Matrix Audio mini-i Pro 4 Music Streamer / DAC / Headphone Amplifier at Vinyl Sound Buffalo, NY

The mini-i Pro 4 is a compact all-in-one music streamer, DAC, and fully balanced headphone amplifier from Matrix Audio (Xi'an, China), available at Vinyl Sound in Buffalo, New York. Built around the flagship ESS ES9039Q2M D/A chip and powered by a quad-core Cortex-A55 processor at 2.0GHz, the mini-i Pro 4 delivers 2200mW of balanced output power from its 4.4mm Pentaconn output and outputs up to 4.4Vrms on XLR balanced line with a measured SNR of 127dB A-weighted and THD+N below 0.00008%. Roon Ready certified and running Matrix Audio's MA Player OS, it supports AirPlay 2, Tidal Connect, Spotify Connect, and UPnP/DLNA streaming over Gigabit Ethernet or dual-band Wi-Fi, with HDMI ARC for television audio integration. The mini-i Pro 4 received the Audiophile-Heaven Hall of Fame award in recognition of its sonic performance and feature breadth at its class.

ESS ES9039Q2M DAC and Fully Balanced Headphone Amplifier

At the core of the mini-i Pro 4 is the ESS ES9039Q2M, a flagship DAC chip from ESS Technology with a very high signal-to-noise ratio and extremely low distortion across the full bandwidth. The balanced headphone amplifier circuit is a ground-up design offering a significant power increase over the mini-i Pro 3, delivering 2200mW into 33 ohms from the 4.4mm Pentaconn balanced output and 1200mW into 33 ohms from the 6.35mm single-ended output. The balanced XLR line output delivers 4.4Vrms with an SNR of 127dB A-weighted and THD+N below 0.00008%, while the RCA line output provides 2.2Vrms at 121dB SNR A-weighted. USB Audio input supports PCM up to 24-bit / 768kHz, native DSD up to 22.4MHz (DSD512), and MQA up to 24-bit / 384kHz, with Optical and Coaxial inputs handling PCM up to 192kHz and DSD64 via DoP.

Streaming, HDMI ARC, and System Integration

The mini-i Pro 4 operates on Matrix Audio's MA Player OS, a self-developed streaming platform controlled via a 3.46-inch front-panel touchscreen displaying full-color album art and playback status, or via the MA Remote App for iOS and Android. Network streaming covers Roon Ready endpoint operation, AirPlay 2, Tidal Connect, Spotify Connect, DLNA/UPnP, vTuner, and Radio Paradise over Gigabit Ethernet (10/100/1000 Mbps) or dual-band Wi-Fi (2.4GHz / 5GHz). The HDMI ARC input accepts PCM up to 192kHz from a television, consolidating TV audio into the mini-i Pro 4's DAC and headphone amplifier without a separate audio extractor. The RCA analog input with multiple gain settings accommodates a turntable phono stage, CD player, or other line-level source at up to 2.1Vrms, broadening the mini-i Pro 4's role beyond streaming to a complete desktop analog and digital hub. Local library playback from USB drives and NAS is supported directly through the MA Remote App.

Awards and Critical Recognition

• Audiophile-Heaven Hall of Fame, Audiophile-Heaven, 2023

Key Features

• ESS ES9039Q2M Flagship DAC Chip: Latest generation ESS DAC chip delivering a class-leading SNR and vanishingly low distortion, paired with a high-quality clock system for accurate and musical D/A conversion.
• 2200mW Balanced Headphone Output (4.4mm): Fully balanced headphone amplifier ground-up design delivers 2200mW into 33 ohms balanced and 1200mW single-ended, with SNR of 117dB A-weighted balanced and THD+N below 0.0004%.
• Balanced XLR Line Output at 4.4Vrms: XLR balanced line output delivers 4.4Vrms with 127dB SNR A-weighted and THD+N below 0.00008%, doubling as a high-quality preamplifier output for active speakers or a power amplifier.
• Roon Ready Certification: Certified Roon endpoint with full hi-res and DSD support, alongside AirPlay 2, Tidal Connect, Spotify Connect, UPnP/DLNA, vTuner, and Radio Paradise protocol support.
• HDMI ARC Input: Accepts PCM up to 192kHz from a television's HDMI ARC port, allowing the mini-i Pro 4 to serve as the audio output stage for a television with full DAC and headphone amplifier quality.
• RCA Analog Input with Adjustable Gain: Accepts up to 2.1Vrms from a phono stage, CD player, or other line-level source, with multiple gain settings for precise level matching.
• USB Audio with MQA, PCM 768kHz, and Native DSD512: USB Audio input supports PCM to 768kHz, native DSD to 22.4MHz, and MQA decoding to 384kHz for the widest possible format compatibility from a connected computer.
• 3.46-inch LCD Touchscreen: Vibrant front-panel touchscreen displays full-color album art and device status, with direct touch control of playback and settings.
• Quad-Core Cortex-A55 Processor at 2.0GHz: High-performance processor runs the MA Player OS for smooth streaming, library browsing, and seamless protocol switching.
• Gigabit Ethernet and Dual-Band Wi-Fi: Wired Gigabit LAN (10/100/1000 Mbps) and dual-band Wi-Fi (2.4GHz / 5GHz) provide stable high-resolution streaming in any installation.
• MA Player OS and MA Remote App: Self-developed streaming platform with full MA Remote App control for iOS and Android, covering local library browsing from USB drives and NAS alongside all streaming services.
• Compact 224 x 186 x 53mm Chassis at 1.3kg: Desktop-optimized footprint fits any desk or rack shelf, with a full-featured remote control included for seated operation.

