Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Streaming Sooloos - 2.1 Build 324 delivers 24bit/192kHz!!

Hi all,

Here is an extract from the letter we've sent our Sooloos customers today which relates to the latest Sooloos update being released Worldwide from today:

Meridian Sooloos System Update � Sooloos 2.1 build 324
As part of our on-going efforts to ensure Meridian Sooloos remains the very best in class of all Digital Media Systems I am happy to advise that the latest build of the award-winning Sooloos 2.1 software will be distributed during Monday 11th July 2011, and that on systems where the Sooloos system core runs on one of our latest products � Media Core 200, Media Core 600, and Control 15, * � a significant new feature will be added.

Support for 176.4 kHz and 192 kHz Sample Rates has been added to Meridian Sooloos systems to allow the import and playback of media at these higher sample rates. This exciting news brings with it a number of obvious questions �

How can I import higher sample rate media? Those who already own music recorded and stored at these higher sample rates will be able to use the �Import Folders� and �Import Files� features of Control:PC and Control Mac. To help integrate this higher resolution content with Sooloos� powerful search and discovery features, metadata and cover art will (where available) be brought in with the media being imported and/or downloaded from the Sooloos metadata cloud in the same way as with other imports.

How does the Meridian Sooloos system use higher sample rate media? All media on the Meridian Sooloos system is stored at its full sample rate. Depending on how you listen in any given zone, the Meridian Sooloos system may downsample higher resolution media to a rate that is compatible with the Sooloos endpoint you are listening to in that zone. When higher sample rate media does require to be downsampled high performance algorithms, including Meridian�s Apodising filter, are used to ensure the highest possible standards are maintained.

Can I still export my media? Yes. Just as with all other media supported by the Meridian Sooloos Digital Media System, transcoded versions of higher sample rate media will be generated in the background according to the export settings configured for the system.

In addition to this significant new feature, there have also been a host of improvements made to system stability.

This latest build of the Sooloos 2.1 software will be pushed from the Sooloos cloud during Monday 11th July. All systems connected to the Sooloos cloud via an internet connection will receive this update, and users will be notified that the update is available via a flashing message indicator in the top right hand corner of Control 15, Control:10, and Control 1 interfaces, or via a message displayed through Control:PC / Control Mac.

Once the update has been received, users can choose when they install it, so as not to disturb listening activities.

Once the update has been installed, we recommend that all Meridian Sooloos components on the network are rebooted. Please keep in mind that not all components will install the update in quite the same amount of time, so patience is always advised.

* N.B. In Meridian Sooloos systems where older products such as Ensemble, Source One or Source Five provide the �system core� function, playback of higher sample rate media may not be reliable, particularly when attempting to play back over multiple zones simultaneously.

I hope this is of interest to current Sooloos owners and helps sway those reluctant to take the plunge!

As always, Martins Hifi are available to advise and answer all all you pre/post sales questions. We currently have the full range of Sooloos components on demonstration in our shop.

Please let me know if you need anything further.

Best regards,
Alan

Good, but probably not alot of material around to take advantage of the feature.
When do we get multi channel playback (5.1)? That would be more useful for most I suspect

Thanks for letting us know I have just updated my MC200 - have yet to try it though...

Very glad re the 192kHz 24 bit upgrade as I have just been through adding my DVD-Audio rips to the Sooloos and was hoping that I was converting down to 96kHz OK + trying to decide on what format to purchase HiRes downloads - now I don't need to consider this.

Open question though is how many of the audio endpoints will actually benefit from the higher rate / will they themselves need further firmware upgrades? Or will it only be 'new' devices that will receive 192kHz?

Thanks

John

Very good news indeed. Thanks Meridian!

Alan,

Thanks for the new on the Sooloos firmware.

Could you please advise which Sooloos "endpoints" support 192KhZ Digital audio?

C10
C15
MC200
MS600
MC600
ID40 (861v6)
ID40 (808.3)
DSP Speakers (None SpeakerLink)
DSP Speakers (SpeakerLink)

I suspect the answer is none of the above

Regards,
Carl

PS +1 on the FLAC 5.1 support requirment.

I like this but my bet is everything new with analog outs.. Now where is that DSP8k 24/192 firmware upgrade? Looks like its time to enable that.

Well, having now tried my MC200 into ID40 (not at 192 kHz, just using existing 44.1 / 96 kHz material) I still get the 'splat' when first starting to pay a new selected track and / or changing tracks mid way through. I had hoped that the new firmware would have also addressed this issue.

Apparently not...

Edit:

Having powered everything off a second time (first time I did not power off the MC200 post it's re-boot). The I believe that the 'splat' is now shorter, more of a 'click', so maybe this has been improved.

What are others who previously had this issue finding with the new release?

John

Am I right in thinking that at least 861v4 and later could input and output 24/192 digital (i.e. from DVD-A)?

No. SPDIF is (apparently) unreliable at 4x sample rates.

"Two digital inputs to SPDIF standard; 32kHz�96kHz sampling rates at up to 24 bit; MHR support. (A future software update will enable support for 192kHz."

From the 8000 Datasheet of December 2001 . Does this mean that the Firmware updates are on their way or is just for Analogue ??

M

P.S. Hope the Update stabilises my system too .

+ another for 5.1

Fantastic news The update worked perfectly on the Control 15, now playing 24/192 through the NAD M2... and it sounds good to me!!

Hi Steve,

That's good; sounds like it is a great well timed update for you. Cool.

I just hope that Meridian now rollout 192 KHz support downstream. It would be somewhat hypocritical of them to offer 192 KHz from Sooloos for 3rd party DACs but not support it on in-house kit.

Regards,
Carl