The Matrix Audio SS-1 Pro is an audio grade network switch and isolator. In plain terms, it is a box that sits in your home network, between your router and your music streamer, and cleans up the digital signal before it reaches the part of your system that turns it into music.
If you are new to high-end audio, you might wonder why a network device would matter for sound at all. The short version is that streaming audio travels as data across ordinary network equipment, and that equipment can carry electrical noise along with the data. An audio grade switch is built to pass the data reliably while reducing the noise and improving timing, so your streamer receives a cleaner, more stable signal.
Where does it fit in a system?
The SS-1 Pro fits between your internet router or network and your streamer or streaming DAC. You run a network cable from your router into the SS-1 Pro, then a network cable out of the SS-1 Pro to your streamer.
Think of it as a purification stage in the digital chain. Your router and household network are not designed with audio in mind, so they introduce noise and timing irregularities. Placing the SS-1 Pro right before your streamer means the last thing the music data touches, before it enters your audio system, is a device built specifically to reduce noise and tighten timing.
The Connections Explained
What are the two 100Mbps RJ45 ports for?
The SS-1 Pro has two 100Mbps RJ45 ports, which are standard network sockets that run at 100 megabits per second. RJ45 is simply the connector type used by ordinary Ethernet cables, the kind with the small plastic clip.
You might expect faster to always be better, but audio streaming does not need much bandwidth, and a 100Mbps connection is more than enough for even high resolution audio. Some listeners prefer these slower ports for the streamer connection because a lower speed link can run with less electrical activity and noise. Having them available gives you flexibility in how you connect your devices.
What are the six 2.5Gbps RJ45 ports for?
The six 2.5Gbps RJ45 ports are faster network sockets that run at up to 2.5 gigabits per second, again using standard Ethernet cabling. These give you plenty of room to connect multiple devices, such as your router, a music server, a network attached storage drive, and your streamer.
The higher speed here is useful for the parts of your network that move larger amounts of data, like a server storing your music library. Because there are six of these ports, the SS-1 Pro can act as the hub of a small, dedicated audio network, keeping all of your listening related devices connected through one clean, well built switch.
What are the two 10Gbps SFP/SFP+ ports for?
The two SFP/SFP+ ports are high speed slots that accept either fiber optic modules or RJ45 modules, running at up to 10 gigabits per second. SFP is a modular system, meaning you insert a small plug in adapter, called a module, to choose the kind of connection you want.
The appealing part for audio is the fiber option. Fiber optic cable carries the signal as light rather than electricity, which naturally breaks the electrical path between devices. That means noise from your router or the rest of your house has a much harder time reaching your streamer. If you prefer copper, you can also fit an RJ45 module and use a normal Ethernet cable instead. This flexibility lets you build the setup that suits your room and equipment.
What is the 10MHz reference input?
The 10MHz reference input is a 50 ohm connection that lets you feed in an external master clock signal. A master clock is a very precise timing source, and 10MHz is a common standard rate used across high-end audio gear.
Timing accuracy matters in digital audio because the data needs to be handled in a steady, evenly spaced rhythm. If you own or plan to own a dedicated external clock, you can connect it here so the SS-1 Pro locks its timing to that highly stable reference. The 50 ohm figure simply refers to the type of cable and connection required, so you match it correctly. If you do not use an external clock, you do not need this input, but it is there for when you want to grow your system.
What Happens Inside
What does galvanic isolation actually do?
Galvanic isolation, which the SS-1 Pro provides on the network path, means there is a barrier that stops unwanted electrical noise from passing straight through from one side to the other while still letting the data get across. In everyday terms, it is like a checkpoint that lets the message through but blocks the electrical grime that tries to tag along.
This matters because network cables can carry noise from your router, computer, and household wiring. That noise, if it reaches your streamer and DAC, can affect the final sound. By isolating the network path, the SS-1 Pro helps keep that interference from following the music into your system.
What does the internal clock do?
The SS-1 Pro uses a high precision internal clock to manage network timing. A clock in this context is the component that sets the steady beat for how data is processed and sent along.
Reclocking ahead of your streamer means the SS-1 Pro reorganizes the timing of the signal so it arrives clean and consistent. Even without an external clock connected, this internal clock is doing important work, giving your streamer a more stable and orderly signal than it would get straight from a standard router or switch.
Why does the power supply matter?
The SS-1 Pro uses a filtered supply designed for low noise operation. The power supply is the part that feeds electricity to the device, and in sensitive audio equipment the quality of that power directly affects performance.
A noisy power supply can inject its own interference into the circuits, which works against everything the switch is trying to clean up. By filtering the supply, Matrix Audio keeps the device itself quiet, so the noise reduction and reclocking are not undermined from the inside.
Build Quality and Who It Suits
Why does the aluminum chassis matter?
The SS-1 Pro is housed in an aluminum enclosure, which does more than look tidy. A solid metal chassis helps shield the sensitive internal circuits from external electrical interference and provides a stable, durable home for the components.
This is where Matrix Audio build quality shows itself. Careful construction, good materials, and attention to shielding all support the device's core job of delivering a clean, quiet signal. A well made case is not decoration; it is part of how the device does its work.
Who is the SS-1 Pro for?
The SS-1 Pro is for anyone streaming music through a network connected streamer or streaming DAC who wants to reduce noise and improve timing before that signal reaches their system. It suits listeners who have already invested in a good streamer and DAC and are looking for the next meaningful step.
It is also a smart fit if you want a single, well built hub for a dedicated audio network, thanks to its generous mix of ports and its fiber capable SFP slots. And if you plan to add an external 10MHz clock later, the SS-1 Pro is ready to grow with you. In short, it is for the music lover who wants their streaming setup to be as clean and stable as the rest of their carefully chosen system.