Technical Specifications

Connections at a Glance

• 4.4mm Pentaconn Balanced Headphone Output
• 6.35mm Single-Ended Headphone Output
• XLR Balanced Line Output
• RCA Single-Ended Line Output
• RCA Analog Input (AUX)
• HDMI ARC Input
• USB Audio Input
• Coaxial Digital Input
• Optical Toslink Digital Input
• RJ45 Gigabit Ethernet Port
• Wi-Fi Dual-Band (2.4GHz / 5GHz)
• USB Type A Port (storage)
• IEC Power Input

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Matrix Audio mini-i Pro 4?

The Matrix Audio mini-i Pro 4 is a compact all-in-one music streamer, DAC, and fully balanced headphone amplifier built around the ESS ES9039Q2M DAC chip and a quad-core Cortex-A55 processor. It delivers 2200mW balanced from a 4.4mm Pentaconn output, 127dB SNR A-weighted on XLR line output, Roon Ready certification, HDMI ARC input, and native DSD512 and PCM 768kHz via USB Audio, all in a 224 x 186 x 53mm chassis. It received the Audiophile-Heaven Hall of Fame award for its sonic performance and feature completeness. It is available at Vinyl Sound in Buffalo, New York.

How does the Matrix Audio mini-i Pro 4 compare to the EverSolo DMP-A6 or WiiM Ultra?

The Matrix Audio mini-i Pro 4 competes directly with compact all-in-one streamers such as the EverSolo DMP-A6 and WiiM Ultra. The EverSolo DMP-A6 uses an ES9038Q2M DAC chip and ES9219C headphone amplifier chip, with a larger touchscreen display but a lower headphone output power ceiling. The WiiM Ultra focuses on room correction features and multi-room integration with a lower headphone output specification. The mini-i Pro 4 differentiates with the newer ES9039Q2M DAC chip, 2200mW of fully balanced headphone output power, HDMI ARC input, MQA decoding via USB, a balanced XLR line output at 4.4Vrms with 127dB SNR, and the depth of the MA Player OS ecosystem with Roon Ready certification.

Can the Matrix Audio mini-i Pro 4 drive demanding planar magnetic headphones?

Yes. The mini-i Pro 4's fully balanced headphone amplifier delivers 2200mW into 33 ohms from the 4.4mm Pentaconn output, providing sufficient power for most planar magnetic headphones including models from Audeze, HiFiMAN, and Meze Audio. For 300-ohm dynamic headphones, the balanced circuit provides the voltage swing needed without clipping or dynamic compression. Sensitive IEMs are also accommodated through the adjustable gain settings on the headphone output.

What does the HDMI ARC input on the mini-i Pro 4 do?

The HDMI ARC input on the Matrix Audio mini-i Pro 4 accepts audio from a television at up to PCM 192kHz via the TV's HDMI ARC port. This allows the mini-i Pro 4 to serve as the audio output stage for a television, routing the TV's audio through the ES9039Q2M DAC and out through the headphone amplifier or line outputs at full DAC quality. This is useful for anyone who uses a television as a display source for streaming services and wants the audio processed by a dedicated DAC rather than the television's internal audio circuits.

Is the Matrix Audio mini-i Pro 4 compatible with Roon?

Yes. The mini-i Pro 4 carries official Roon Ready certification, making it a fully integrated Roon endpoint that appears natively in the Roon interface without additional configuration. It supports bit-perfect streaming of PCM and DSD content from a Roon Core to the ES9039Q2M DAC over the local network via Gigabit Ethernet or Wi-Fi, with full gapless playback and metadata display on the front-panel touchscreen.

Where can I buy the Matrix Audio mini-i Pro 4 in Buffalo, NY or the USA?

The Matrix Audio mini-i Pro 4 is available at Vinyl Sound, located in Buffalo, New York. Vinyl Sound is an authorized Matrix Audio dealer serving customers across Western New York and the United States, with expert guidance on system matching, streaming setup, and headphone pairing.

What is the difference between the Matrix Audio mini-i Pro 4 and the mini-i 4?

The Matrix Audio mini-i Pro 4 and mini-i 4 share the same chassis, ESS ES9039Q2M DAC chip, MA Player OS, Roon Ready certification, and network streaming capabilities. The key difference is the headphone amplifier: the mini-i Pro 4 adds a fully balanced headphone amplifier circuit with a 4.4mm Pentaconn balanced output delivering 2200mW into 33 ohms, while the mini-i 4 includes only a single-ended 6.35mm headphone output with lower output power. The mini-i Pro 4 also includes balanced XLR line output alongside the RCA output, whereas the mini-i 4 is limited to RCA line output. Audiophiles who use balanced headphone cables or require maximum drive capability for demanding headphones should choose the mini-i Pro 4.