soul, a little more body and smoothness to the sound. I find the iDAC2 a lot less fatiguing to listen to, without missing out on any subtle details.
 
The iDAC2 is again a very balanced and neutral DAC but this time, it is more natural sounding, I know it sounds cliché, but it is more analogue. The iDAC was a little too digital sounding.
Using it with a nice tube amp shows its ability to retain fine detail, you get the wide and spacious, detailed sound with the added body from the tube amp. You don’t lose the finer details, that can sometimes sound a little smoothed over on less capable DAC’s.
 
The built in headphone amp is a huge step up from the iDAC too, offering up to 350mw which is a lot better than the 150mw of the iDAC. It shows, as it is a great stand alone device being able to drive most headphones apart from power hungry home headphones (which people have dedicated amps for anyway).
 
The iPurifier is an interesting device, built to lower the noise from USB and correct the data flow, in real life testing the difference is very subtle. But a/b’ing and I do notice a very slight difference in sound quality. It slightly reduces perceived harshness and sibilance, it makes the sound a tiny bit smoother and thus reducing listening fatigue.
 
This DAC is very revealing and sounds best when used with FLAC files and well recorded source material. There are various filters, but I find myself just leaving it on bit-perfect as the sound differences are very subtle.
 

 
Conclusion: Well most DAC’s nowadays strive for neutrality and clarity, the original iDAC was a great piece of kit, it was incredibly detailed and very crisp. But the iDAC2 is more pleasurable to listen to due to its more natural sound. It isn’t less detailed, or a warm DAC, but everything sounds a little fuller and more natural, also smoother overall. 
 
The iDAC sounded a little forced, and details were a little harsh, whereas the iDAC2 improves upon this. I really like the sound of this DAC, and the headphone amp is a lot better than the previous iDAC one.
 
The iPurifier2 is a great little device too, it reduces a tiny bit of harshness, and in doing so does increase listening pleasure. A great little combo, which sounds great and has a few nifty features, excellent for at home and also on the go usage.
 
Rating: 10/10 (for the price, I cannot find any negatives)
 

Firstly I would like to thank iFi Audio for lending me this sample to review, I try to write honest reviews. This unit has had over 50hrs of burn-in, no differences were noted.
 
Gear used:
Dell XPS15 > Matrix Quattro II > iFi iCan SE > German Maestro GMP 400 / Fostex TH-500Rp
 

 
Tech Specs:
 
Packaging, Build quality and Accessories:
The packaging is the same as the rest of the iFi Micro line up, a slim white box which is a little Apple esque. The outer sleeve has all the info you need on the product, slide this off and you have a 2 part box. Once you slide the top off the box you are greeted by the iCan itself, which has the same form factor as all the Micro range. Underneath the intray you will find the accessories. I really like the sleek packaging, which serves its purpose to protect and house the product, whilst being one of the more attractive designs out there.
 
Build quality is on par with the other products in the range, a very nice aluminium case, super smooth volume pot, high quality inputs/outputs and also tough looking switches. iFi Audio do know how to build a sleek, yet very well built product. There is nothing on the design that feels cheap, and nothing that feels like it will wear out quickly.
 

 
Accessories are good, you get a small RCA-RCA interconnect, a power supply (which is the ultra low noise and ripple iPower 15v PSU), a 3.5mm-3.5mm aux cable and a small screwdriver which is needed to change the gain. Overall a good package of included accessories, and everything you need.
 

 
Features:
The iCan has always been a great headphone amp not just for its sound quality but also for its features, it comes with a 3.5mm and RCA inputs, 1 single 6.3mm headphone output but also has different gain settings. This new version of the iCan is similar to the original where it has the xBass switch and also a 3D HoloGraphic sound switch, more on these later. This does make the iCan SE a very versatile device, powering the most sensitive IEM’s to power hungry electrostats with no problems.
 

 
Sound:
I will write about this amp as a whole, not split into categories.
The fantastic thing about the iCan is that it doesn’t really have a sound signature as such, it lets the source material pass through without adding much flavour. And I for one appreciate it’s honest sound, but unlike some other amps, it has some interesting features.
First off the sound is very neutral, with maybe a hint of smoothness which to me makes it a lot more enjoyable, I found the same to be true about the JDS Labs Element, neither of these amps are as unforgiving as the Objective2 amp, but I prefer both due to that tiny bit of smoothness. From lows to highs this amp excels, it has the power and authority to drive almost any headphone on the market, lows are tight yet have the right amount of body and decay, mids are detailed and highs shimmer as they should, very natural and neutral with nothing out of place.
 

