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Matrix X-Saber pro DAC 192 KHZ DSD MQA Excellent with remote.
At £700, this sits well above the typical used market for this item: against your own comps, the median is £340 and even the 75th percentile is £432, so this asking price is clearly ambitious rather than a bargain. For a DAC of this sort, you’re paying a premium that would need to be justified by something unusually strong, like boxed mint condition, a rare finish, or a meaningful accessory package.
That said, Matrix gear has a solid reputation for clean, resolving conversion and good value when priced sensibly, and the MQA/DSD feature set still gives it broad use in a modern digital setup. If the unit is genuinely immaculate and includes the original remote, power supply, and packaging, it may suit a buyer who wants this exact model and won’t mind paying up—but from a value standpoint, I’d keep looking unless those extras are substantial.
Independent perspective — not a price guarantee. Always verify condition, accessories and provenance before purchase.
MQA emerged in December 2014 from the innovative labs of UK-based Meridian Audio, founded by digital audio pioneer Bob Stuart. As a proprietary codec—Master Quality Authenticated—MQA was designed to deliver studio-master sound quality through efficient encoding, folding high-resolution audio up to 192kHz into standard 44.1kHz files while addressing perceived timing inaccuracies in digital playback. Meridian, renowned for its high-res contributions like the MLP format for DVD-Audio, spun off MQA as an independent company, MQA Limited, to champion this streaming-era solution.
Unlike traditional hi-fi hardware makers, MQA focuses exclusively on audio technology licensing rather than physical products like amplifiers, speakers, or turntables. Its core offerings include encoders for labels, decoders integrated into DACs, streamers, and apps, plus extensions like the Arya Bluetooth codec (formerly SCL6/MQAir) for wireless high-res transmission. Bluesound, NAD, and PSB products have prominently featured MQA decoding, embedding the tech into high-performance streaming DACs and amplifiers.
Positioned as a high-end niche player, MQA garnered initial acclaim for promising authenticated artist-intended sound but faced fierce debate over its claims of superior fidelity and lossless efficiency, dividing engineers and reviewers. After administration in April 2025, Lenbrook Industries—owners of NAD, PSB, and Bluesound—acquired its assets, signaling potential revival and renewed integration into premium hi-fi ecosystems for discerning streaming enthusiasts.
See all MQA listings on RADAR.
