{"product_id":"matrix-audio-x-sabre-3-music-streaming-dac","title":"Matrix Audio X-Sabre 3 Music Streaming DAC","description":"\u003ch1\u003eMatrix Audio X-SABRE 3 Music Streaming DAC at Vinyl Sound Buffalo, NY USA\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe X-SABRE 3 is a flagship streaming DAC from Matrix Audio (Xi'an, China), available at Vinyl Sound in Buffalo, New York, USA. The third generation of the X-SABRE lineage, it combines a purpose-built high-resolution DAC with a full network streaming platform, built around the ESS ES9038PRO DAC chip clocked by a \u003cstrong\u003eCrystek CCHD-950 femtosecond oscillator\u003c\/strong\u003e. The X-SABRE 3 delivers a \u003cstrong\u003ebalanced XLR output SNR of 134dB A-weighted\u003c\/strong\u003e 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 received the \u003cstrong\u003eHi-Fi News Outstanding Award in 2022\u003c\/strong\u003e and has been reviewed by Positive Feedback, Gramophone, and Darko.Audio.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eES9038PRO DAC with Crystek CCHD-950 Femtosecond Clock\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 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 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 from its internal Crystek clock in Async mode or slaved to the front-end device's clock in Sync mode.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eNetwork Streaming Platform and Isolated Architecture\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe X-SABRE 3 runs on a NXP i.MX 6Quad processor with four Cortex-A9 cores at 1.2GHz. 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. 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. 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eAwards and Critical Recognition\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eOutstanding Award, Hi-Fi News, 2022\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eKey Features\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eESS ES9038PRO Flagship DAC Chip:\u003c\/strong\u003e 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.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCrystek CCHD-950 Femtosecond Clock:\u003c\/strong\u003e 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.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSync \/ Async Clock Mode:\u003c\/strong\u003e 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.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIIS-LVDS Input for Native DSD512 and PCM 768kHz:\u003c\/strong\u003e 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.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eUSB Audio with MQA Decoding:\u003c\/strong\u003e USB Audio input supports PCM to 768kHz, native DSD to 22.4MHz, and full MQA decoding including MQA Studio streams up to 384kHz.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRoon Ready Certification:\u003c\/strong\u003e 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.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTidal Connect and Spotify Connect:\u003c\/strong\u003e 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.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIsolated D\/A and Analog Output Chambers:\u003c\/strong\u003e 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.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHigh-Resolution LCD with Album Art Display:\u003c\/strong\u003e Full-color LCD front display shows current operating status, sample rate, bit depth, and streaming album art during network playback.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGigabit Ethernet and Dual-Band Wi-Fi:\u003c\/strong\u003e 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.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eTechnical Specifications\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n  \u003ctbody\u003e\n    \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eProduct Type\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eStreaming DAC\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n    \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCPU\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNXP i.MX 6Quad, 4x Cortex-A9 at 1.2GHz\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n    \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDAC Chip\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eESS ES9038PRO\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n    \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eClock Source\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCrystek CCHD-950 femtosecond oscillator\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n    \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCoaxial \/ Optical Input\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePCM 16-24bit \/ 44.1kHz - 192kHz, DSD 2.8MHz (DoP)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n    \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eIIS-LVDS Input (HDMI)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePCM 16-32bit \/ 44.1kHz - 768kHz, DSD 2.8MHz - 22.4MHz (Native \/ DoP)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n    \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eUSB Audio Input\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePCM 16-24bit \/ 44.1kHz - 768kHz, MQA 16-24bit \/ 44.1kHz - 384kHz, DSD 2.8MHz - 22.4MHz (Native \/ DoP)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n    \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eXLR Line Output Level\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e4.8Vrms at 0dB\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n    \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eXLR Line Output SNR\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e134dB A-weighted\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n    \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eXLR Line Output THD+N\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLess than 0.00010% at 1kHz\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n    \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eXLR Line Output Crosstalk\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGreater than -151dB\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n    \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eXLR Frequency Response\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e20Hz - 20kHz (±0.05dB), -3dB at 86kHz\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n    \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRCA Line Output Level\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e2.4Vrms at 0dB\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n    \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRCA Line Output SNR\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e128dB A-weighted\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n    \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRCA Line Output THD+N\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLess than 0.00015% at 1kHz\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n    \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRCA Line Output Crosstalk\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGreater than -138dB\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n    \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNetwork (LAN)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e10\/100\/1000 Mbps Gigabit Ethernet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n    \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNetwork (WLAN)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e2.4GHz \/ 5GHz dual-band Wi-Fi\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n    \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eStreaming Protocols\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRoon Ready, AirPlay 2, DLNA\/UPnP, Tidal Connect, Spotify Connect, vTuner, Radio Paradise, HIGHRESAUDIO\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n    \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eStreaming PCM\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePCM 16-24bit \/ 44.1kHz - 768kHz, MQA 16-24bit \/ 44.1kHz - 384kHz\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n    \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eStreaming DSD\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDSD 2.8MHz - 22.4MHz\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n    \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eVoltage\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAC 220V-240V (230V position) or AC 100V-120V (115V position), 50\/60Hz\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n    \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eStandby Consumption\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLess than 4W\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n    \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMax Consumption\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLess than 33W\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n    \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDimensions (W x D x H)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e310 x 218 x 43mm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n    \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWeight\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e3.4kg\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n    \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eIncluded Accessories\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRM3 remote control, power cable, quick start guide, warranty card\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n  \u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eConnections at a Glance\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eXLR Balanced Line Output (4.8Vrms)\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eRCA Single-Ended Line Output (2.4Vrms)\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eCoaxial Digital Input\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eOptical Toslink Digital Input\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eIIS-LVDS Digital Input via HDMI (PCM 768kHz \/ Native DSD512)\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eUSB Audio Input\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eRJ45 Gigabit Ethernet Port\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eWi-Fi Dual-Band (2.4GHz \/ 5GHz, concealed antennas)\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eTrigger In \/ Out (12V)\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eIEC Power Input (switchable 115V \/ 230V)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat is the Matrix Audio X-SABRE 3?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Matrix Audio X-SABRE 3 is a flagship streaming DAC from Matrix Audio (Xi'an, China), 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, USA.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eHow does the Matrix Audio X-SABRE 3 compare to the Topping D90SE or Gustard X26 Pro?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat is the Sync \/ Async mode on the X-SABRE 3?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eCan the Matrix Audio X-SABRE 3 stream Tidal and Spotify directly without a separate server?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes. 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. No separate Roon Core, UPnP server, or streaming bridge is required for Tidal or Spotify playback.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat is the IIS-LVDS input on the X-SABRE 3 used for?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 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. 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eHow does the X-SABRE 3's isolated chamber design protect DAC performance?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAdding 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 placed 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWhere can I buy the Matrix Audio X-SABRE 3 in Buffalo, NY or the USA?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Matrix Audio X-SABRE 3 is available at Vinyl Sound, located in Buffalo, New York, USA. 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.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Matrix Audio","offers":[{"title":"Black","offer_id":53293719617843,"sku":null,"price":2999.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Silver","offer_id":53293719650611,"sku":null,"price":2999.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0873\/0293\/0739\/files\/MatrixAudioX-Sabre3MusicStreamingDAC.png?v=1777345917","url":"https:\/\/vinylsound.com\/products\/matrix-audio-x-sabre-3-music-streaming-dac","provider":"Vinyl Sound USA","version":"1.0","type":"link"}