Matrix Audio SI-1 Audio Grade Network Isolator

Matrix Audio’s SI‑1 is an audio‑grade network isolator designed to sit quietly in your chain and clean up what your streamer or network DAC actually sees from the rest of your home network. It converts the electrical Ethernet link into an optically isolated path, breaking the direct electrical connection between router and audio system so network‑borne noise and ground loops are far less able to reach your playback gear.

Inside, the SI‑1 uses active optical‑electrical isolation: incoming Ethernet is converted to optical, passed through dual, fully independent send/receive channels and then converted back again. This design blocks electromagnetic interference from routers and switches, cuts ground‑loop‑related current noise, and works with a pair of femtosecond clocks and a linear power supply to keep timing jitter and power‑supply noise extremely low. The aim is not to change the character of your system, but to give streamers and network‑enabled DACs a cleaner, more stable data environment to work from.

The SI‑1 is straightforward to deploy. Around the back are two 1 Gbps RJ45 ports — one input and one isolated output — in a physically separated layout that reinforces signal integrity while cutting the electrical link between the two sides. You simply insert it in line between your router and a streamer, network DAC or audio‑dedicated switch, and it acts as a high‑quality isolation node for the entire audio branch of the network. Front‑panel and rear‑panel LEDs provide clear status at a glance, with the option on some units to disable link lights to keep a dark listening room free of distractions.

A linear power supply with an epoxy‑potted toroidal transformer, multiple low‑noise regulators and carefully managed grounding underpins the design, helping the SI‑1 behave like an audio component rather than a generic IT accessory. The all‑aluminum enclosure and compact footprint let it sit neatly alongside other electronics on a rack or sideboard without calling attention to itself.

For customers who have already invested in a capable streamer or network DAC and are now looking to address the “last mile” between their home network and the audio system, the Matrix Audio SI‑1 offers a purposeful way to reduce network‑related noise and jitter without changing the core components they already enjoy.