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A well known saying in the industry is that your system is only as good as your source. There are of course debates around this, however, the more detailed your source material, the more likely you are to hear the most out of your Hi-Fi system. So there is no harm in having a higher quality streamer, or in some cases, a turntable, or a CD transport, as this can allow you to hear more of your system. There are also always options to upgrade other parts of your system one-by-one to match the streamer. 

There can be lots of areas to make potential improvements to your system, however, this changes greatly depending on where you are with your system. If you were starting from a new Hi-Fi system which was just set up, then we would recommend looking at the power delivery first. This includes Power conditioning, distribution, cables and fuses. If you have already good quality power upgrades, then we would recommend looking at the signal chain for any potential improvements to cabling, isolation and acoustics. If you would like some tailored recommendations for you system, then please contact one of our consultants and we would be happy to help you!

Yes. 2A means it can output up to 2A ma. So if your device requires 500mA, it's fine.

Hi Stephen When it comes to jumper cables there is no real issue as far as directionality is concerned ; the important part is ensuring you connect the positive and negative HF and LF terminals correctly. Whilst some customers claim that they can hear slight differences depending on which way the cables are run there is no real factual evidence to back that up , unlike with directionality in the actual speaker cables themselves which can improve performance

If your Technics 1210 has the standard 1/2” mounting distance, common on Technics headshells. It will fit. Although compliance is slightly high, it remains within the medium compliance range recommended for the Technics tonearm. In short, a 22 µm/mN compliance cartridge is highly suitable for your Technics SL-1210. The Soundsmith Otello offers a warm and clear sound profile with good separation and an expansive soundstage.

As a rule, the printing on speaker cables (or most signal cables) runs in the direction of the signal. In this case, from the amplifier to the speakers.

This product is for adapting Toslink cable connectors to a Mini Toslink connector (3.5mm optical). If either your TV or amplifier requires a Mini Toslink connector, this adapter can help. Please note, it is uncommon for a TV to have mini Toslink output - TVs normally have standard Toslink output sockets.

Yes, the spindle on your turntable doesn't have to be threaded one. You can simply put this over the spindle and then tighten it.

Dedicated power supplies or upgraded DC supplies are most commonly used with low-voltage digital equipment such as streamers, DACs, routers, and network switches. These components are particularly sensitive to electrical noise from standard switch-mode power supplies. Upgrading the DC supply can improve timing, clarity, and background quietness. These upgrades tend to be most effective once the core system is already well balanced and you are aiming for refinement rather than a dramatic tonal change.

Clean mains power matters to both digital and analogue systems, but in different ways. Digital equipment can be affected by electrical noise that impacts timing, clarity, and perceived smoothness. Analogue equipment, especially turntables and phono stages, is sensitive to noise and interference that can mask low-level detail. Improving power quality can help systems sound more composed, quieter, and more consistent. The more revealing the system, the more noticeable the benefits of cleaner power tend to be.

For most systems, speakers, headphones, and core electronics deliver the biggest initial improvements. Power upgrades are usually most rewarding once the system fundamentals are already strong. That said, if you are experiencing noise, hum, or inconsistency, addressing power can bring immediate benefits. Power upgrades work best as part of a wider system approach rather than as a standalone fix.

Hi-fi fuses are safe to use when they are the correct rating and type specified by the manufacturer. They function in the same protective way as standard fuses, but can use different materials, construction methods and optimisations. Some listeners report improvements in clarity, focus, and low-level detail after fitting a hi-fi fuse. These changes are typically subtle and system-dependent, making fuses more of a fine-tuning option than a primary upgrade.

yes! In practice, with a 5.1 FLAC file and the right playback app + HDMI (preferably eARC) connection to an AV receiver, it can play 5.1 FLAC files in full multichannel audio. But if your setup or playback app doesn’t properly output multichannel PCM, you might only get stereo (a common Android/HDMI issue).

The Chord Rumour X (and larger, Odyssey X) are only available in white. Other brands offer a black cable, such as the Atlas Hyper range of speaker cables

Matrix Audio was founded in 2009 and is based in Xi’an, China. Product design, engineering and testing are carried out in-house, using advanced measurement equipment alongside extensive listening evaluation.