Matrix Audio X-SABRE 3 Music Streaming DAC at Vinyl Sound Buffalo, NY

The X-SABRE 3 is a flagship streaming DAC from Matrix Audio (Xi'an, China), available at Vinyl Sound in Buffalo, New York. The third generation of the X-SABRE lineage, it combines a purpose-built high-resolution DAC with a full network streaming platform, transforming a dedicated ESS flagship DAC into a self-contained streaming hub. Built around the ESS ES9038PRO DAC chip clocked by a Crystek CCHD-950 femtosecond oscillator, the X-SABRE 3 delivers a balanced XLR output SNR of 134dB A-weighted with THD+N below 0.00010% at 1kHz and channel crosstalk beyond -151dB. Roon Ready certified with Tidal Connect, Spotify Connect, and AirPlay 2 over Gigabit Ethernet and dual-band Wi-Fi, it was awarded the Hi-Fi News Outstanding Award in 2022 and reviewed by Positive Feedback, Gramophone, and Darko.Audio as a compelling addition to the high-end streaming DAC market.

ES9038PRO DAC with Crystek CCHD-950 Femtosecond Clock

The X-SABRE 3 uses the ESS ES9038PRO, ESS Technology's flagship eight-channel DAC chip, configured for stereo output with the full depth of its dynamic range and noise-shaping capabilities applied to two channels. The chip is clocked by a Crystek CCHD-950 femtosecond oscillator, one of the lowest phase noise crystal oscillators available for audio applications, providing the stable timing reference that allows the ES9038PRO to achieve its full measured performance. The balanced XLR line output delivers 4.8Vrms with an SNR of 134dB A-weighted, a frequency response of 20Hz to 20kHz within ±0.05dB with a -3dB point at 86kHz, and crosstalk beyond -151dB. The RCA line output delivers 2.4Vrms at 128dB SNR A-weighted. The IIS-LVDS input via HDMI handles PCM up to 32-bit / 768kHz and native DSD up to 22.4MHz (DSD512), while the USB Audio input supports the same resolution range plus MQA decoding up to 384kHz. A user-accessible Sync/Async mode switch allows the D/A chip to operate either from its internal Crystek clock in Async mode or slaved to the front-end device's clock in Sync mode.

Network Streaming Platform and Isolated Architecture

The X-SABRE 3 runs on a NXP i.MX 6Quad processor with four Cortex-A9 cores at 1.2GHz, providing the processing power for stable MA Player OS operation and simultaneous streaming and DSP functions. Network connectivity is via Gigabit Ethernet or dual-band Wi-Fi (2.4GHz and 5GHz), with the Wi-Fi antennas concealed beneath the tempered glass top panel to preserve the chassis lines. Roon Ready certification provides bit-perfect network audio from a Roon Core with no additional configuration. Tidal Connect and Spotify Connect allow lossless and high-resolution streaming directly from the respective service apps, with the X-SABRE 3 appearing as a playback device. AirPlay 2, DLNA/UPnP, HIGHRESAUDIO, vTuner, and Radio Paradise complete the streaming ecosystem. To accommodate the noise demands of the streaming processor, Matrix Audio placed the D/A conversion stage and analog output section in fully independent shielded chambers, isolating the power supply, digital, and analog circuitry from one another. The result is a DAC whose streaming integration does not compromise the analog output performance of the ES9038PRO and Crystek clock combination.

Awards and Critical Recognition

• Outstanding Award, Hi-Fi News, 2022

Key Features

• ESS ES9038PRO Flagship DAC Chip: Eight-channel flagship DAC from ESS Technology delivers 134dB SNR A-weighted on balanced XLR, THD+N below 0.00010% at 1kHz, and channel crosstalk beyond -151dB, with 4.8Vrms balanced output.
• Crystek CCHD-950 Femtosecond Clock: One of the lowest phase noise crystal oscillators available for audio, providing the precise timing reference that enables the ES9038PRO to achieve its full measured dynamic range and distortion performance.
• Sync / Async Clock Mode: User-selectable from the front touch panel, Async mode uses the internal Crystek CCHD-950 clock exclusively, while Sync mode hands timing control to the connected front-end digital source for compatibility with external master clocks.
• IIS-LVDS Input for Native DSD512 and PCM 768kHz: IIS-LVDS via HDMI supports PCM up to 32-bit / 768kHz and native DSD up to 22.4MHz, bypassing S/PDIF encoding for the lowest-jitter direct I2S connection from a compatible transport.
• USB Audio with MQA Decoding: USB Audio input supports PCM to 768kHz, native DSD to 22.4MHz, and full MQA decoding including MQA Studio streams up to 384kHz.
• Roon Ready Certification: Certified Roon endpoint providing bit-perfect network audio from a Roon Core with full hi-res PCM and DSD support, gapless playback, and track metadata display on the front panel LCD.
• Tidal Connect and Spotify Connect: First Matrix Audio product to include both Tidal Connect and Spotify Connect, enabling lossless and high-resolution streaming directly from the service apps without a separate Roon or UPnP server.
• Isolated D/A and Analog Output Chambers: The D/A conversion stage and output circuitry are placed in independent shielded enclosures separate from the streaming processor, with isolated power supply, digital, and analog sections preventing noise contamination between the streaming platform and the DAC.
• High-Resolution LCD with Album Art Display: New full-color LCD front display shows current operating status, sample rate, bit depth, and streaming album art during network playback.
• Trigger In / Out: Standard 12V trigger ports enable automatic power-on/off sequencing with connected power amplifiers or active monitors.
• Gigabit Ethernet and Dual-Band Wi-Fi: Wired Gigabit LAN (10/100/1000 Mbps) and concealed dual-band Wi-Fi antennas (2.4GHz / 5GHz) provide stable high-resolution network streaming in any installation.
• MA Remote App Control: MA Remote App for iOS and Android provides complete control of local library browsing, streaming service access, volume, hardware configuration, and hardware setup.

