An all in one that skips the separates
The Matrix Audio mini-i Pro 4 is one of those rare pieces that removes most of the boxes from a system. It combines a network streamer, a reference grade digital to analog converter, a headphone stage and integrated amplification in a single compact chassis. In other words you do not need a separate DAC, a separate preamp or a separate power amplifier to make it sing. Connect a pair of loudspeakers, join your network, and you have a complete listening system.
Matrix Audio has been a digital source and streaming specialist since 2010, and the mini-i Pro 4 is where that expertise gets packaged for the person who wants performance without a rack of components.
The technology inside
ES9038PRO conversion and the master clock
At the heart of the mini-i Pro 4 is the ESS ES9038PRO, one of the flagship converter chips in the ESS lineup. It is fed by a high precision femtosecond crystal oscillator that acts as the master clock, which is the reference that keeps digital timing tight and jitter low. Matrix Audio quotes a THD+N figure of -121 dB and a dynamic range of 127 dB, which speaks to how quiet and linear the analog output is meant to be.
Format support
File support is genuinely comprehensive. PCM is handled up to 32bit and 768kHz, DSD reaches DSD512 in native mode, and there is full MQA decoding on board. Whatever your library or streaming service serves up, the mini-i Pro 4 is built to unfold it fully rather than downsample or fold it back.
Streaming and control
This is where the Matrix Audio heritage shows. The mini-i Pro 4 is Roon Ready and carries native TIDAL, Qobuz, Spotify, DLNA and AirPlay support, all reachable over Ethernet or Wi-Fi. You drive it from the MA control app or from the front panel, so the whole experience is intended to feel like a modern streaming platform rather than a legacy hi-fi component with an app bolted on.
Connections in and out
Beyond the network, digital inputs include USB, coaxial, optical and AES/EBU, so you can attach a computer, a disc transport or another digital source. Analog outputs cover balanced XLR and single ended RCA, which means you can also treat the mini-i Pro 4 as a source or DAC feeding a larger amplifier later if your system grows. Headphone listeners are well served with both a balanced output on 4.4mm and XLR and a single ended 6.35mm jack.
Sound and performance character
The design goal here is clarity and resolution with the convenience of a single box. The ES9038PRO and femtosecond clock combination is voiced for a clean, low noise presentation that lets detail and spatial cues come through. Because the streaming, conversion and amplification all live under one roof and share that master clock reference, the signal path stays short and controlled from network stream to speaker terminals.
One thing worth keeping in mind across any digital system: a network switch, an isolator or an external clock does not produce sound on its own. Those devices serve the digital chain by cleaning or timing the data that feeds a converter like the one in the mini-i Pro 4. The mini-i Pro 4 already includes its own femtosecond clock, so it stands on its own as a complete source and amplifier.
Where it sits in the Matrix Audio range
If you decide you want to separate your DAC and streaming from amplification, Matrix Audio offers dedicated converter and streamer models. The Matrix Audio MD-1 and the Matrix Audio MD-1P are natural step up references for a system built around separates, where a standalone DAC and streamer feed an external amplifier of your choosing. The mini-i Pro 4 makes the opposite choice by design: it keeps everything integrated for simplicity and a compact footprint. Neither approach is inherently superior, they simply target different system philosophies.
Ideal system and use case
The mini-i Pro 4 is ideal for the listener who wants a modern streaming system that is beautiful in its simplicity. Think a study, a living room, a bedroom system or a second setup where a rack of separates would be overkill. It is equally at home as a serious headphone hub thanks to its balanced and single ended outputs. And because it carries balanced and RCA line outputs, it can anchor a system you intend to expand later.
Speaker pairings
For a compact, resolving pairing, the Audioquest Rocket cable range gives you flexible options depending on how you wire your speakers. Consider Audioquest Rocket 22 Full Range or the biwire configuration Audioquest Rocket 22 BiWire for a single run, and step up to Audioquest Rocket 33 Full Range or Audioquest Rocket 33 BiWire as your loudspeakers and ambitions grow.
If you would rather keep the whole system self powered elsewhere in the home, the Cambridge Audio L/R S Ultra Compact Active Stereo Speakers are a tidy companion for a second zone concept.
Adding a Matrix Audio transport
To feed the mini-i Pro 4 from a dedicated digital transport, the Matrix Audio TT-1 Digital Audio Transport is a well matched partner, and the Matrix Audio NT-1 Reference Digital Audio Transport is the reference option for those who want to lean harder into a transport plus converter architecture using the mini-i Pro 4 digital inputs.
How it compares to other integrated approaches
If you are weighing the mini-i Pro 4 against other integrated amplifiers we carry, the distinction is really about design intent. The mini-i Pro 4 leads with network streaming and reference digital conversion built in. Options like the Mission 778X Integrated Amplifier, the Yamaha A-S801 Integrated Amplifier, the Advance Paris X-i75 Classic Integrated Amplifier, the Audiolab 6000A MKII Integrated Amplifier and the LEAK Stereo 130 Integrated Amplifier each bring their own character and feature priorities, from classic analog voicing to different connectivity choices. If a built in streaming platform, ES9038PRO conversion and dual balanced and single ended headphone outputs are at the top of your list, the mini-i Pro 4 is purpose built around exactly that. Choose the one whose priorities match how you actually listen.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does the Matrix Audio mini-i Pro 4 sit in the range?
If you decide you want to separate your DAC and streaming from amplification, Matrix Audio offers dedicated converter and streamer models. The Matrix Audio MD-1 and the Matrix Audio MD-1P are natural step up references for a system built around separates, where a standalone DAC and streamer feed an external amplifier of your choosing.
Who is the Matrix Audio mini-i Pro 4 best suited to?
The mini-i Pro 4 is ideal for the listener who wants a modern streaming system that is beautiful in its simplicity. Think a study, a living room, a bedroom system or a second setup where a rack of separates would be overkill. It is equally at home as a serious headphone hub thanks to its balanced and single ended outputs. And because it carries balanced and RCA line outputs, it can anchor a system you intend to expand later.
What speakers pair well with the Matrix Audio mini-i Pro 4?
For a compact, resolving pairing, the Audioquest Rocket cable range gives you flexible options depending on how you wire your speakers. Consider Audioquest Rocket 22 Full Range or the biwire configuration Audioquest Rocket 22 BiWire for a single run, and step up to Audioquest Rocket 33 Full Range or Audioquest Rocket 33 BiWire as your loudspeakers and ambitions grow.
How does the Matrix Audio mini-i Pro 4 compare to the alternatives?
If you are weighing the mini-i Pro 4 against other integrated amplifiers we carry, the distinction is really about design intent. The mini-i Pro 4 leads with network streaming and reference digital conversion built in.
Come have a listen
All Elite Audio is an authorized Matrix Audio dealer with a showroom in Timonium, Maryland. Demo units rotate and not every model is always set up on the floor, so please reach out to AEA and we will help you arrange a listen to the mini-i Pro 4 and talk through the right speakers and sources for your room.