Matrix Audio SS-1 PRO Audio Grade Network Switch at Vinyl Sound Buffalo, NY

The SS-1 PRO is an audio-grade network switch from Matrix Audio (Xi'an, China), available at Vinyl Sound in Buffalo, New York. Engineered specifically for high-resolution audio streaming systems, the SS-1 PRO addresses the electrical noise, ground-loop interference, and timing jitter that conventional consumer-grade network switches introduce into the signal path upstream of a streamer or DAC. At its core are dual 10Gbps SFP+ ports for complete galvanic isolation from the main router via fiber optic, two dedicated 100Mbps audio-grade RJ45 ports optimized for lower bit-error-rate audio streaming, and a femtosecond clock system with a 10MHz external clock input for SC-1 Reference Clock synchronization. The built-in linear power supply features a custom o-core toroidal transformer, high-speed Schottky diodes, and six independent ultra-low-noise LDO regulators supplying the clock unit, SFP optical modules, and main control chip separately. Reviewed by Moon Audio, Alpha Audio, Hifi Pig, The Audio Tailor, and Soundnews across 2024 and 2025.

Dual 10Gbps SFP+ Optical Isolation and Dedicated Audio Ports

The most significant noise source in a home streaming system is the copper Ethernet connection from the router to the streamer, which carries electrical interference generated by the router, other network devices, and the mains power supply of every connected component. The SS-1 PRO addresses this with two 10Gbps SFP+ ports that accept standard fiber optic SFP or SFP+ transceiver modules. By connecting the SS-1 PRO to the upstream router or switch via fiber, the electrical path between the network infrastructure and the audio system is completely severed, blocking all ground-loop noise and common-mode interference at the point of entry. Two dedicated 100Mbps RJ45 audio ports provide the downstream connection to streamers. Operating at 100Mbps rather than gigabit speed reduces the electromagnetic emissions of the port and lowers the bit-error-rate during audio streaming, since audio transport protocols require far less bandwidth than 1Gbps connections carry. Every port on the SS-1 PRO is equipped with its own independent shielded Ethernet transformer and is widely spaced on the rear panel to accommodate high-end audiophile-grade RJ45 cables without physical interference between connectors.

Femtosecond Clock System and 10MHz External Clock Input

The SS-1 PRO incorporates an internal femtosecond crystal oscillator combined with a high-precision RF synthesizer that reconstructs the clock for the main network control chip. Network switches do not simply pass packets; they re-clock, buffer, and re-transmit data, and the precision of the internal clock determines how stable that re-clocking process is. An imprecise internal clock in a conventional network switch adds jitter to the reconstructed Ethernet packets, which can manifest as timing instability in the streamer or DAC receiving the data. The SS-1 PRO's femtosecond oscillator and RF synthesizer reduce this timing error to a level comparable to dedicated audio clock components. For audiophiles already using the Matrix Audio SC-1 Reference Clock, a 10MHz BNC external clock input allows the SS-1 PRO's internal oscillator to be synchronized with the SC-1's OCXO reference, locking the entire digital chain from switch to DAC to a single master timebase.

Linear Power Supply with O-Core Toroidal Transformer and Six LDO Regulators

The SS-1 PRO's power supply is a full linear design built around a custom o-core toroidal transformer. An o-core (also called a cut-core) toroidal has lower magnetic flux leakage than a standard toroidal and lower mechanical vibration, both of which contribute to lower noise in the clock and analog circuits. High-speed Schottky diodes in the rectifier stage minimize reverse-recovery switching noise compared to standard rectifier diodes. The raw DC output is filtered by nearly 10,000µF of audio-grade capacitors before being distributed to six independent ultra-low-noise LDO linear regulators, each supplying a dedicated circuit section: the clock unit, the two SFP optical modules, and the main control chip each receive clean, isolated power with no shared rails. The entire design is passively cooled with no fan, ensuring completely silent operation at all times.

Key Features

• Dual 10Gbps SFP+ Optical Isolation Ports: Two 10Gbps SFP/SFP+ ports accept fiber optic transceiver modules for complete galvanic isolation from the upstream router or network switch, severing the path for ground-loop noise and electrical interference from the main network infrastructure.
• Two Dedicated 100Mbps Audio-Grade RJ45 Ports: Lower-speed ports optimized for audio streaming reduce electromagnetic emissions and bit-error-rate compared to gigabit ports, providing a more stable and accurate data stream to connected streamers.
• Six 2.5Gbps High-Speed RJ45 Ports: Six auto-negotiating 2.5Gbps/1Gbps/100Mbps/10Mbps ports accommodate computers, NAS drives, and other high-bandwidth devices alongside the dedicated audio ports.
• Femtosecond Clock with 10MHz External Clock Input: Internal femtosecond crystal oscillator and RF synthesizer reduce network re-clocking jitter, with a 50-ohm BNC external clock input for synchronization with the Matrix Audio SC-1 Reference Clock.
• Custom O-Core Toroidal Linear Power Supply: O-core toroidal transformer with high-speed Schottky rectifiers and nearly 10,000µF of audio-grade filtering capacitors provides the raw DC foundation for six independent LDO regulators.
• Six Independent Ultra-Low-Noise LDO Regulators: Dedicated LDO regulators for the clock unit, SFP optical modules, and main control chip supply clean, isolated power to each critical section independently with no shared rails.
• Independent 10Gbps-Grade Ethernet Transformers Per Port: Every RJ45 port has its own fully shielded Ethernet transformer for superior RF interference rejection, with wide port spacing to accommodate audiophile-grade Ethernet cables.
• Fanless Passive Cooling: No fan at any operating condition, ensuring completely silent operation that does not add acoustic or electrical noise to the listening environment.
• CNC Aluminum Chassis with Reinforced Steel Base: Precision-machined aluminum enclosure with a steel base plate provides excellent electromagnetic shielding and mechanical stability, with configurable isolation feet for vibration control.
• 16K MAC Address Table: Handles networks of up to 16,384 unique device addresses for integration into complex home network infrastructure.

