Matrix Audio Element X2 Pure

You'll absolutely want to hear your music from this Matrix pinnacle, and Element X2 Pure ensures it's easy getting your tracks aboard.

Part of Element X2 Pure's point is input from this decade's generation of smart TVs. HDMI ARC (Audio Return Channel) transfers audio from the signal to this Matrix for higher quality playback.

The bustling conduit of inputs means electronic noise is inevitable from Element X2 Pure's CPU. That's why Matrix have built in full galvanic isolation with independent power supplies for general system CPU operation, and DSP audio processing work carried on a Xilinx FPGA.

Re-clocked and de-jittered I2S is generated by said proprietary FPGA code and fed on to dual ES9039Pros running on ESS' most advanced Hyperstream IV architecture.

These eight-channel DACs bring five new digital filters – many with low in-band ripple – to the party for new flavours of sonic reproduction, and pack enough computational horsepower to run their 8x oversampling process in just two passes thus minimising rounding errors – an upgrade on other attempts that use a concatenation of three stacked 2x oversampling passes which compound errors.

It certainly pays to isolate this sophisticated digital section and that's provided through fast optocouplers. Plus, with total galvanic isolation consisting not just of separate power supplies, but separate grounds, Matrix have covered all bases.

Quite literally too, with the chassis of Element X2 Pure dampened to vibrations and sitting pretty on ceramic ball vibration buffers. Six ceramic balls sit in each silicone pad to minimise the noise caused by mechanical interference – and there are 24 balls to turn vibration into harmless heat as they distribute pressure evenly around.

As for the essence of pure audio, power supply is overbuilt. The ARM CPU draws from a switch-mode power supply. Meanwhile, a dedicated linear power supply built around a proprietary O-core transformer taking the place of a traditional toroid juices Element X2 Pure's FPGA, clock, and analog line and pre-amp.

Matrix's circular O-core cross-section reduces the resistance of the transformer, which increases efficiency and response speed of the power supply in responding to sudden demands across its windings to charge a bank of premium Nichicon KG capacitors – increasing the quality of the lifeblood of great audio.

All this plummets Element X2 Pure's noise floor, with this digital specimen touting over 130dB of dynamic range resolution. This is preserved even at lower volume levels running as a pre-amp with efficient speakers – Matrix's Hyper Control volume solution gives you all the low-level detail hidden in your music. 

This combines the precision of a fine digital volume control with a relay-controlled analog solution for large steps. Hyper Control keeps the dual ES9039Pros in a position where the chips always maintain their full dynamic range capability, in tandem with the low noise of Element X2 Pure, for a wide range of listening volumes low to high.

Element X2 Pure's potent DC-coupled line stage is transferred to its XLR and RCA outputs in this case, packing +10dB of extra gain for up to 15.8Vrms output to match various power amplifier input sensitivities. No pre-amp needed – this flagship Matrix solution fits all.

Digitally a dedicated master of time is derived via a Crystek CCHD-950 clock that pushes phase noise and jitter down for a clean and precise decode. Matrix even give you the option to run Element X2 Pure in asynchronous or synchronous mode. It's not the clock that's always in charge of the music – it's you.

Because you could choose to run Element X2 Pure as you've usually done, beyond arm's length using Roon Remote, the stock MA Remote software, and Tidal Connect. But now Matrix add a 3.46 inch LCD touch screen for anyone keen to take advantage of Element X2 Pure in a desktop setting.

With so many options at one's disposal, and all of equivalent quality, Element X2 Pure promises to take up pride of place in a stereo system or one's headphone booth, outputting the best small signal to elevate the potential of your painstakingly assembled chain.

Or headphone listeners can see what they can achieve with the rest of Matrix Audio's 4.4mm balanced output Element line here, and all our other full-sized DAC/amps here.