Matrix Audio SS-1 Audio Grade Network Switch
Matrix Audio SS-1 Audio Grade Network Switch The network your streaming system deserves — engineered for audio from the ground up. The Matrix Audio SS-1 is an audiophile-grade Ethe rnet network switch built from first principles for high-fidelity streaming audio systems. It replaces the consumer-grade switch or router port that most streaming setups depend on for their final network connection — and redesigns every relevant aspect of that connection: clock precision, individual port RF shielding, dedicated audio port speed optimization, and the fundamental architecture of a high-speed digital switch operating well within its capability at audio-relevant data rates. The result is a cleaner, more precisely timed digital data environment for connected streamers, DACs, and music servers, with an upgrade path to external linear power supply performance available via the rear DC input. Available now at All Elite Audio, your authorized Matrix Audio dealer in Timonium, Maryland — with in-store demos, expert guidance, and nationwide shipping. Why Higher Speed Means Lower Noise — The Core Engineering Argument One of the most important and least intuitive aspects of the SS-1's design is why Matrix Audio built an audio switch capable of 10 Gbps speeds when streaming audio requires only a fraction of that bandwidth. The answer lies in digital circuit physics: a switch engineered for very high-speed signal transmission is built to operate with tighter timing tolerances, lower error rates, and greater electrical stability across its entire architecture than a switch designed specifically for lower speeds. When that high-speed hardware operates at the lower data rates required for audio streaming, it does so with a wide performance margin — producing fewer timing errors, less switching noise, and more stable data delivery than a switch running near its designed limits. A 10 Gbps capable switch delivering audio data at 100 Mbps is operating at roughly one percent of its maximum speed. The result is inherently better performance at that speed than a 100 Mbps switch working near its limit. This is the foundational design decision that separates the SS-1 from generic audio switches, and it informs every other engineering choice in the product. Femtosecond Clock — Precision Timing Throughout The SS-1 uses an ultra-low phase noise femtosecond-grade clock as the reference for its main controller. This is a significantly higher-precision timing source than the standard oscillators used in consumer network switches, which prioritize cost over clock accuracy. Better clock quality in the switch means more stable and accurate data timing on every port, including the audio ports where a streamer or DAC is connected. The femtosecond clock is the SS-1's primary clock system — a single-stage design that delivers strong performance for most high-quality streaming systems. The SS-1 Pro builds on this foundation by adding a two-stage RF synthesizer and DPLL architecture, plus an external 10 MHz clock input for synchronization with a reference clock such as the Matrix Audio SC-1. Port Architecture: Dedicated Audio Ports and High-Speed Backbone The SS-1 provides eight physical ports in three speed tiers, each designed for a specific role in the audio network. The two 100 Mbps dedicated audio ports are the heart of the SS-1's value proposition. By operating at 100 Mbps rather than the higher speeds of the other ports, these connections generate significantly less high-frequency switching activity and associated electromagnetic interference at the port level — creating a quieter electrical environment for the sensitive audio components connected to them. These ports use 10 Gbps-grade independent Ethernet transformers, and each transformer is individually enclosed in a metal shielding shell to prevent radio frequency interference between adjacent ports. The audio port sockets are also wider-spaced than standard switch ports, providing the physical clearance needed for premium audiophile Ethernet cables with large plugs or substantial cable bodies without crowding. The four 2.5 Gbps ports handle connections to routers, NAS devices, computers, and other general network equipment, providing substantial bandwidth headroom for high-resolution library access and multi-room streaming without creating bottlenecks elsewhere on the network. The two 10 Gbps SFP/SFP+ ports accept standard fiber optic or copper SFP modules. With fiber modules installed, these ports achieve complete galvanic isolation between the wider network and the SS-1 itself — eliminating the electrical path from the router side entirely. This makes it possible to receive the upstream network connection via fiber for optical isolation, while the audio components downstream benefit from the SS-1's clean, low-noise port environment on the dedicated audio ports. Internal Power Supply and External Linear PSU Upgrade Path The SS-1 uses an internal switching power supply as its standard power source. While this supply is designed with audio performance in mind and is well filtered, listeners who want to take performance further can connect an external linear power supply via the rear-panel DC input. When an external DC supply is connected, the internal AC supply