Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Systems Meridian Explorer

Can it be better verdict?

No question it's a nifty little device - not THAT nifty though! Think I'll still keep the big-rig.

I tested the Explorer with my headphone amp. It is a tube amp, but fairly transparent for tube.
Its output is transformerless, with film output coupling capacitors. I use 7236 (computer rated 5998), Western 6AS7G etn Bendix 6080. The amp is good.

My finding when using the Explorer without the HD650 is that it is perfectly capable with most modern mixed audio when level are high and mixed (compressed) for nowadays standards.

But when using recording from before the 2000s, the hard to be driven HD650 needs more power to present a flawless audio with realistic volume.

Now IMHO, using the amp with the line out of the Explorer has both downsides and advantages:
- Without amplification, the Explorer has a relaxed presentation that is balanced and with perfect timing and coherence that is undigital to my ears.

- With the tube amplification, there is an added sweetness to the sound that wasn't there to begin with, but the sound has an added depth to it, I found vocal notably to sound sublime as well as bass notes. What you lose is that coherent air and feeling that everything is timed properly, I don't know what that means, but I felt like it.

IMHO a more powerful version of the Explorer, with full DAC capability, retaining the USB async, with a better power supply, RCA out, added SPDIF coax OUT, and LOTS more power to drive Ortho headphones, would be pretty successful looking at the ever growing business of headphones.

I ordered my Explorer today from the same dealer who sold me the F80 and intend to use it with a Chord USB or a Wireworld (like my Halide DAC HD has) USB cable and a Chord iChord mini to RCA or DIN. I have both of these already if I can find them. This will go into a Naim setup we already have.

Incidentally he said that he has sold 30 Explorers already and has 25 on back order. I just got on the list.

All the computer music we have is iTunes based. It is either a CD ripped into iTunes at anything from Apple Lossless to AIFF. Or it is downloaded from God knows where at MP3 120-320.

If I were to use the Explorer to get into hi res digital audio over a speaker system, how should I proceed in a smart, efficient way? What do I need to add to my stock iTunes setup? Where can I get some hi res files? Is this really worth the trouble vs. a nice CD or turntable based system?

Sorry to slow up the class.

I have found that I cannot hear much if any difference between the Explorer and standard sound card if I am using standard software like iTunes or Sooloos Control:Mac even after setting up the volume controls properly. However, using software that is bit perfect does make a difference. I don't know if you are using PC or Mac but there are alternative software or helpers that do allow bit exclusive/perfect output. IMHO this will make more difference than any fancy USB cabling that is catered for in the design of the Explorer by the inclusion of large decoupling capacitors to isolate the analogue side from the digital side, a design feature that would seem to not be possible in physically smaller units such Hadide.

My caveat to this is that I, like 10% of the UK adult population, do suffer from tinnitus so some low level detail is masked. Initially I thought that it was my headphones but tried it on top if the range Grados and found the same. Have noticed that using the line out of the Explorer instead of headphone out seems to be more pleasing for me.

Has anyone tried it with an iPad (or seen a post anywhere else) and confirmed it works (and well)?

You are correct. I have an extra MacMini I plan to use in another room in my house with an AV receiver setup. I plan to achieve iPad control on whole house "party mode" by linking to another zone which CAN be iPad controlled.

AMS/Mtns

I think you are both guessing here.

There is not enough power in the iPad but plug in some power via the camera kit and see what happens...then post back.

My "guess" is based on the Sooloos guide, which instructs on linking zones. My thinking is the Explorer zone will be running Control:Mac, synced to my MS600 zone for example. The iPad will directly control the MS600 zone which will be monitored by the synced MacMini running Control Mac.

It will depend if the particular USB class that the Explorer uses is implemented in iOS more than anything. Does something like a Halide Bridge work with an iPad?

I know that Google for instance have omitted lots of classes from the USB-OTG stack in Jelly Bean, so it will support hosting some USB devices that are within the power limit but not others that would work if it were running a proper laptop OS.

The Halide is just the wire from the computer to the AV receiver (with goodies included). The iTunes remote app is used to control iTunes, via IP on the computer, thru Pure Music in my setup, which predates my MDMS stuff.

There's two discussions going on here, one of which is about directly connecting an Explorer to an iPad using the camera connection kit, the other is about using iTunes on a Mac with the Remote app on the iPad. The two have very little in common.