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Matrix Audio MD-1P Streaming Power Amplifier | TweekGeek
Matrix Audio MD-1P
The MD-1P is a different kind of product from anything else in the Matrix Audio lineup. Everything discussed on the NT-1, ND-1, MS-1, MS-1c, and SC-1 pages is about building a source chain — transport, DAC, clock, isolation. The MD-1P is the opposite approach: collapse the entire chain into a single chassis, add 300 watts per channel of power amplification, connect a pair of speakers, and stop there.
That is either exactly what you want or it is not what you want at all. If you are building a dedicated two-channel reference system where every component is chosen and upgraded individually, this is not the product. If you are building a serious system for a second room, a home office, or a living space where a stack of separates is impractical — or if you want a genuinely capable all-in-one that does not compromise where it matters — the MD-1P deserves a careful look.
The Amplifier
The MD-1P delivers 300 watts per channel into 8 ohms. The MD-1, its lower-powered sibling, delivers 150 watts into 8 ohms. Both will drive speakers from 2 to 16 ohms. The amplifier section uses high-efficiency switching topology with advanced PWM processing — Matrix's description of the technology is deliberately general, but the output impedance of under 3mΩ and SNR of 122dB A-weighted are the numbers that matter in practice. An output impedance that low means an extremely high damping factor, which is what gives a solid-state amplifier tight control over speaker drivers, particularly in the bass.
The MD-1P has two pairs of speaker terminals — gold-plated solid copper — allowing two pairs of speakers to be connected simultaneously and switched between via IR remote. A/B comparison between two speakers in the same room, or driving a second room from a single unit. The MD-1 has one pair. Speaker impedance for simultaneous A and B use is 4 to 16 ohms.
The Digital Processing Section
The DAC section uses a mastering-grade AKM chip — Matrix does not specify which in the consumer-facing documentation, but the dual femtosecond clock architecture and FPGA jitter reduction are the same design philosophy applied across the N Series. Two custom femtosecond clocks, one for 44.1kHz-based sample rates and one for 48kHz-based rates, feed a high-speed FPGA that handles frequency division and jitter reduction before conversion. Local playback reaches PCM 768kHz and DSD 24.58MHz.
Volume Control
The preamp section uses a 256-step digitally controlled analogue volume system — finer resolution than the 100-step control in the ND-1 and MS-1c. Range is -80dB to +12dB in 0.5dB steps, with algorithmic optimisation of the voltage output curve to maintain channel balance at low volumes. A 12-step channel balance compensation is available for speaker placement asymmetry. This is analogue attenuation with digital control — not a digital volume control that reduces bit depth, which matters at the power levels the MD-1P operates at.
Analogue Inputs
XLR balanced and RCA unbalanced line inputs handle any analogue source — maximum input levels of 8Vrms on XLR and 4Vrms on RCA, input impedance 47kΩ on both. A bypass mode disables the preamp stage and routes the analogue input directly to the amplifier, turning the MD-1P into a pure power amplifier for use with an external preamplifier or in a multichannel AV system.
A built-in MM phono stage covers vinyl — RIAA equalised, 47kΩ / 100pF input impedance, +40dB gain. It is voiced for MM cartridges only; MC users will need a step-up transformer or a separate MC stage.
Digital Inputs
Four optical and coaxial inputs handle set-top boxes, gaming consoles, CD transports, and Blu-ray players at PCM up to 192kHz and DSD 2.8MHz DoP. HDMI ARC carries audio from a television at up to PCM 192kHz. USB audio from a computer reaches PCM 768kHz and DSD 22.4MHz native. Bluetooth 5.0 supports aptX, aptX HD, AAC, SBC, and LDAC up to 96kHz — the LDAC codec in particular gives the Bluetooth input more resolution than most wireless implementations.
Streaming & Network
The MD-1P is Roon Ready and also supports Audirvāna, TIDAL Connect, Qobuz Connect, Spotify Connect, AirPlay 2, DLNA/UPnP, vTuner, and Radio Paradise. Gigabit Ethernet is the primary network connection; Wi-Fi 6 covers situations where a wired run is not practical. The MA Remote App controls everything from iOS, iPadOS, and Android. An NVMe SSD slot on the underside — M.2 2280/2242/2230, PCIe 3.0/4.0/5.0 — handles local library storage, with SMB sharing and NAS serving to other devices on the network. CD ripping via external USB drive is supported.
