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Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 108 Likes: 1
Hitchhiker
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Hitchhiker
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 108 Likes: 1 |
Hi all
I just purchased a new iFi Zen Streamer. Nifty little unit. However I have noticed when I stream through Tidal Connect that the MQA light on my 218 is now a different colour! Where previously through Roon it was only ever green/blue, now I have a nice magenta light. After looking in the manual that came with my 218, there was no reference to this delightful new colour. It was only after checking the latest manual from the Meridian website that I have noticed they updated the manual and introduced the concept of 'MQA Core' - which is magenta.
I'm assuming this is inferior to MQA Studio - however is it better or worse than the green light?? And what indeed is MQA core? Thanks!
DSP5200, ifi Zen Stream, 218, Tidal Connect
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 386 Likes: 30
Hitchhiker
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Hitchhiker
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 386 Likes: 30 |
Using Roon, I always see magenta when they are doing the first unfold. Otherwise, blue or green will indicate "studio" or not. Perhaps you had not enabled the MQA core decoder in your Roon device setup, while it is enabled by the iFi Zen.
BTW Has your 218 been updated to v1.1, build 218 using Meridian Device Manager Version v37?
Server: Audiolinux Roon NUC w/HAF room correction and crosstalk cancellation
Theater: 218, Allo Signature, miniDSP, HD621, C61R, DSP5200SEu, 420, 33, NHT subs
EtherREGEN w/Finisar fiber, Shunyata Denali
Living Room: RPi4 Diretta Host & Target, Ghent USB > Singxer SU-6 > AES NA M-Links > DSP9
Shunyata TritonV3, LHY lps, Farad Super3, Stack AUVA feet
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Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 6,569 Likes: 13
President of the Imperial Galactic Government
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President of the Imperial Galactic Government
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 6,569 Likes: 13 |
I get the magenta light if I link zones and one zone is an MQA renderer only. (In my case a Bluesound Pulse Flex) Looking at the signal path, Roon is performing the first unfold.
No 18 in the Hall of fame  I have simple tastes; I am content to settle for the best: GIK monster bass panels, rear wall. QNAP TVS 471i3. Roon into DSP5200SE via 210/ 218 zone... Explorer 2. Bluesound Pulse 2, Mini & Flex. 596v1, 518, Foxsat HD, Sony BDP, Pioneer 5090, 2 Chromecast's for LRB videos. MS200 to F80 for a Roon zone
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Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 108 Likes: 1
Hitchhiker
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Hitchhiker
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 108 Likes: 1 |
@OldDogCan - yes my 218 is up to date - and I never saw the magenta light once whilst playing Roon! Always green or blue so I just assumed it was working OK. Plus there was no mention of magenta in the original manual so had no reason to think it was wrong. Is magenta therefore preferred over green?
@ChrisLayer - thanks for the info. Am curious - what light do you get if you don't link zones with a renderer? Blue/Green?
DSP5200, ifi Zen Stream, 218, Tidal Connect
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Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 6,569 Likes: 13
President of the Imperial Galactic Government
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President of the Imperial Galactic Government
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 6,569 Likes: 13 |
If I don’t link zones I get the Blue for MQA Studio and Green for MQA.
No 18 in the Hall of fame I have simple tastes; I am content to settle for the best: GIK monster bass panels, rear wall. QNAP TVS 471i3. Roon into DSP5200SE via 210/ 218 zone... Explorer 2. Bluesound Pulse 2, Mini & Flex. 596v1, 518, Foxsat HD, Sony BDP, Pioneer 5090, 2 Chromecast's for LRB videos. MS200 to F80 for a Roon zone
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 386 Likes: 30
Hitchhiker
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Hitchhiker
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 386 Likes: 30 |
Server: Audiolinux Roon NUC w/HAF room correction and crosstalk cancellation
Theater: 218, Allo Signature, miniDSP, HD621, C61R, DSP5200SEu, 420, 33, NHT subs
EtherREGEN w/Finisar fiber, Shunyata Denali
Living Room: RPi4 Diretta Host & Target, Ghent USB > Singxer SU-6 > AES NA M-Links > DSP9
Shunyata TritonV3, LHY lps, Farad Super3, Stack AUVA feet
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 386 Likes: 30
Hitchhiker
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Hitchhiker
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 386 Likes: 30 |
@OldDogCan - yes my 218 is up to date - and I never saw the magenta light once whilst playing Roon! Always green or blue so I just assumed it was working OK. Plus there was no mention of magenta in the original manual so had no reason to think it was wrong. Is magenta therefore preferred over green? I don't believe that there is any sonic advantage (or difference). Just a pleasant color...
Server: Audiolinux Roon NUC w/HAF room correction and crosstalk cancellation
Theater: 218, Allo Signature, miniDSP, HD621, C61R, DSP5200SEu, 420, 33, NHT subs
EtherREGEN w/Finisar fiber, Shunyata Denali
Living Room: RPi4 Diretta Host & Target, Ghent USB > Singxer SU-6 > AES NA M-Links > DSP9
Shunyata TritonV3, LHY lps, Farad Super3, Stack AUVA feet
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Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 22 Likes: 1
Harmless
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Harmless
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 22 Likes: 1 |
Guessing if you disabled MQA decode on the iFi (no idea if you can) the 218 will show the green/blue light again.
Messier84
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Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 108 Likes: 1
Hitchhiker
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Hitchhiker
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 108 Likes: 1 |
If I disable MQA pass through on the iFi then I get no light at all on the 218. It's magenta or nothing it seems.
Perhaps magenta means that the 218 can't determine whether it's being fed MQA Studio or not, but it is nonetheless MQA. Whereas decoding done via Roon, it can? All very confusing...
DSP5200, ifi Zen Stream, 218, Tidal Connect
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Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 3,976 Likes: 198
Vogon Civil Servant
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Vogon Civil Servant
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 3,976 Likes: 198 |
Page 5 of the updated (2021) 218 User Guide states: The rightmost indicator shows the MQA status: magenta (MQA Core), green (MQA) or blue (MQA Studio). Page 5 of the 210 User Manual qualifies the above: magenta (MQA Core), green (MQA Authenticated) or blue (MQA Studio).
Not an Actor, nor married to Jamie-Lee Curtis.
#1: DSP5200SE|DSW.2|218|210|506.2|504
#2: Prime/PSU|SOtM sMS-200 Mini NEO SE|Focal Stellia
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