 
Now when you turn the xBass on things start to get fun, the iCan has a very well implemented bass boost, it adds punch and extension without bloat. I don’t usually like bass boost, but the lowest level with my German Maestro GMP 400’s make them a lot more enjoyable to listen to. This feature is great for when you want to listen to some EDM with your usual headphones and crave that extra bit of punch.
 
The 3D HoloGraphic switch is a very different beast. It is interesting and also very track dependent, it is quite a subtle change, but can make some tracks sound more coherent rather than the hard panned L/R that headphones tend to portray. My headphones already have great soundstage, but this add a little width and vocals are not as hard centre, it can make for a more stereo/hifi setup sound and when used right can add to listening enjoyment.
 

 
Conclusion, just like the original iCan, the iCan SE is a great headphone amp, it now comes with more power under the hood, but with the same functionality and great sound the original was known for. All in a very sleek package, I didn’t need to change to high gain, I was using it at around 1 to 2 o’clock on the volume knob and it powered to relatively hard to drive TH-500rp and GMP 400’s with ease. I really like the bass boost, it adds body where it is needed without muddying the rest of the sound, and the 3D HoloGraphic switch can make some tracks a whole lot more enjoyable.
I cannot fault this little device, especially for the price.
 
Rating: 10/10 (just like its sibling, fantastic value and sound, with excellent features)

These were loaned to me by Polar Audio for review, I always try to write honest reviews. These have had over 50hrs of burn-in before I received them so I do not know if they have changed in that time.
 
Gear Used:
The Bit Opus #1 > T5p 2^nd Generation
The Bit Opus #1 > Optical Out > Matrix Quattro II > T5p 2^nd Generation
 

 
Tech Specs:

Transducer type: dynamic   Operating principle: closed
Nominal frequency response: 5 - 50,000 Hz 
Nominal impedance: 32 Ω
Nominal SPL: 102 dB  
Sound coupling to the ear: circumaural     
Weight without cable: 350 gram
Cable: 1.40 meter, double-sided, detachable OCC 7N copper conductors, textile braided
Connection: gold vaporized mini stereo jack plug (3.5 millimeter) & 1/4 inch adapter (6.35 millimeter)
Accessory: luxury-grade hard carry case
Warranty: 5 years
MSRP: £849
 

Packaging, Build Quality and Accessories:
The packaging is similar to the T1 2^nd Generation, with a very nice outer box with quality pictures on it, on the back you will find the specifications and a list of accessories, on the sides key features are explained. Inside the box you will find the guarantee and manual papers on top, and underneath this you will find the carry case which holds the headphones. Very attractive packaging, one that tells you all you need to know about the product and it also protects them during transit.
 

 
Build quality is what you would expect from Beyerdynamic, high quality laser etched panels on the cups, the cups are plastic but soft touch plastic. The arms are metal, the headband is covered in soft pleather, the earpads are also very soft pleather with memory foam. The cable is detachable and uses a 3.5mm jack each side, the cable clicks in to place nicely and the cable itself is covered in fabric an uses 7n OCC copper. The jack is a little on the larger side, and won’t fit phones with bumper cases, but this design may change somewhere down the line.
The L and R connectors are distinguished by colours on the jack and also the left side has 3 raised dots, the same with the headphones, there is a L printed in on the inside of the slider with 3 raised dots. The cable exits at a slight forward angle rather than straight down.
 

 
Included accessories are a 3.5 – 6.3mm jack and a carry case. The carry case is not too big, and much better than the aluminium one the old T5p came with, the headphones fit in with the cable attached which is great. The 2^nd Generation don’t come with an extension cable for home listening, I believe due to cost and also you can get an optional 3m cable for these, and a 4-pin XLR balanced cable. Overall for a full size headphone, nothing else is needed.
 

 
Comfort, Isolation and Cable Noise:
The comfort is excellent, they clamp just enough to create a good seal without causing discomfort. The pads are soft and deep, the drivers are angled my ears never touch the baffle. They are not too heavy for portable usage and the headband pad is well padded, I find these comfortable for longer listening sessions. As with any closed back headphone you may experience your ears heating up, but these don’t suffer hugely from this due to the spacious cup size.
 

