Matrix Audio MP-1 Preamplifier at Vinyl Sound Buffalo, NY

The MP-1 is a flagship pure Class A preamplifier from Matrix Audio (Xi'an, China), available at Vinyl Sound in Buffalo, New York. Matrix Audio's first dedicated preamplifier, the MP-1 is built as a true dual-mono, fully balanced design from input to output, with four independent fully balanced amplification units and two dedicated 60W square copper wire toroidal transformers supplying completely isolated left and right channel power rails. A precision resistor array voltage-divider volume control with 100 steps and relay switching preserves signal purity at every attenuation level, while the pure Class A output stage operates at high bias current to eliminate crossover distortion entirely. The MP-1 has been reviewed by Positive Feedback alongside the Matrix Audio MA-1 power amplifier as part of the complete M Series flagship system, which also includes the MS-1 and MS-1c music streamers.

Pure Class A Output Stage

The MP-1's output stage operates entirely in pure Class A, keeping the output transistors conducting at all times so that no crossover distortion can occur. This stands in direct contrast to Class AB designs, where the transition between the positive and negative halves of the waveform introduces a measurable distortion artifact that affects fine musical texture. The MP-1's Class A bias operates under a low-noise power supply of up to 60V, achieving an XLR dynamic range of 129dB A-weighted and a balanced THD+N below 0.00015%. An output DC servo circuit holds the output midpoint offset within 1mV, removing any need for coupling capacitors and ensuring a flat frequency response from 20Hz to 250kHz (-3dB) with no capacitor coloration in the signal path.

True Dual-Mono Architecture and Precision Volume Control

Channel separation in a preamplifier depends directly on how completely the left and right channels are isolated from one another at the power supply level. The MP-1 addresses this with two independent custom 60W toroidal transformers wound with square copper wire, one per channel, each feeding a completely separate power regulation circuit. Square copper wire carries a larger conductor surface area than conventional round wire, resulting in lower resistance, higher current capacity, and improved transient response. These transformers are paired with Mundorf M-Lytic AG series filter capacitors in the power supply stage. The fully differential transistor input stage and four independent fully balanced amplification units extend this symmetry from the power supply through to the output jacks, producing XLR crosstalk measured at -140dB. Volume attenuation is handled by a high-precision resistor array in a voltage-divider configuration, switched by high-quality relays, providing 100 steps of accurate attenuation with perfect channel consistency at every level.

H-Shaped Chassis and Mechanical Isolation

The MP-1 is housed in Matrix Audio's H-shaped chassis, machined from a 20mm thick CNC-aluminum central beam that forms the structural core of the component. All internal boards, including the power supply, audio circuits, and output devices, are mounted directly to this central beam, creating physically isolated internal cavities that prevent mechanical and electrical coupling between circuit sections. The perforated hexahedral exterior, with its array of circular holes of varying sizes and depths, provides passive heat dissipation for the Class A output stage while expressing the Matrix Design language shared across the M Series. At 15.7kg and 430 x 349 x 106mm, the MP-1 occupies the same rack footprint as the MS-1 streamer and MA-1 power amplifier for a coherent M Series installation.

Key Features

• Pure Class A Output Stage: High-bias current Class A amplification eliminates crossover distortion, delivering XLR THD+N below 0.00015% A-weighted and a dynamic range of 129dB A-weighted with a dead-silent noise floor.
• True Dual-Mono Design: Two independent custom 60W square copper wire toroidal transformers and separate power regulation circuits for the left and right channels ensure that power demands on one channel cannot affect the other.
• Fully Balanced Architecture: A fully differential transistor input stage and four independent fully balanced amplification units provide -140dB XLR crosstalk and outstanding common-mode noise rejection from input to output.
• Precision Resistor Array Volume Control: A voltage-divider system using high-precision resistors switched by quality relays delivers 100 steps of perfectly matched attenuation without introducing a potentiometer or digital processing into the signal path.
• Capacitor-Free Signal Path: An output DC servo circuit maintains the output midpoint offset within 1mV, eliminating coupling capacitors and preserving a flat frequency response to 250kHz (-3dB).
• Mundorf M-Lytic AG Filter Capacitors: Premium Mundorf capacitors in the power supply stage contribute to the MP-1's smooth, detailed tonal character.
• Versatile Input and Output Configuration: Three XLR balanced inputs and three RCA single-ended inputs provide comprehensive source connectivity, while two XLR balanced outputs enable bi-amping or simultaneous connection to two power amplifiers.
• High Output Level Capability: The XLR output delivers up to 36Vrms and the RCA output up to 18Vrms, with a 40-ohm balanced output impedance, ensuring compatibility with any power amplifier regardless of input sensitivity.
• H-Shaped CNC Chassis: A 20mm thick central aluminum beam forms isolated internal cavities for each circuit section, providing mechanical rigidity and shielding against external vibration and inter-circuit interference.
• Trigger In / Out: DC trigger ports enable system-wide power sequencing when paired with the Matrix Audio MA-1 power amplifier and MS-1 or MS-1c streamers.