disconnects automatically — the SS-1 switches fully to external power with no overlap or interference between the two supplies. The incoming DC power is then conditioned through an internal noise suppression filter and four ultra-low-noise LDO linear regulator circuits before reaching the femtosecond clock and main controller, ensuring any residual noise from the external supply is thoroughly attenuated before it matters. This upgrade path allows SS-1 owners to progressively refine the system's power quality at their own pace and budget, without requiring a different switch. Individual Port RF Shielding Throughout Each of the Ethernet ports on the SS-1 uses a fully shielded RJ45 socket, with the Ethernet signal transformer for each port individually enclosed in its own metal shielding shell. This port-level shielding prevents radio frequency interference generated by one port's switching activity from coupling into adjacent ports — a source of noise that standard switches make no attempt to address. In a typical installation where a computer or NAS is on a high-speed port while a sensitive DAC or streamer is on an audio port, the individual shielding ensures the high-speed side's activity does not contaminate the electrical environment at the audio port. Passive Cooling, Adjustable Isolation Feet, and Build Quality The SS-1 operates entirely without fans — passive cooling only, with no moving parts and no vibration sources of any kind. The chassis dissipates heat naturally through its CNC-machined aluminum construction and a reinforced steel base plate that provides both structural rigidity and thermal mass. The unit ships with four isolation feet installed. These can be reconfigured to three feet if preferred — a three-point contact eliminates any rocking on slightly uneven surfaces and represents the acoustically preferred configuration for many audiophiles, since three-point support is inherently stable without requiring precisely leveled placement. The LED status indicators on the Ethernet ports can be disabled via the rear-panel settings button, eliminating light pollution during dedicated listening sessions without affecting the switch's operation in any way. Key Specifications Ports: 2x 100 Mbps RJ45 (dedicated audio), 4x 2.5 Gbps RJ45, 2x 10 Gbps SFP/SFP+ Network Standards: IEEE 802.3 (10BASE-T), 802.3u (100BASE-TX), 802.3bz (2.5G/5GBASE-T), 802.3ae (10GBASE-SR/LR) Clock System: Ultra-low phase noise femtosecond-grade reference clock Port Shielding: Individual metal-shell shielded Ethernet transformers per port; 10 Gbps-grade transformers on all ports Audio Ports: Wide-spaced independent sockets for high-end cable compatibility Internal Power Supply: Switching supply (standard) External DC Input: 12V DC — when connected, internal AC supply disconnects automatically; internal noise filter + four ultra-low-noise LDO regulators Cooling: Passive, fanless LED Control: Port LEDs switchable off via rear panel settings button Isolation Feet: Four installed (reconfigurable to three) Chassis: CNC-machined aluminum with reinforced steel base plate Power Consumption: Less than 15W Power Voltage: AC 100-240V, 50/60Hz (auto-adaptive) Dimensions (W x D x H): 280 x 206 x 58.5 mm Weight: 2.3 kg (5.1 lbs) Warranty: 1 year manufacturer warranty Why Buy From All Elite Audio All Elite Audio is an authorized Matrix Audio dealer located in Timonium, Maryland — part of the greater Baltimore area. We carry the full Matrix Audio ecosystem including the SS-1 and SS-1 Pro network switches, the SC-1 reference clock, the SI-1 network isolator, and the NT-1 streaming transport. Our team has direct experience with network audio system configuration and can help you determine where the SS-1 fits in your system and whether the SS-1 Pro is the right step up. We offer white-glove service, in-store demos, and support before and after your purchase. Whether you are local to Maryland or ordering nationwide, we are here to help you get the most from your system. Call: 443-402-5055 Text: 443-402-5064 Visit: 1921 York Rd, Timonium, MD 21093 Frequently Asked Questions — Matrix Audio SS-1 What is the Matrix Audio SS-1 and what does it do? The Matrix Audio SS-1 is an audio-grade Ethernet network switch that replaces the standard consumer switch or router port feeding your streaming components with a purpose-engineered device built for audio data transmission. It uses a femtosecond-grade clock, individually shielded Ethernet transformers on every port, dedicated 100 Mbps audio ports with wide-spaced sockets, dual 10 Gbps SFP/SFP+ fiber ports for optical isolation, and a high-speed architecture that delivers lower timing errors and less electrical noise than conventional switches. An external linear power supply can be added at any time via the DC input for further performance refinement. How does a network switch affect sound quality? The Ethernet cable and switch that deliver data to your streamer or DAC are also carrying the electrical noise generated by everything else on your network — switching power supplies in routers, RF interference from connected computers, and the high-frequency switching activity of the switch's own circuitry. This noise travels on the cable into sensitive audio components and can affect the analog output stage, elevating the