SS-1 vs. SS-1 PRO: Key Differences

Technical Specifications

Connections at a Glance

• 2x 100Mbps RJ45 Audio Port (dedicated, shielded)
• 6x 2.5Gbps RJ45 High-Speed Port (auto-negotiating)
• 2x 10Gbps SFP / SFP+ Port (fiber optic isolation)
• 10MHz External Clock Input (BNC, 50 ohm)
• IEC Power Input (auto-adaptive 100V-120V)

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Matrix Audio SS-1 PRO?

The Matrix Audio SS-1 PRO is an audio-grade network switch engineered to eliminate electrical noise, ground-loop interference, and timing jitter from the Ethernet connection upstream of a Hi-Fi streamer or DAC. It features dual 10Gbps SFP+ ports for fiber optic galvanic isolation, two dedicated 100Mbps audio-grade RJ45 ports, six 2.5Gbps high-speed ports, an internal femtosecond clock with a 10MHz external clock input for SC-1 synchronization, and a built-in linear power supply with an o-core toroidal transformer and six independent LDO regulators. It is available at Vinyl Sound in Buffalo, New York.

How does the Matrix Audio SS-1 PRO compare to the EtherREGEN or iFi OMNI LAN?

The Matrix Audio SS-1 PRO competes directly with audiophile-grade network switches such as the UpTone Audio EtherREGEN and iFi OMNI LAN. The EtherREGEN uses a moat-based isolation architecture with a linear power supply but offers fewer total ports and no 10Gbps SFP+ capability. The iFi OMNI LAN uses a femtosecond clock and linear power supply but lacks the SS-1 PRO's 10MHz external clock input for master clock synchronization. The SS-1 PRO differentiates with dual 10Gbps SFP+ ports for high-bandwidth fiber isolation, six 2.5Gbps high-speed ports, the 10MHz BNC input for SC-1 Reference Clock locking, six independent LDO regulators per circuit section, and an o-core toroidal linear power supply as standard without an optional external supply upgrade requirement.

Do I need fiber optic cables and transceivers to use the SS-1 PRO's SFP+ ports?

Yes. The SFP+ ports on the SS-1 PRO accept standard small form-factor pluggable transceiver modules that convert between the electrical RJ45 signal from the router and the fiber optic signal on the SS-1 PRO side. A pair of compatible SFP or SFP+ transceivers and a fiber optic patch cable are required to create the galvanic isolation connection. Common single-mode or multimode fiber SFP modules at 1Gbps or 10Gbps are compatible. Vinyl Sound Buffalo can advise on recommended SFP transceiver options for the SS-1 PRO's ports.

What does the 10MHz external clock input on the SS-1 PRO do?

The 10MHz BNC input on the SS-1 PRO accepts an external master clock reference, allowing the switch's internal femtosecond oscillator to be disciplined to the same reference used by the connected streamer or DAC. When the SS-1 PRO and the Matrix Audio NT-1 transport or ND-1 DAC are both connected to the Matrix Audio SC-1 Reference Clock via 10MHz BNC cables, all three devices share a single master timing reference. This eliminates the timing discrepancy between the switch's re-clocking process and the DAC's conversion clock, providing the most coherent possible digital signal path from network infrastructure to analog output.

Why do dedicated 100Mbps audio ports matter when audio streaming uses very little bandwidth?

High-resolution audio streaming, even at DSD512, uses well under 50Mbps of network bandwidth. Operating the audio ports at 100Mbps rather than 1Gbps or 2.5Gbps is a deliberate engineering choice that reduces the electromagnetic emissions of the port circuitry and the switching frequency of the internal transceiver, both of which generate noise that can couple into the clock circuits and power supply of the connected streamer. A lower-speed port handling audio-only traffic also produces fewer bit errors than a gigabit port under the same conditions, resulting in a more stable and accurate data stream to the streamer or DAC.

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

The Matrix Audio SS-1 PRO 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 network topology, SFP transceiver selection, fiber cable requirements, and SC-1 Reference Clock integration across the full Matrix Audio ecosystem.

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 core architecture: dual 10Gbps SFP+ optical isolation ports, two dedicated 100Mbps audio-grade RJ45 ports, and an internal femtosecond clock. The SS-1 PRO adds three key upgrades: a built-in linear power supply with an o-core toroidal transformer and six independent LDO regulators (the SS-1 ships with a switching power supply and accepts an optional external linear supply via a DC input), a 10MHz external clock input for SC-1 Reference Clock synchronization, and two additional 2.5Gbps high-speed ports for a total of six versus the SS-1's four. The SS-1 PRO is also slightly larger and heavier at 330mm wide and 3.4kg versus the SS-1's 280mm and 2.3kg.