Technical Specifications

Connections at a Glance

• 3x XLR Balanced Analog Input
• 3x RCA Single-Ended Analog Input
• 2x XLR Balanced Analog Output
• 1x RCA Single-Ended Analog Output
• Trigger In (DC 6-12V)
• Trigger Out (DC 12V / 50mA)
• IEC Power Input

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Matrix Audio MP-1?

The Matrix Audio MP-1 is a flagship pure Class A stereo preamplifier from Matrix Audio, built as a true dual-mono fully balanced design with four independent balanced amplification units, two dedicated 60W square copper wire toroidal transformers, a precision resistor array volume control, and a capacitor-free signal path. It measures XLR THD+N below 0.00015% A-weighted and XLR dynamic range of 129dB A-weighted, and forms part of the Matrix Audio M Series flagship system alongside the MS-1 streamer and MA-1 power amplifier. It is available at Vinyl Sound in Buffalo, New York.

How does the Matrix Audio MP-1 compare to the Pass Labs XP-12 or Parasound JC 2 BP?

The Matrix Audio MP-1 competes directly with high-end Class A preamplifiers such as the Pass Labs XP-12 and Parasound JC 2 BP. The Pass Labs XP-12 also uses a pure Class A topology but relies on a single-ended power supply design and rotary volume control, while the Parasound JC 2 BP is a fully balanced design with a higher input count. The MP-1 differentiates through its true dual-mono independent transformer power supply, precision resistor array voltage-divider volume control with relay switching, 36Vrms maximum balanced output level, and the integrated trigger system designed for seamless operation within the M Series ecosystem.

Can the Matrix Audio MP-1 drive a power amplifier directly?

Yes. The MP-1 drives any power amplifier directly through its XLR balanced outputs, which deliver up to 36Vrms with a 40-ohm output impedance and +12dB of gain. The 100-step resistor array volume control handles all attenuation, making a secondary preamplifier or buffer unnecessary. The dual XLR outputs also allow bi-amping a single pair of loudspeakers or simultaneously driving two separate power amplifiers.

What is pure Class A amplification and why does it matter in a preamplifier?

Pure Class A amplification keeps the output transistors continuously conducting throughout the full audio waveform cycle, so the signal never crosses through a zero-current transition point. In Class AB designs, a brief crossover distortion artifact occurs each time the signal switches between the positive and negative halves of the waveform. In a preamplifier, where the signal is low-level and extremely sensitive to coloration, eliminating crossover distortion results in a more accurate, liquid, and tonally natural rendering of fine musical detail and texture.

Does the Matrix Audio MP-1 work with the MS-1 and MS-1c streamers?

Yes. The MP-1 is designed as the control center of the Matrix Audio M Series and integrates directly with the MS-1, MS-1 PRE, and MS-1c music streamers via balanced XLR interconnection. The shared trigger system allows the MP-1 to power up and down in sequence with the MS-1 or MS-1c and the MA-1 power amplifier. The MP-1 accepts up to six sources across its three XLR and three RCA inputs, making it the switching hub for a complete M Series or mixed-source system.

Where can I buy the Matrix Audio MP-1 in Buffalo, NY or the USA?

The Matrix Audio MP-1 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 M Series system configuration, source matching, and amplifier pairing.

What does the resistor array volume control in the MP-1 do differently from a standard potentiometer?

A conventional potentiometer volume control uses a continuous resistive track and a wiper contact that introduces channel imbalance at low volume settings and adds the resistive element into the audio signal path at all times. The MP-1's resistor array voltage-divider volume control uses a fixed matrix of high-precision resistors switched in and out of the signal path by quality relays in 100 discrete steps. At every attenuation level the signal passes through only a minimal, precisely defined resistive network, preserving channel consistency, soundstage integrity, and signal transparency in a way that potentiometer designs cannot match.