Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Streaming MC200 tweaks to get the best sound

The MC200 is a Linux PC (busybox) with a Meridian designed audio board. The MC200 acts as a store (NAS box), core and audio endpoint.

Busybox and NAS have high reliance on internal disc drive.
Core takes data from NAS, converts to PCM (at same bitrate etc as source material) and transmits over network (internal in case if MC200) to audio endpoints.

As you can see, it's a distributed audio system all running on same PC in a relatively noisy environment with different needs from the power supply.

Adding MS600 moves the audio component out of the noisy environment into a dedicated audiophile quality environment. In analogue setup, very good on board DACs provide quality equal to many highly regarded dedicated DACs. On a digital environment, better control of jitter and decoupling from PC environment assist in making a cleaner digital output than the MC200 alone provides, making it easier for downstream systems to do a good job of decoding. The mileage of this depends on how tolerant your downstream systems are of non perfect digital feeds. Do a search for 'jitter' to learn more.

It is possible that the DAC on the MS600 exceeds your own dedicated DAC making that redundant in the Sooloos system.

That's a great explanation Ian, thanks!

Are there any trade offs in running a PCM signal over longer distances (eg. Going from a very short distance within the MC200 to across 3-6 metres of shielded Cat 6 cable from the MC200 in one room to the MS600 in another room?

The PCM signal only goes the short distance from end zone to hi fi. As I understand things. Chris

So the MC200 doesn't convert to PCM before sending the signal to the MS600?

When does the up converting/apodising process happen? In the end point (MS600) or the core (MC200)?

End points up convert and apodise which means you can have two or more zones playing different or the same music. As I understand it. The MS600 is a cleaner environment for audio with no hard drive in it. Chris

Thanks Chris!

No. The core, in your case the MC200, reads the the source file from the store. In your case, again the MC200. The core then decodes the source file (FLAC, wmv, MP3 etc) into PCM data of the same resolution and bit depth as the original file. This PCM data is then encapsulated as TCP network packet data and sent asynchronously via the network along with all the other pieces of data flying around, to the audio endpoint. This is why keeping Sooloos on its own network switch is good as it effectively isolates Sooloos network data from all other network data.

The audio endpoint then unpacks the network data into PCM audio data, which the audio endpoint will re-clock and synchronise, process (upsample/apodise etc) depending on its capabilities and configuration and produce an audio output via digital or analogue as per the device specs.

Very clear now - thanks!

Now it all makes sense why there would be an improvement in sound by adding an MS600 to my MC200.

I compared the SPDIF output of a Sooloos Ensemble with the MC200 into my Simaudio 650D DAC yesterday. I got the best results with the Ensemble, which was basically on par with, if not a little better than, CD play through the 650D. Wondering why that might be - you would think that since Meridian took over the company and started to integrate their digital technology the sound would improve. Maybe the Meridian gear is designed to work best with other Meridian gear to the detriment of the sound through non-Meridian gear?