Using an Explorer2 to feed an 861 via analog:

MQA is suposed to give you sound 'exactly as per the source'

Old method: before MQA

Studio converts the analog to digital under controlled circumstances (gain and dynamic range controlled).

Your proposed way:

Using Explorer2 + MQA to get you 'as close to original source as the Explorer2 can manage' - then do the former studio A-D conversion yourself at the 861 input.

Surely if the Explorer2 method sounded better than the original studio A-D, then this means that for years we could have had better sound quality without having MQA since the final 861 A-D step will just replicate the old method?

Matt.