Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion MQA - Related technology, products and music MQA listening impressions (with a MQA decoder)

I've now hooked up my Explorer2 both to my Desktop PC & my Surface 3 Pro, both through Roon, and I can flick between the (Kate Busby) MQA files (green light) & the (2L download sampler) MQA Studio files (blue light) at will. So, in theory, it's all working.

This is necessarily playing through my earphones - Etymotic ER-4P's - and although it's difficult to assess, I've the feeling that the soundstage / atmosphere is "larger" and there's more "realism" to certain things.... Hard to describe, but piano chords seem weightier (but not bloated), guitar seems "cleaner".

More listening required, and yes, more material now needed to listen to !

However, and it's all too easy to forget, I've the feeling that Meridian / MQA are really on to something here - so well done to them - and they'll get my full praise when I can enjoy MQA through my 861v8 / 9 !

Listening for the first time to MQA with 818v3 and DSP8000SEs. Glorious...but I only have three tracks that I downloaded for free at 2L. Can't really say too much at this point as I'm not familiar with the tracks. One thing I really notice right away, however, is the piano. It sounds more 'open,' in the high register especially.

Have to wait patiently for Tidal and others to get an MQA catalog on line.

I am surprised that this thread hasn't been overwhelmed in the last 24 hours. Are people not hearing a big difference? My undecoded experience was marked, but that was through some fairly old tech. Is apodising bringing CD up to such a level on the Meridian gear that MQA benefits are being diminished? Are there not that many Explorer 2s out there?

Maybe it it's because there isn't really very much MQA material available at this point. It makes it hard to say much, especially if you are not a regular listener to classical music, which seems to make up most of the MQA currently available.

I'm with Jack. The lack of comparable media prevents me from coming out with effusive reviews until I'm certain what I'm hearing.

When I heard MQA through 8kSEs in a controlled environment I loved it, but similarly I had nothing to compare it against properly. I'm not willing to commit until I do have sufficient comparison.

In the meantime I'm happy to suggest to folks that they use their ears rather than trust to just fora posts. It's telling that many of the loudest critics on "Computer Audiophile" (for example) have been unwilling to "Ask Bob" a question when presented the opportunity, IMHO.

Just found this review
First 24hrs with MQA

Where is the Judy Collins album available?

I assume the Judy Collins track he was referring is one of the, "I received an email with a link to download ten MQA FLAC files", group. These might possibly have been provided by MQA or Meridian though this is pure speculation on my part.

Thanks Gavin. Want that email! Want that link!

This review very much coincides with my initial impressions after 5-6 hours listening to a range of 2L albums. I already had eight of the 2L albums in standard high res formats and have purchased these same albums in MQA. I like classical and I am reasonably familiar with four of the albums. Will report back after a couple of weeks listening with further thoughts.

Roon ---network---> Squeezebox Touch w/EDO plugin ---USB---> Explorer² ---line out---> Stax SRM-007tII w/Kimik ---> SR-009

Initial impressions with the Carl Neilsen piece is that everything is tighter, more precise; and the performance is so much more engaging.

Yes ... Engaging is what immediately struck me! Music much more interesting and involving, it is much more interesting to the extent it feels wrong to analyse the differences. I just wanted to enjoy it.

But for those not able to hear it yet.. I would add that string sound for example is much more accurate in timbre and detail of music line. You can hear exactly how the player is interpreting and decorating the melody. The acoustic of the recording is much more convincingly conveyed, as are for example bass drum sounds, with impact on skin and the hollow nature of the drum more real and evident.

The overall sound on all the 2L tracks is sweeter more natural sounding and revealing. All of these comments are MQA versus 96 or 44.1. I am still working on 192 vs 44.1, partly because the 192 files take an age to download! I can detect no downside to MQA lossiness vs 192 so far.

Listening via Explorer2 and Stax 009 and Kef LS 500 headphones