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Matrix Audio NA-1
Matrix Audio has introduced the NA-1, a flagship headphone amplifier from the company's new N Series, designed as the central element of ambitious desktop and stationary systems for demanding users of both dynamic and planar headphones. The unit is a fully analog design operating in pure Class A and built entirely from discrete components. According to the manufacturer, it combines high output power with low noise and precise signal control. The amplifier delivers up to 20 W in balanced mode, making it suitable not only for low-sensitivity planar headphones but also for highly sensitive in-ear monitors. As Cao Yang, CEO of Matrix Audio, explains, "NA-1 represents the culmination of our efforts to create the ideal amplifier. We focused on removing every barrier between the listener and the music. With its fully balanced Class A architecture and powerful power supply, NA-1 handles the most demanding loads with the ease and refinement expected by serious audiophiles."
At the core of the design is a fully analog Class A amplification stage built from four independent discrete modules. This topology is intended to reduce crossover distortion, improve channel separation and operational stability under heavy loads, and provide a more natural signal structure than integrated-circuit-based designs. According to the manufacturer, the decision to use a discrete architecture reflects a consistent effort to achieve the most direct and transparent presentation possible. As Cao Yang notes, "Many manufacturers take shortcuts by relying on integrated amplifier chips. With the NA-1, we chose a traditional and uncompromising amplifier design approach. The result is a sound with remarkable density, tonal richness and dynamics that define the best Class A constructions."
A key element of the design is the expanded power supply section built around an 80 W toroidal transformer housed in a shielded enclosure and supported by a capacitor bank with a total capacity of 39,000 µF. This configuration is intended to ensure voltage stability and sufficient current reserves during dynamic musical passages while limiting the influence of electromagnetic interference and mechanical vibration on circuit operation. The NA-1 can function not only as a headphone amplifier but also as a preamplifier in a conventional stereo system. It provides both RCA and XLR line outputs for driving power amplifiers or active loudspeakers. The input section includes three analog inputs - one balanced XLR and two single-ended RCA - allowing multiple sources to remain connected simultaneously.
Matrix Audio also implemented its MA-DamperPRO vibration control system, developed in cooperation with Audio Bastion. This multilayer structure combining aluminum, stainless steel, and cork is designed to reduce the transmission of external vibrations to the internal circuitry, stabilizing operating conditions and contributing to a cleaner acoustic background. The NA-1 forms part of a broader N Series ecosystem that also includes the NT-1 digital transport and the ND-1 digital-to-analog converter. Together, these components are positioned as a coherent split system intended for advanced desktop listening setups or compact reference-grade installations. The NA-1 is now available internationally with an expected retail price of approximately $2,799/€2,599/£2,299. Info and photos by Matrix Audio.