 
Isolation is good for a closed back full size headphone, perfectly adequate for daily commutes but if you are planning on using them in noisy environments you may want to look for something that isolates more. There are 2 bass ports, one on the back of each cup, these do cause minimal leakage, providing you are listening at normal volumes this should not cause any problems. Overall great for a daily portable headphone, and also if you need a closed headphone at home to block out unwanted noise or to not disturb your partner these would fit the bill (providing you don’t listen too loud)
 
Cable noise is present but not enough to really cause a problem.
 

 
Sound:
Split in to the usual categories, with a conclusion at the end.
 
Lows:
Those who disliked the original T5p can rejoice, these have bass. Just like they improved the T1, the T5p 2^nd Generation have more bass but without going over the top. I think the amount of lows these have is just north of neutral, they have very good extension and body with enough punch when called for to make them a little more fun to listen to. Listening to Metalcore they can keep up with the double kick drum without lagging, acoustic is full bodied and natural, bass guitars are articulate, the only time I would want any more would be listening to EDM (EQ if you need to). For all round listening I find the quality to be excellent, very natural decay and presentation with enough quantity to keep them from sounding thin. There is nothing lacking in the lows, and they also don’t spill over in to the mids.
 
Mids:
Airy, spacious, detailed yet natural is how I would describe the mids. Vocals cut through the mix cleanly with only a hint of extra body, the mids sit perfectly in the mix with a very smooth presentation. Guitars how power and authority, both male and female vocals fair evenly with no sibilance to be detected. The detail retrieval is incredible, you can hear every nuance yet they are not presented harshly. Not a lot to say about the mids, they just sound right.
 
Highs:
The highs no longer have the famous Beyer peak, instead they have smooth extension and great detail and presence without harshness. They are also very accurate, I really enjoy the highs, I am a bit of a treble head and these satisfy my craving without any annoyance or fatigue. Most users won’t have a problem with the highs on these, they shimmer and sparkle is incredible, they extend effortlessly and are always audible without being too much.
 
Soundstage is huge for a closed back headphone, the separation and air is also very impressive, you will be immersed in a very 3D holographic sound with these.
 
Source: These work well out of portable devices, but do fair better with high quality players. Also they may sound fine with MP3 320kbps, but play some FLAC and you can hear the difference.
 

 
Conclusion: Well they definitely listened to what the users wanted, and have made one hell of a closed back headphone. Ok they cost £849 which does make them one of the more expensive portable headphones, but these also work fantastically at home. They are run off a portable source with ease, but scale up very well with good equipment. I do not ever feel like these are lacking at any end of the spectrum. They have a balanced and natural sound, with a hint of warmth,  but this slight warmth does not alter the incredible detail retrieval or ever make these sound congested. I actually found these to work wonders with Metalcore music (Suicide Silence, The Devil Wears Prada etc...) I have never had a headphone sound this good with the above music.
 
 
I am seriously tempted to get a pair, I cannot imagine anything this versatile sounding any better than these do. If I were only allowed 1 pair of headphones, I think these would be them. I love the T1 2^nd Generation, but I might actually prefer these on the whole, and you cannot take the T1’s outside. Fostex TH-500rp are great but again not portable, as are one of my all time favourite headphones the HE-6. These offer real high end sound quality, in a portable friendly package.
 
Rating: 10/10 (the sound is fantastic, the build and everything about them screams quality)
 

Firstly I would like to thank Matrix for sending me this review sample, it was arranged through their distributor. I always try to write honest reviews, these are my subjective findings. This DAC has been burnt in, to be honest with solid state devices I do not tend to hear big variations after burn-in, this was no different.
 
Gear Used:
Dell XPS 15 > USB > Matrix Quattro II > (German Maestro GMP400 / Fischer Audio FA-003ti Wood Cup)
Marantz CD-52 SE > Coaxial > Matrix Quattro II > Marantz PM-44 MKII SE > Mission 702e
 


 
Tech Specs:
(The list is quite comprehensive, so I’ll post the link)
http://www.matrix-digi.com/en/specifications/98/index.html
MSRP: $899
 
Packaging, Accessories and Build Quality:
Well this is a mid to high end DAC, and the box is very nice. It is white, and has Matrix written on it, upon opening the box, you are greeted with foam, dense and protective, you lift off the top layer and you will find the Quattro securely held in place, also wrapped in packing material.
Underneath this main foam in tray, there is another which holds the power cable, the USB cable and the remote, all very securely packaged and nothing moved during shipping. The packaging feels good, and again it serves it purpose very well of protecting the product during shipping.
 

