Understanding the Matrix Audio TS1 and How It Compares to the Eversolo DMP-A8 and Matrix Audio TT1
The Matrix Audio TS1 is an advanced digital audio component that combines multiple roles in one elegant chassis. It is a network streamer, high performance DAC, and headphone amplifier designed for those who want excellent sound quality without needing separate components for each function. Priced at $2,499 and available at All Elite Audio in Timonium, Maryland, the TS1 represents Matrix Audio’s approach to simplifying high end digital audio systems while maintaining true audiophile performance.
What the Matrix Audio TS1 Does
The Matrix Audio TS1 is built to serve as the heart of a modern digital listening system. It can connect directly to your home network to stream from online services or local storage, while also functioning as a high quality DAC and headphone amplifier. Its dual AK4493SEQ DAC chips deliver detailed, natural sound, and its precision clocking system ensures accurate timing and reduced jitter. This means the TS1 converts digital music to analog with very low distortion and high clarity.
As a headphone amplifier, the Matrix Audio TS1 provides both balanced and single ended outputs, allowing it to drive everything from sensitive in ear monitors to demanding over ear headphones. It can also connect to active monitors or a power amplifier using its balanced XLR or single ended RCA outputs, allowing it to serve as a complete preamplifier for a full system. With support for high resolution audio formats, including PCM 768 kHz and DSD512, the TS1 is built to handle virtually any digital source with ease.
How the TS1 Differs from the Eversolo DMP-A8
The Eversolo DMP-A8, priced around $1,980, occupies a similar premium streamer category but is designed with a different goal. The DMP-A8 focuses on streaming and system control rather than integrated headphone performance. It runs on an Android based operating system with a large color touchscreen, giving it a smart and highly interactive user experience. It also functions as a DAC and preamplifier, making it well suited for users who primarily listen through speakers and want an interface similar to a music server.
While the Eversolo DMP-A8 emphasizes convenience and connectivity, the Matrix Audio TS1 emphasizes precision and integration. The TS1 does not use an Android interface but instead relies on Matrix Audio’s dedicated control software and Roon Ready certification, which allows for a cleaner and more stable playback environment. This design approach prioritizes low noise and high signal integrity over visual or app based interface features. For those who listen primarily through headphones or want a single chassis that includes both DAC and amplification, the TS1 offers a more complete solution.
In practical terms, the Eversolo DMP-A8 is ideal for a traditional two channel audio system where the user wants a versatile streamer and preamplifier. The Matrix Audio TS1 is ideal for someone who values compact integration and wants one device that manages streaming, digital to analog conversion, and headphone output all at once.
How the TS1 Differs from the Matrix Audio TT1
Matrix Audio’s Matrix Audio TT1 Streaming Transport looks similar to the TS1 but serves a very different role. The TT1 is not a DAC or headphone amplifier. It is a pure digital transport designed to send pristine digital audio to an external DAC of your choice. It handles the streaming, file management, and digital output duties while leaving all conversion and amplification to your existing system.
This makes the Matrix Audio TT1 ideal for audiophiles who already own a high performance DAC such as the Matrix X SABRE 3 or other reference level converters. It delivers bit perfect audio over USB, AES EBU, or I2S connections and isolates digital noise to ensure your external DAC performs at its very best. The Matrix Audio TS1, on the other hand, includes the DAC and amplifier stages within the same enclosure. It offers a complete end to end signal path from digital input to analog output. The TT1 focuses purely on digital transport performance, while the TS1 offers a full audio chain ready to connect directly to headphones, speakers, or amplifiers.
In short, the Matrix Audio TT1 is built for modular systems where each component performs a single role, while the Matrix Audio TS1 is designed for simplicity and space saving integration. Both share Matrix Audio’s meticulous build quality and streaming platform, but they meet very different system design goals.
Choosing Between the TS1, DMP-A8, and TT1
Choosing between these products depends on how you listen and how you build your system. The Eversolo DMP-A8 works best for those who want a feature rich interface and plan to use a full stereo setup with speakers. The Matrix Audio TT1 suits listeners who already have a dedicated DAC and want a transport that delivers the best possible digital signal. The Matrix Audio TS1 is ideal for anyone who wants a single, refined component that combines streaming, DAC, and headphone amplification in one enclosure.
All three are excellent digital sources, but they serve different purposes. The Eversolo DMP-A8 prioritizes versatility, the Matrix Audio TT1 prioritizes purity, and the Matrix Audio TS1 prioritizes balance and integration. Understanding these differences helps ensure you select the component that best matches your listening style and existing system.
Experience the Matrix Audio TS1 at All Elite Audio
At All Elite Audio in Timonium, Maryland, we carry the full Matrix Audio lineup including the TS1 and TT1. Our team can help you understand how each component fits into your system and which configuration will deliver the best results for your listening space. Visit our showroom or contact us by phone or text to schedule a demonstration and experience firsthand how Matrix Audio’s design philosophy brings clarity, simplicity, and precision to modern digital music systems.