Matrix Audio SC-1 Audio Grade Reference Clock at Vinyl Sound Buffalo, NY

The SC-1 is an audio-grade reference clock from Matrix Audio (Xi'an, China), available at Vinyl Sound in Buffalo, New York. Matrix Audio's first dedicated clock source, the SC-1 is built around a custom-made SC-cut Oven-Controlled Crystal Oscillator (OCXO) that generates a 10MHz master reference signal with a measured phase noise of -118dBc/Hz at 1Hz offset and 20 femtoseconds of jitter in the 1 to 100Hz band, with a frequency accuracy better than ±0.01ppm at shipping. Four independent 10MHz BNC outputs, each with its own dedicated buffer and driver circuit, supply a pristine and isolated 50-ohm clock signal to up to four compatible streamers, DACs, or CD players simultaneously. A 1PPS reference input allows the internal OCXO to be calibrated against an external GPS or atomic reference for absolute long-term accuracy. The SC-1 received the Essential Audition Award from Pursuit Perfect System in November 2025.

SC-Cut OCXO: Superior Phase Noise and Aging Characteristics

Standard crystal oscillators use an AT-cut crystal, a simpler manufacturing process with acceptable phase noise for most applications. The SC-1 uses an SC-cut crystal, a more complex cutting angle that yields superior phase noise performance and significantly better long-term frequency aging characteristics compared to AT-cut designs. The crystal is housed inside a thermally regulated oven chamber that maintains a constant operating temperature regardless of ambient conditions, shielding the oscillator from the environmental fluctuations that degrade phase noise and introduce frequency drift in uncontrolled designs. The oven circuit and the clock circuit are powered by completely independent regulated supplies within the SC-1's advanced linear power supply. The result is a 10MHz signal that is accurate to less than ±0.01ppm at the point of shipping, stable to less than 0.003ppm across -40°C to +70°C of ambient temperature variation, and measurably more precise than the internal clocks of any streamer, DAC, or CD transport it replaces.

Four Independent Buffered Outputs and CBVB Isolation

Supplying a reference clock to multiple components simultaneously requires more than a passive signal splitter. When multiple devices share a single clock output through a simple split, each device's input impedance loads the signal differently, degrading the impedance match and introducing reflections that add noise back onto the clock line. The SC-1 addresses this with four independent 10MHz BNC outputs, each with its own dedicated buffer amplifier and driver circuit maintaining a stable 50-ohm impedance. Any variation at one output or at one connected device cannot travel back to influence the other outputs. Each connected component receives the same pristine, isolated 10MHz reference as if it were the sole recipient. The chassis provides excellent electromagnetic shielding to protect the OCXO from external interference, and proprietary CBVB (Ceramic Ball Vibration Buffer) isolation feet on the underside absorb micro-vibrations from the support surface that would otherwise modulate the crystal's operating frequency.

Awards and Critical Recognition

• Essential Audition Award, Pursuit Perfect System, November 2025

Key Features

• Custom SC-Cut OCXO Module: Oven-controlled SC-cut crystal oscillator in a thermally regulated chamber delivers frequency accuracy below ±0.01ppm, stability below 0.003ppm across -40°C to +70°C, and short-term stability of less than 5x10-13 at 1 second averaging time.
• -118dBc/Hz Phase Noise at 1Hz Offset: Measured at the output ports rather than the oscillator alone, the SC-1's phase noise of -118dBc/Hz at 1Hz, -140dBc/Hz at 10Hz, and -150dBc/Hz at 100Hz represents a reference-grade timing signal for the most demanding digital audio systems.
• 20 Femtoseconds of Jitter (1-100Hz Band): Measured jitter of 20 femtoseconds in the audio-relevant 1 to 100Hz frequency band provides a timing reference orders of magnitude more precise than the internal clocks of any consumer audio component.
• Four Independent Buffered 10MHz BNC Outputs: Each output has its own dedicated buffer amplifier and 50-ohm driver circuit, preventing any single connected device from loading or influencing the other outputs and ensuring each receives a perfect, isolated clock signal.
• 1PPS Reference Calibration Input: A 1 pulse-per-second BNC input allows the internal OCXO to be calibrated and disciplined against an external GPS receiver or atomic clock reference for absolute long-term frequency accuracy beyond the factory specification.
• Configurable Sine or Square Wave Output: The waveform type is factory-set to match the requirements of the connected components, since some streamers and DACs accept sine wave while others require square wave input at their 10MHz clock port.
• Advanced Linear Power Supply with Dual Multi-Stage Regulators: Completely independent regulated power supplies for the oven control circuit and the clock circuit eliminate cross-contamination between these two noise-sensitive sections.
• CBVB Proprietary Isolation Feet: Ceramic Ball Vibration Buffer isolation feet absorb and dissipate mechanical micro-vibrations from the support surface before they reach the OCXO module, protecting the crystal's operating environment.
• N Series and M Series Ecosystem Integration: The SC-1 supplies a master timing reference to the Matrix Audio NT-1 transport, ND-1 DAC, MS-1 and MS-1c streamers, and any other compatible component with a 10MHz clock input, locking the entire digital chain to a single master timebase.

