After 4 years of research and technical accumulation, the new X-Sabre DAC is born. The X-Sabre 3, a high-end DAC perfectly optimized and intelligently designed, offers exceptional performances, a particularly intuitive use and a clear and rich sound reproduction. The connectivity is also evolving, the X-Sabre 3 being fully connected to make it a DAC and network player combo.

A completely new design

The entire X-Sabre 3 has been redesigned compared to previous generations. From the external design to the internal architecture, every detail has been updated and improved. From a form factor point of view, the X-Sabre 3 is 10mm wider and 2mm lower, giving it a slimmer appearance.

New innovations, new design

The X-Sabre 3 uses the brand new user interface. A high resolution LCD screen has been added to clearly display the status of the device. When streaming a song, the album cover is displayed. The design of the case inherits clean lines with an improved interface for intuitive use.

High speed connection

The DAC hides behind its large glass front panel dual-band 2.4GHz and 5GHz WiFi antennas. These allow the X-Sabre 3 to receive high speed network signals. In case of use in an area with poor wireless coverage, it is also possible to connect the DAC to Gigabit Ethernet for optimal stability, especially for high-resolution audio files.

Local Streaming

The X-Sabre 3 is Roon Ready certified. This means that it is able to seamlessly connect to Roon, without any prior configuration, to enjoy Roon's bit perfect playback. With the Roon app, you can control playback, volume and sleep. With a software or application that supports UPnP or DLNA, you can stream your audio files at the original sample rate over the X-Sabre 3's network connection.

Online Streaming

The X-Sabre 3 is the brand's first model to include Tidal Connect and Spotify Connect. This means that you can search for your music in the Tidal and Spotify applications and select the X-Sabre 3 as your playback device. Playback and volume level can be directly controlled via these applications. The AirPlay protocol is another way to stream music in high quality.

Sync & Async modes

Changing the operating mode of the DAC chip no longer requires complex manipulations. In asynchronous mode, the DAC chip's master clock comes from the device's Crystek CCHD-950 femtosecond clock, and the source device's clock is therefore not used. In synchronous mode, the on-board femtosecond clock is disabled and the DAC chip depends on the clock signal of the source device. In this mode, with a high quality digital interface, you can bypass the digital processing part of the DAC via the I2S LVDS interface and send the digital audio stream directly to the digital to analog conversion stage.

Trigger

The integration of streaming functions makes the X-Sabre 3 more flexible and comfortable to use. You can turn on the device directly from your smartphone or network. The standard trigger port allows you to automatically turn on and off a connected amplifier along with the X-Sabre 3.

Total insulation

The digital processing part of the X-Sabre 3 is extremely powerful. Fast processing and high clock rates mean that high frequency noise from the digital system can interfere with the audio sections. In order to maintain a high performance audio circuit, Matrix uses a fully isolated design. The digital circuitry is completely separated from the digital to analog conversion stage and the analog stage. Both parts are placed in independent cavities.