Matrix Audio SC-1 Reference Clock

The SC-1 is Matrix Audio’s first standalone clock source – a precision 10MHz reference built to feed a streamer, DAC or CD player with a synchronised clock input, in place of that unit’s own internal clock. The MS-1, MS-1P, NT-1 and TT-1 all have an external clock input built for exactly this: their own internal clocks step aside and lock to whatever the SC-1 is sending, for a further step up in timing precision beyond what fits inside their own chassis.

Precision and stability

At the centre of the SC-1 is a custom oven-controlled crystal oscillator (OCXO) using an SC-cut crystal, a more complex cut to manufacture but one with better phase noise and ageing characteristics than the simpler cuts most clocks use. The oven chamber holds the crystal at a constant temperature, insulating it from the ambient swings that would otherwise show up as phase noise and jitter. The result, measured at the output port itself rather than just the internal oscillator, is phase noise better than -118dBc/Hz at 1Hz and jitter as low as 20 femtoseconds, with a warm-up time under five minutes from a cold start.

Four outputs, independently buffered

Four BNC outputs share the same clock source, but each runs through its own buffering circuit rather than being split from a single driver. That means stable output impedance and enough drive strength whether one output is in use or all four are running different devices at once, with no output degrading the others. Output waveform, sine or square, is set at the factory to order – square wave offers higher locking accuracy where a connected device supports it.

Staying accurate over time

A 1PPS reference input on the rear panel lets the SC-1 calibrate itself automatically against an external second-based reference signal, with the calibration status shown on the front panel LED. Matrix Audio also offers a free calibration service to keep the unit accurate over the long term. Underneath, CBVB vibration-absorbing feet isolate the clock module from external vibration, and an auto-sensing linear power supply switches transformer windings to match the input voltage, with separate multi-stage regulators for the oven and clock circuits so fluctuations in the oven’s power draw don’t leak into the clock signal itself.

Build

The SC-1 shares its chassis dimensions with the NT-1, and the same Matrix Design language as the rest of the range: a perforated top panel and bevelled edges. A single front-panel LED shows warm-up status, blinking while the oven chamber stabilises and staying lit once it’s ready.

Specifications

In the box

• SC-1 clock source
• Power cable
• User manual
• Warranty card

Downloads

• Matrix Audio SC-1 user manual