Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion MQA - Related technology, products and music MQA Firmare Release Date Confirmed

It will stream MQA files (and eventually MQA from TIDAL) bit-perfectly to Sooloos endpoints. Given the apparent requirement by MQA to implement an end-to-end MQA solution, I do not expect it to decode MQA.

Ignoring legacy support, as things stand, the only current MQA issue with the Sooloos system is that Control:PC and Control:Mac do not play Sooloos streams bit-perfectly, which means that these Sooloos endpoints (the only non-hardware Sooloos endpoints) cannot be used in a decoding MQA context with an Explorer2 or Prime.

Which by inference means you can't use ANY Sooloos endpoint with an Explorer2 or Prime.

Rather makes the advent of MQA firmware for the two cheapest MQA Ready M items pretty pointless if you have chosen to live in a Meridian closed-system, doesn't it? You can't play any MQA music directly from your Sooloos library without using Roon or similar.

Bit perfect from Control:PC/Mac should have been a prerequisite even before MQA. What were they thinking?

I should say that, the last time, I checked, this was still the case. Perhaps someone can let this thread know if Control:PC and/or Control:Mac auto-change the output sample rate based on the streamed sample rate?

It would be nice if Sooloos cores that contained USB sockets could have the appropriate USB Audio drivers installed on them so that (for instance) you could just plug an Explorer/Prime into a C1x/MCx00/MD600 etc and they become audio endpoints in which you can get the full fat MQA experience, ie as I have been asking for for years, simply the ability to have a headphone output.

Does it actually mean that it makes no sense for me to go for the 818v3 upgrade as I will not be able to play any MQA on my 7200.2's?
The only adantage the v3 would be that I could enjoy MQA over headphones?

Thanks,
Jaap Jan

Hi,

MQA aside, it's already been reported on here that the 818v3 offers another step up in audio quality over and above the v2. (Try the Google search option for details).

Meridian have stated that DSP speakers which support MHR will be able to exploit MQA to the best that their hardware allows. It will require a firmware change and I have no idea when that will be.

Whether the improve in AQ is worth the money is of course one's our decision.

Regards,
Carl

Carl,

may I confirm: was it "DSP speakers which support MHR" or "DSP speakers which have SL connectivity"?

TIA

It was MHR.

Thanks, glad my DSP8000s are not totally obsolete

Pioneer can sell a high quality, large high res screen, portable HQ MQA player for £500 meaning it likely costs closer to £125 to produce. I struggle to see how/why high end Meridian processors costing thousands of pounds don't have the necessary processing power to support MQA. Surely a card could be produced costing no more than a few hundred pounds.

I am a long term Meridian lover, not a hater, and I purchased my equipment because I liked the way it sounded when I purchased it. The launch of MQA does not make my system sound any worse!!!

Could I purchase the Pioneer player and get the full MQA benefit via my 861????

I haven't seen Pioneer offer a MQA activated firmware date for this yet.
Chris

The Japanese engineered products have a short product cycle, usually 18-months to two years, and new hardware and DSP technology is implemented and licensed. The Meridian hardware is designed to have a much longer "shelf life". That theoretically makes it more valuable.

Bob and Allen have always striven to build the best sounding, best looking, long lasting audio products. Lately Bob has been innovating with MQA - and selling truly cutting-edge technology to build in latest audio research into his newest products.

Imagine designing and selling a DSP speaker that had a bunch of hidden technology built into it... They built a brand new SE engineered speaker technology (and new tweeters) and then didn't "let the cat out of the bag" until the public demonstration in California. Even then, we didn't realize what Bob was demo'ing. Crucially, the stereophile reviewer who was there heard it and enthusiastically reported on it...

Meridian's hardware implementation of MQA requires some new components. Hopefully, we'll finally find out next week if our investments in SE DSP speakers and newer processors live up to the hype. Eventually, a newer 861 upgrade with MQA built-in will be announced. I may even upgrade my 861v6 if there is enough good stuff included!