Fidelity Imports
Matrix Audio SS-1 Audio Network Switch | TweekGeek
Matrix Audio SS-1
The SS-1 makes the same argument as the SS-1 Pro, at a lower price and with a simpler clock system. A network switch running well above its operating speed ceiling is more stable than one working at its limit. The SS-1 has two 10Gbps SFP/SFP+ ports and four RJ45 ports at up to 2.5Gbps. Your audio equipment connects at 1Gbps or 100Mbps. The headroom is substantial, and that headroom translates to lower timing errors than a conventional 1Gbps switch would produce at the same actual data rate.
What separates the SS-1 from the SS-1 Pro is the clock system and the power supply. The SS-1 uses a femtosecond oscillator as a direct reference for the main controller — serious, but without the RF synthesizer and external clock input of the Pro. The power supply is a switching design rather than the SS-1 Pro's o-core toroidal linear supply, with a DC input that accepts an external linear power supply for those who want to go further. For a well-sorted streaming system where the switch is the last piece rather than the first, the SS-1 is a credible destination.
The Clock
An ultra-low phase noise femtosecond oscillator serves as the timing reference for the SS-1's main controller. This is the same class of oscillator used across the Matrix N Series and M Series products — the choice reflects Matrix's consistent position that clock quality matters in every digital component in the chain, not just the transport and DAC. The SS-1 Pro adds an RF synthesizer between the oscillator and the controller, and an external 10MHz input for SC-1 pairing. The SS-1 has neither. If you are running an SC-1 and want to discipline the switch from the same reference, the SS-1 Pro is the right product. If you are not, the SS-1's femtosecond oscillator is a meaningful improvement over what a standard switch provides.
The Ports
Two dedicated 100Mbps/10Mbps RJ45 ports are provided for audio equipment — the same dedicated low-speed audio ports as the SS-1 Pro. Lower connection speed for audio devices reduces potential bit errors during data transmission, and the independent socket design with wider spacing accommodates high-end Ethernet cables without crowding. All Ethernet transformers are 10Gbps-grade, individually metal-shielded per port — radio frequency interference resistance built into the port hardware rather than relying on enclosure shielding alone.
The two SFP/SFP+ ports accept optical fibre or copper modules at up to 10Gbps. Running the upstream network connection through an SFP optical module creates electrical isolation between the upstream network infrastructure and the SS-1 — ground-borne noise from routers, modems, and upstream switches has no copper path into the audio network. The four 2.5Gbps RJ45 ports handle the remaining wired connections. The SS-1 Pro has six 2.5Gbps ports; the SS-1 has four.
Power Supply & DC Input
The SS-1 ships with a wide-voltage switching power supply. It also has a DC input — 12V ±10%, minimum 18W, 5.5mm/2.1mm barrel connector, centre positive — that accepts an external linear power supply. When DC is connected, the internal AC supply disconnects automatically. The external supply feeds the femtosecond clock and the main controller through an internal power filter and four ultra-low-noise LDO regulators. A linear power supply on the clock section of a network switch is audible in a system that is otherwise well resolved. Matrix has made the upgrade straightforward.
The SS-1 Pro's internal linear supply — o-core toroidal transformer, Schottky diodes, ~10,000µF audio-grade filtration, six LDOs, passive heatsink — represents the ceiling of what the DC upgrade path on the SS-1 is trying to reach. If you are certain you want the full linear supply from day one, the SS-1 Pro is the direct answer. If you want to start at a lower price point and upgrade later, the SS-1's DC input keeps that option open.
Practical Details
Port LEDs are switchable off via a button on the rear panel — necessary in a darkened listening room where activity lights in peripheral vision disturb the experience. The 16K MAC address table is shared across both SS-1 and SS-1 Pro. The CNC-machined aluminium chassis sits on a reinforced steel base. Four isolation feet are included; three-foot placement is supported for surface compliance and tuning.
Where It Fits
The SS-1 belongs at the last network node before the audio equipment — between your existing router or upstream switch and the Matrix streamers or other network audio devices. With an optical SFP module on the upstream port, the electrical isolation between the network infrastructure and the audio equipment is complete. With a quality external linear power supply on the DC input, the power supply is elevated to a level that approaches the SS-1 Pro's internal supply.
Against the SI-1 network isolator: the SI-1 is a two-port pass-through that adds isolation for one downstream device without replacing the upstream switch. The SS-1 replaces the final switch in the chain and handles multiple devices simultaneously, with isolation built into the SFP port architecture. If you need to serve several audio components from a single switch — a streamer, a Roon core, a second room — the SS-1 is the right solution. If you have a single audio device and an existing switch you are happy with, the SI-1 is simpler.
Press Recognition
The SS-1 is a recent release. We will update this page as reviews are published.
Specifications
- Type: Audio-grade network switch
- Standards: IEEE 802.3 (10BASE-T), 802.3u (100BASE-TX), 802.3z (1000BASE-X), 802.3ab (1000BASE-T), 802.3ae (10G BASE-SR/LR), 802.3bz (2.5G/5G BASE-T), 802.3cb (2500BASE-X)
- Ports: 2 x 100Mbps/10Mbps RJ45 (dedicated audio); 4 x 2.5Gbps/1Gbps/100Mbps/10Mbps RJ45; 2 x 10Gbps SFP/SFP+
- Ethernet transformers: 10Gbps-grade, independent per port, individually metal-shielded
- MAC address table: 16K entries
- Clock: Ultra-low phase noise femtosecond oscillator (direct reference to main controller)
- External clock input: Not available (SS-1 Pro only)
- Power supply: Wide-voltage switching supply; AC 100–240V, 50/60Hz
- DC input: 12V ±10%, minimum 18W; 5.5mm/2.1mm barrel connector (centre positive); disconnects AC automatically when connected; internal filter and 4 x ultra-low-noise LDOs on DC path
- Power consumption: Under 15W
- Port LEDs: Switchable off via rear panel button
- Isolation feet: 4 included; 3-foot placement supported
- Dimensions: 280mm W x 206mm D x 58.5mm H
- Weight: 2.3kg
- Manufactured: China
