Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion MQA - Related technology, products and music DSP5200SE & MQA

Hi everybody,

Does someone here understand how to play MQA files on these speakers with a directly connected source?

I'm doing some experiments with Auralic Aries with Roon, but nothing.

Neither with a Meridian G68 ... maybe Meridian is preparing a new firmware for this audio processor?

Thanks,
Gaf

Gaf,

I'm almost positive you will need an MQA decoder (in a processor or audio endpoint). Right now, only the 818v3, 808v6, Explorer2 and Prime headphone amp can do the decoding. I don't think the speakers can do the decoding on their own.

And, I'm afraid the G68 is unlikely to ever get an upgrade to do the decoding. I don't think it has the processing power, so firmware won't do the trick.

Sorry

I don't agree with you, because the DSP5200 Special Edition are MQA ready as the Explorer2 and the Explorer2 works now fine with file MQA: blue LED magically appears!

So, for the G68 and other G series devices the only thing they should do is a "pass through" function, but with the last firmware they can't.

This is the reason why I trust they M will do something.
Anyway next week I will ask about it at the M stand at the ISE in Amsterdam.

Does someone has different news about it?
Gaf

I would leave that question till the end of the show - no point ruining an otherwise good day.

What the question should be is when will I get an MQA decoder that outputs digital and isnt at a price point that is not going to affect the mass adoption of MQA.

Gaf,
I hope you are right!

Good luck at the show

Hi Gaf,
There is a fundamental difference in that the Explorer2 can decode MQA streams, the SE DSP speaker do not decode MQA and require an external decoder ... at present that's either with an 808.6 or 818.3 ... but I'm sure new Sooloos endpoints and other devices will be announced over time.

Do report back on what Meridian have to say, it may help to lift the MQA fog that we have a present.

Regards,
Carl

I thought the G65 could pass the raw info to the SE speakers and the speaker does the MQA decoding?

So if I upgrade the firmware on my DSP5200SE speakers and get a MQA FLAC file into my MC200 it is not going to work?

Out of curiousity, I just checked the data sheets for the SE speakers, and found:

It sounds like the intent is to say that the SE speakers can fully render the benefits of MQA, not natively decode MQA.

C15 is MQA ready, but we have not seen any evidence of a proper Sooloos update with MQA decoder running into a pair of SE speakers as Meridian told us "Just add SE speakers."

My understanding is that the speaker is MQA aware and can fully exploit the signal whilst rendering but it does not perform MQA decoding.

The MQA decoding must be performed by an external Meridian MQA decoder which converts MQA into a part decoded [MLP format] stream that the DSP can then unfold further.

Correct. What we don't how is what is required to make this happen, MC200: firmware update, hardware upgrade or a new replacement unit.

Regards,
Carl

This is ridiculous, I was told by people that I cannot name that a G65 and SE speakers would be fine for MQA. But why still the uncertainty 2 years later.

It's because technically it's possible but just need to be done and released. (Necessary updates to Sooloos C15/MC200 and G series).

Right now the other stuff is in MQA limbo.