Outputs Beyond The Speakers
A preamp RCA output at 0–2.2Vrms with 120dB SNR and under 0.0005% THD+N allows the MD-1P to feed an external power amplifier or additional zone. A subwoofer output — also RCA, 150Hz fixed low-pass, 0–2.2Vrms — connects an active subwoofer directly, with the trigger output handling automatic power synchronisation. The MD-1P has dual subwoofer outputs; the MD-1 has one. A 12V trigger input and output handle system power sequencing.
Where It Fits
At 300 watts per channel with dual speaker outputs, a phono stage, HDMI ARC, and the full Matrix streaming ecosystem in a single 96mm-tall chassis, the MD-1P is genuinely capable of being the only component between your sources and your speakers. It is not a compromise product designed to cover all bases inadequately. The amplifier section has the output impedance and noise floor of a serious amplifier. The streaming section has the same femtosecond clock architecture as the N Series. The DAC section performs at a level consistent with the rest of the Matrix lineup.
Where a separates system still wins is in the ability to isolate and upgrade individual components — a better clock, a better DAC, a better power stage — without replacing everything at once. The MD-1P trades that flexibility for integration. For the right system and the right listener, that is the correct trade.
Press Recognition
The MD-1P is a recent release. We will update this page as reviews are published. In the meantime, we have heard it and are happy to speak to its performance directly.
Specifications — MD-1P
- Type: Integrated streaming amplifier with built-in DAC and streamer
- Amplifier output: 2 x 300W RMS @ 8Ω
- Speaker impedance: A or B: 2–16Ω; A and B simultaneous: 4–16Ω
- Output impedance: <3mΩ
- Amplifier SNR: 122dB A-weighted
- Amplifier crosstalk: -120dB
- Amplifier gain: +33dB
- Frequency response (speaker output): 20Hz–20kHz ±0.1; -3dB @ 45kHz
- Speaker terminals: 2 pairs, gold-plated solid copper; A/B switching via IR remote
- Volume control: 256-step digitally controlled analogue; -80dB to +12dB in 0.5dB steps; 12-step channel balance compensation
- XLR line input: 47kΩ input impedance; max input 8Vrms
- RCA line input: 47kΩ input impedance; max input 4Vrms
- Phono input: MM only; RIAA; 47kΩ / 100pF; +40dB gain
- Bypass mode: Yes (pure power amplifier operation)
- Coaxial / Optical inputs: 4 total; PCM 16–24 bit / 44.1kHz–192kHz; DSD 2.8MHz (DoP)
- HDMI ARC: PCM 16–24 bit / 44.1kHz–192kHz
- USB audio input: PCM 16–24 bit / 44.1kHz–768kHz; DSD up to 22.4MHz (Native)
- Bluetooth: V5.0; aptX, aptX HD, AAC, SBC, LDAC; up to PCM 16 bit / 96kHz; range 10–15m
- Preamp output (RCA): 0–2.2Vrms; SNR 120dB; THD+N <0.0005% @ 1kHz; output impedance <20Ω
- Subwoofer outputs: 2 x RCA; 150Hz fixed low-pass; 0–2.2Vrms; output impedance <20Ω
- Network: Gigabit Ethernet (10/100/1000 Mbps); Wi-Fi 6 (2.4GHz / 5GHz)
- USB: USB 3.0 (5V/1A); FAT, FAT32, exFAT, NTFS support
- Storage: M.2 2280/2242/2230 NVMe PCIe SSD slot (PCIe 3.0/4.0/5.0; 3.3V/3A max)
- CD ripping: Yes, via external USB CD drive
- Roon Ready: Yes
- Streaming: Audirvāna, TIDAL Connect, Qobuz Connect, Spotify Connect, AirPlay 2, DLNA/UPnP, vTuner, Radio Paradise
- Local formats: MP3, WMA, WAV, AIF, AIFC, AIFF, AAC, FLAC, OGG, APE, ALAC, M4A, DSF, DFF, CUE, ISO
- Local playback: PCM up to 768kHz; DSD up to 24.58MHz
- Trigger input: DC 6–12V, under 10mA
- Trigger output: DC 12V / 50mA
- Power: AC 100–240V, 50/60Hz (auto-ranging)
- Standby power: Under 5W
- Idle power: Under 45W
- Maximum power consumption: Under 1,250W
- Dimensions: 430mm W x 331mm D x 96mm H
- Weight: 7.6kg
- Manufactured: China