Technical Specifications

Connections at a Glance

• XLR Balanced Line Output (4.8Vrms)
• RCA Single-Ended Line Output (2.4Vrms)
• Coaxial Digital Input
• Optical Toslink Digital Input
• IIS-LVDS Digital Input via HDMI (PCM 768kHz / Native DSD512)
• USB Audio Input
• RJ45 Gigabit Ethernet Port
• Wi-Fi Dual-Band (2.4GHz / 5GHz, concealed antennas)
• Trigger In / Out (12V)
• IEC Power Input (switchable 115V / 230V)

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Matrix Audio X-SABRE 3?

The Matrix Audio X-SABRE 3 is a flagship streaming DAC built around the ESS ES9038PRO DAC chip clocked by a Crystek CCHD-950 femtosecond oscillator, delivering 134dB SNR A-weighted on balanced XLR and THD+N below 0.00010% at 1kHz. It is Roon Ready certified with Tidal Connect, Spotify Connect, AirPlay 2, Gigabit Ethernet, and dual-band Wi-Fi, and includes IIS-LVDS, USB Audio, Coaxial, and Optical digital inputs. It received the Hi-Fi News Outstanding Award in 2022 and is available at Vinyl Sound in Buffalo, New York.

How does the Matrix Audio X-SABRE 3 compare to the Topping D90SE or Gustard X26 Pro?

The Matrix Audio X-SABRE 3 competes directly with high-end standalone DACs such as the Topping D90SE and Gustard X26 Pro. The Topping D90SE uses an ES9038PRO chip with strong measurement performance but no onboard streaming capability, requiring a separate network streamer. The Gustard X26 Pro uses dual ES9038PRO chips in a mono configuration but also lacks integrated streaming. The X-SABRE 3 differentiates with its integrated network streaming platform, Roon Ready certification, Tidal Connect, Spotify Connect, dual-band Wi-Fi, a Crystek CCHD-950 femtosecond clock, a user-selectable Sync/Async clock mode, and fully isolated shielded chambers for the D/A and analog output sections, enabling the streaming integration without compromising the ES9038PRO's measured output performance.

What is the Sync / Async mode on the X-SABRE 3?

In Async mode, the X-SABRE 3's D/A chip is clocked exclusively by the internal Crystek CCHD-950 femtosecond oscillator. Any clock signal present at the digital input from the source device is discarded, and the DAC chip re-clocks all incoming data to its own precision reference. This is the recommended mode for most use cases, as the Crystek CCHD-950 has lower phase noise than the internal clocks of most digital sources. In Sync mode, the internal Crystek clock is disabled and the D/A chip locks to the clock supplied by the connected front-end device, making it suitable for use with a dedicated master clock or a transport whose clock is demonstrably superior to the internal oscillator.

Can the Matrix Audio X-SABRE 3 stream Tidal and Spotify directly without a separate server?

Yes. The X-SABRE 3 includes native Tidal Connect and Spotify Connect support, allowing it to appear as a playback target directly within the Tidal and Spotify iOS, Android, or desktop apps without any additional server software. Selecting the X-SABRE 3 as the playback device in either app routes audio directly to the DAC over the local network at the full resolution supported by the service, up to Tidal's lossless FLAC at CD resolution or MQA where the stream provides it. No separate Roon Core, UPnP server, or streaming bridge is required for Tidal or Spotify playback.

What is the IIS-LVDS input on the X-SABRE 3 used for?

The IIS-LVDS input accepts a differential I2S signal transmitted over a standard HDMI cable from a compatible digital transport such as the Matrix Audio NT-1 or TT-1. This connection bypasses all S/PDIF encoding and decoding between the transport and the DAC, supporting PCM up to 32-bit / 768kHz and native DSD up to DSD512 at 22.4MHz. Because S/PDIF interfaces introduce encoding overhead and additional jitter at each conversion stage, IIS-LVDS provides the lowest-jitter and highest-resolution digital link available between a transport and the X-SABRE 3.

Where can I buy the Matrix Audio X-SABRE 3 in Buffalo, NY or the USA?

The Matrix Audio X-SABRE 3 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 Roon setup, streaming service configuration, clock mode selection, and system integration with Matrix Audio transports.

How does the X-SABRE 3's isolated chamber design protect DAC performance?

Adding a streaming processor to a DAC chassis introduces significant electromagnetic interference from the high-speed digital switching of the network processor, Wi-Fi radio, and memory controller. In the X-SABRE 3, Matrix Audio addressed this by placing the D/A conversion stage and analog output circuitry inside independent shielded chambers physically separated from the streaming processor. The power supply, digital, and analog sections each receive isolated power rails with no shared ground paths between the streaming and audio domains. This isolation allows the ES9038PRO and Crystek clock to operate in an environment comparable to a dedicated DAC-only chassis, which the award-winning measured performance of the X-SABRE 3 confirms is effective.