 
Included accessories are a standard USB cable, a power cable and a remote, the remote is very nice and is great for adjusting the volume, selecting the source and putting the unit in standby mode. It also allows you to mute it, which is very handy if using it in a speaker system. You also get an instruction manual and a CD with the USB driver on it for windows, everything you need to get setup is included, no other accessories are needed.
 
Build quality is excellent, it is a very classy looking product, with its black and white colour scheme and angled edges. It sits very nicely on a desk or on a shelf, depending on what you are planning to use it with. The front has a volume knob which is stepped and also has no limit, it rotates fully to adjust the volume up and down, it also acts as a select button when you push it in, this is used for selecting the source. Volume steps are measure 0.5db each time, so you can quite easily fine tune your listening level as they are not big steps. The dual headphone sockets are both very high quality, the back has many inputs and outputs which I will go in to a little later. The casing is aluminium, and it is very neat and precise, the case acts as a heatsink, and has some vents on the top, but again very discreet and precise. Overall the build quality is excellent, and this device is built to last.
 

 
Features and Functionality:
Well this is a great DAC is you have multiple sources, it has 2 coaxial inputs, 2 optical, 1 USB and a AES/EBU input, so you can hook up multiple devices and switch the input with the remote.
The remote can control the input source, and also the volume, the line-out volume can be manipulated and can also be set to 0db or +10db if you need the extra volume.
 
This is a fully balanced DAC, and has XLR outputs, and also standard unbalanced RCA outputs, along with 2 stereo 6.3mm headphone sockets, allowing you to use this with 2 pairs of headphones, unfortunately there is only the one volume control which controls both headphone outputs at the same time.
 
This DAC is fully DSD compatible, and the firmware is upgradeable, so this DAC is futureproof.
 


Sound:
Now it all comes down to the sound at the end of the day, and this as a DAC does not fail to impress. Its internal headphone amp, well it depends on which headphones you use, more on this later.
Playing through my Marantz CD-52 SE > Coax > Quattro II > PM-44 MKII SE > Mission 702e it is incredibly clean and crisp. It really brings out the air and subtle detail in music, and with the setup I have this compliments it very nicely as it is a tad on the warmer side usually. It doesn’t lack body however, it is very flat and true to source not adding any real flavour of its own.
 
Using it in to an external headphone amp also renders the same performance, clean, flat and very detailed and airy. A very good source to feed your system, with the added high resolution compatibility, you are setup for a long time.
 
Using the internal headphone amp really depends on your headphones, it is plenty powerful enough to drive most headphones, from sensitive in-ears to full size headphones. However I find the sound to be a little dull and lifeless, maybe I have been spoiled by the full and musical sound of my Feliks Audio Espressivo valve amp. My Fischer Audio FA-003ti sound a little off when played out of this amp, but my GMP 400 do fair better, with their excellent clarity, you get very neutral and balanced sound from the Quattro.
 

 
So when paired with slightly warmer headphones, it will bring out the best in them, but I would not recommend pairing it with very flat or borderline bright headphones, otherwise the Quattro will reveal and the flaws in your music, and also may sound fatiguing.
 
I always considered the iFi Audio iDAC to be my benchmark DAC, being very versatile and detailed, this is twice the price, but for that you do get a lot more functionality and also this is compatible with a lot more formats. In that respect it is definitely worth the price, especially considering it is a fully balanced DAC too, meaning you can easily connect it to a balanced headphone amplifier and have a fully balanced setup.
 
So what is my final opinion? I would say this is a great buy, but only if you are going to use it to its full potential. You can get incredibly flat and detailed DAC’s at lower prices, but this has a lot more in terms of format compatibility, and also inputs/outputs. The balanced outputs are great for higher end amps, along with 2 optical so you can hook this up to your TV and console in the living room and flick between sources with the included remote.
 
The headphone amp works great with most headphones, but definitely pairs better with warmer headphones, due to its very detailed and flat sound.
 

 
Overall I do like this DAC, it is very handy having a device that I can play all my sources through, along with the USB being very quiet (my 1 big gripe with the DDS DAC-01). It plays well with my stereo setup, along with being able to plug it in to my Feliks Audio Espressivo for headphone listening. The Dual headphone output is also handy if using with friends, but I do not know how many people will make use of this feature. The remote is lovely, and the volume control is very easy and intuitive to use. A well made, good looking and future proof product, very nicely done Matrix Audio.
 
Rating: 8/10 (Fantastic sounding DAC, but the internal headphone amp could be improved)
 

 
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