Technical Specifications

Connections at a Glance

• 4x BNC 10MHz Output (independent buffered, 50 ohm)
• 1x BNC 1PPS Reference Calibration Input
• IEC Power Input (auto-adaptive 100V-120V)

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Matrix Audio SC-1?

The Matrix Audio SC-1 is an audio-grade reference clock built around a custom SC-cut Oven-Controlled Crystal Oscillator generating a 10MHz output signal at -118dBc/Hz phase noise at 1Hz offset, 20 femtoseconds of jitter in the 1 to 100Hz band, and frequency accuracy better than ±0.01ppm. Four independent buffered 10MHz BNC outputs supply up to four compatible digital audio components simultaneously. It received the Pursuit Perfect System Essential Audition Award in November 2025 and is available at Vinyl Sound in Buffalo, New York.

How does the Matrix Audio SC-1 compare to the Mutec REF10 or Cybershaft OP21A?

The Matrix Audio SC-1 competes directly with reference clock sources such as the Mutec REF10 and Cybershaft OP21A. The Mutec REF10 is a well-established OCXO-based 10MHz clock with six outputs using a standard AT-cut crystal design. The Cybershaft OP21A uses an OCXO with very low phase noise figures and is manufactured in Japan. The SC-1 differentiates with its SC-cut crystal, a more complex cut than AT that provides superior aging characteristics and lower phase noise at close-in offsets, four independent dedicated buffer amplifiers per output rather than a split signal, a 1PPS calibration input for GPS or atomic reference disciplining, proprietary CBVB isolation feet, and fully independent regulated power supplies for the oven and clock circuits within a dual-stage linear power supply design.

What does an external reference clock actually do for a digital audio system?

Every digital audio component contains an internal crystal oscillator that times the digital signal processing and output stages. When a streamer, DAC, or CD transport accepts a 10MHz external clock input, it can lock its internal timing to the external reference instead of its own oscillator. The SC-1's OCXO generates a 10MHz signal that is far more stable and phase-noise-free than any internal clock in a consumer audio product. Components locked to the SC-1 process and output their digital signals with measurably lower jitter, which translates into improved soundstage focus and depth, tighter imaging of individual instruments, cleaner transient edges, and a lower overall noise floor in the analog output of the connected DAC.

What is an SC-cut OCXO and how does it differ from a standard AT-cut crystal?

An OCXO encloses a crystal oscillator in a thermally regulated oven that holds the crystal at a constant temperature, eliminating the frequency drift caused by ambient temperature changes. The crystal cut refers to the angle at which the quartz crystal is sliced, which determines its resonant frequency, temperature coefficient, and phase noise characteristics. An AT-cut crystal is simpler to manufacture and provides acceptable performance for most applications. An SC-cut crystal uses a more complex doubly-rotated cutting process that produces a crystal with a flatter frequency-versus-temperature response near the oven setpoint, superior phase noise at close-in frequency offsets (1Hz to 100Hz), and better long-term aging stability, making it the preferred choice for reference-grade timing applications.

How many components can the SC-1 clock simultaneously?

The SC-1 provides four independent 10MHz BNC outputs, each driven by its own dedicated buffer amplifier and 50-ohm driver. This allows up to four compatible digital audio components to be clocked simultaneously from a single SC-1. Compatible Matrix Audio components with 10MHz clock inputs include the NT-1 Digital Audio Transport, the ND-1 Audio DAC, the MS-1 and MS-1 PRE streamers, and the MS-1c streamer. Non-Matrix Audio DACs, streamers, and CD transports with a 10MHz external clock input are also compatible.

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

The Matrix Audio SC-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 compatible component matching, BNC cable selection, waveform type (sine or square) for specific components, and 1PPS calibration source options.

What is the 1PPS input on the SC-1 used for?

The 1PPS (one pulse per second) input on the Matrix Audio SC-1 accepts a reference signal from a GPS receiver or atomic clock source that generates exactly one electrical pulse per second, synchronized to an absolute time standard. When a 1PPS signal is connected, the SC-1's internal control circuit can discipline the OCXO's output frequency to match the long-term accuracy of the external reference, correcting any residual frequency error that accumulates due to aging of the SC-cut crystal over months and years of operation. This allows the SC-1 to maintain absolute frequency accuracy indefinitely rather than drifting slowly from its factory calibration figure over time.