Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion MQA - Related technology, products and music "MQA" 818v3 is here!!

Thanks Altus. This is interesting and aligns with my experience of a lot of non-MQA material through SE loudspeakers sounding a bit flat; but that could well be the specific CDs or sub-optimal listening arrangements.

I'm considering a pair of SEs primarily for listening to MQA (when it eventually arrives), but (obviously) non-MQA is still important. Perhaps I'll just use my Stax for them, through which *everything* sounds amazing!

Similar drivers to mine. I am also interested in hearing the analogue output of the 818v3 on MQA music - this may be how I end up using the machine.

I agree with the majority of opinions in this thread

The Red Book promised improvement IMHO has not been realised. That almost indeterminate element of the music in performances that I considered almost perfect, seemed to have gone walkabout.

Too many variables in play!

This is not to say that this could not be recovered by diligent room and equipment set up, but IMHO this would be a backwards step for those expecting plug and play excellence.

I hope this helps, and I look forward to other opinions from those prepared to jump without a parachute.

Hector

Time will tell. It is not impossible or indeed unprecedented (though in this case I do think unlikely) that there is a firmware bug.

I am not sure if it is justified to base an opinion of the performance of the v3 on streaming through a laptop over USB vs. prior Sooloos over ID41.

At least I consider USB not at the level of an ID41 card. Let alone the seasonal influences we suffer... (jitterbugs?) Right?

However, didn't Mr Stuart demo MQA in US over just a laptop? Hmm...

Cheers!

I need to add to this, lest my comments be taken out of context. I don't make a habit of listening to non-Meridian speakers - I'm perfectly happy in the Meridian world in that regard. I've heard both 5200SEs and 7200SEs sound quite amazing with MQA material, so if I hear the same (clearly incredible) speakers not sounding quite so good with non-MQA material, there are several possibilities:

• The non-MQA material that I picked wasn't particularly great.
• The speakers were not optimally set up / positioned.
• You can't make a silk purse from a sow's ear... Even the best 818 processing simply isn't going to bring good RBCD up to MQA quality.

I suspect that a combination of all three is responsible for my being less impressed with SEs and non-MQA material vs. having my jaw hit the floor with SEs and MQA...

Having heard a fairly high-end Naim system sounding absolutely awful about a year ago (in the company of some Naim fanbois who were nodding knowingly), I suspect that material and setup are critical here and, if I have any "criticisms" of the SEs, those criticisms would only be magnified on non-SE systems.

Further, I also suspect that it *does* take the ear a while to adjust to the extraordinary neutrality and transparency that the SEs offer, much like it took me some time to adjust to 96/24 DSPs after the more toe-tapping 18-bitters.

Agree entirely with VK's comments. Very similar to my post in the firmware thread - probably worth repeating here for continuity of this 818v3 thread and the technical tests. On my first audition of 5200SEs I did take along a number of exact matches of the MQA but in high res PCM - the SEs came very close on this material to the MQA equivalent. This showed to me what they are capable of on non MQA material. Quality of original recording is still the most important factor. Wholeheartedly agree on need to adjust ears to greater detail and accuracy.

I think I even heard the Naim system referred to - Audiobarn?

Was just considering this upgrade more seriously, then noticed that the amount of standard digital inputs seems to have been drastically cut on the v3 - only 2 x SPDIF, 2 x toslink.

If this is so, I'd already be at my max no. of digital source inputs, and I'm thinking of adding a Sky box in the future, which would mean I'd already be over capacity with 5 sources. On the other hand, I'd have six analogue inputs, when I could realistically only see myself using one for vinyl. Is it just me who thinks that's a bit of a weird balance of connectivity in 2015?

Also, I'd have a SL input on a 2-channel preamp. Any reason for this over another standard digital in?

I'm more and more confused by Meridian's choices on this upgrade - my v2 has plenty of digital input provision.

Yes, the provision of digital inputs is pretty miserly, though I confess that they would do for me. The number of analogue inputs is simply a reflection of the existing card and the fact - love it or hate it - that Meridian appears to have done nothing vis-à-vis the analogue input section this time round.

The number of inputs doesn't do it for me either. At this level they should at least have allowed an ID28/9 card to be added. (It appears to physically fit, although there could be half-cards behind some of the panels.)

And I need balanced analogue inputs. I am suffering currently from noises picked up on the unbalanced inputs of my v2.

Still doing the upgrade though, because I want the high-resolution capabilities.

It would also meet my current requirements re 808.6.

You can please some of the people all of the time.

You can please all of the people some of the time.

But today M cannot please all of the people all of the time.

Firmly on the fence at this time and would hate to receive a downgrade to my Red Book collection.

It would appear I am not alone in hearing / thinking that something has changed since my MQA audition.

OK latest audition of 818.3 7200SE was not MQA just Red Book and some excellent hi-res files.

Thanks Altus for your revisit and second report including comments from Andrew at AI.

However I do not want to turn the wick up above 60 to get the desired result I have today!

Hector

I brought up this unwelcome reduction in digital inputs about 6 months ago when the MQA specs and upgrades were first mooted- and was subsequently confirmed my my M partner.

I was however hopeful it might be addressed by the time the kit was launched, but clearly not the case.

Tiresome gap for many users and not clear why. I am still waiting a while until more dust has settled, but meanwhile still thoroughly enjoying my 5200SE speakers linked to AC200, MS200 and C15.

Regards Huw