noise floor and degrading timing precision. An audio-grade switch like the SS-1 addresses these noise sources through better clocking, individual port RF shielding, and dedicated audio ports that operate at lower speeds for a cleaner electrical environment. Why does the SS-1 have 100 Mbps audio ports when audio only needs a fraction of that bandwidth? The 100 Mbps audio ports reduce the rate of high-frequency switching activity at those port connections compared to higher-speed ports, which lowers the electromagnetic interference generated at that point in the network. Audio streaming requires only a few Mbps even for the highest-resolution formats, so 100 Mbps is already substantial headroom. The wider physical spacing between the audio port sockets is also designed to accommodate the larger plugs and heavier construction of premium audiophile Ethernet cables. Does the SS-1 have a built-in linear power supply? No. The SS-1 uses an internal switching power supply as its standard power source. However, a rear-panel 12V DC input accepts an external linear power supply as an upgrade. When the external supply is connected, the internal switching supply disconnects automatically, and the incoming DC is conditioned through an internal noise filter and four ultra-low-noise LDO regulators before reaching the clock and controller circuits. This makes the SS-1 a genuinely upgradeable platform — you can add linear power supply performance later without replacing the switch. What is the difference between the Matrix Audio SS-1 and the SS-1 Pro? The SS-1 and SS-1 Pro share the same port configuration, chassis design, and high-speed architecture. The key differences are in the clock system and power supply. The SS-1 Pro uses a two-stage clock architecture — a femtosecond reference clock feeding a high-precision RF synthesizer with a DPLL — which produces lower phase noise and better jitter performance than the SS-1's single-stage femtosecond clock. The SS-1 Pro also includes a 10 MHz BNC external clock input for synchronization with a reference clock such as the Matrix Audio SC-1, which the standard SS-1 does not have. The SS-1 Pro's internal power supply is also a more refined design with an O-core toroidal transformer and audio-grade filtering. For listeners who want SC-1 clock synchronization or the maximum clock performance the platform offers, the SS-1 Pro is the right choice. For listeners who want strong performance at a more accessible price with the option to add an external linear supply later, the SS-1 is excellent value. Can I use the SS-1 with any brand of streamer or DAC? Yes. The SS-1 works with any Ethernet-connected audio device regardless of manufacturer — EverSolo, Matrix Audio, Lumin, Bluesound, Roon endpoints, and any other network streamer, music server, or network DAC. It is compatible with all streaming services and protocols including Roon, TIDAL Connect, Qobuz, Spotify, DLNA, and UPnP. Simply connect your router or upstream switch to a 2.5 Gbps port and your streamer or DAC to one of the 100 Mbps audio ports. What SFP modules work with the SS-1's 10 Gbps ports? The SFP/SFP+ ports accept standard SFP and SFP+ fiber optic and copper modules. Single-mode and multimode fiber modules are both compatible, as are copper SFP modules for RJ45 connections. The SFP module must match the capabilities of the device on the other end of the fiber connection. Our team at All Elite Audio can advise on specific module options for your network infrastructure. Where should I place the SS-1 in my network chain? The SS-1 sits between your router and your audio components. The typical configuration is: router → SS-1 (via a 2.5 Gbps port) → streamer or DAC (via one of the 100 Mbps audio ports). For fiber isolation at the input, use an SFP fiber module in one of the SS-1's 10 Gbps ports to receive the router connection optically. For the most refined Matrix Audio chain, the recommended configuration adds the SI-1 Network Isolator directly before the final audio component: router → SS-1 → SI-1 → audio device. This places both the switch's clean data environment and the isolator's galvanic isolation in series before the sensitive audio hardware. Does the SS-1 require any configuration or software? No. The SS-1 is an unmanaged switch — plug in your cables, connect power, and it operates immediately with no software, web interface, login, or configuration required. The only user-accessible control is the rear-panel button that disables the port LEDs. Is the SS-1 completely silent in operation? Yes. The SS-1 uses passive cooling with no fans, no spinning parts, and no vibration-generating components of any kind. It operates silently and runs cool during normal use, making it suitable for placement near sensitive audio equipment without adding any mechanical noise to the listening environment. Where can I buy the Matrix Audio SS-1 and get expert setup advice? All Elite Audio is an authorized Matrix Audio dealer with a full home audio showroom located at 1921 York Rd, Timonium, Maryland 21093. We carry the complete Matrix Audio lineup including the SS-1, SS-1 Pro, SC-1 clock, and SI-1 isolator, and can advise on the optimal network chain configuration for your system. Call us at 443-402-5055 or text 443-402-5064. We also ship nationwide.
