Yes Huw your observations on MQA quality are based on NOT hearing MQA!

Bit perfect replay is essential and also blue or green light on the Explorer. So no upsampling, volume control at 100% and 24 bit resolution.

There are many files available on 2l website to do a proper comparison. See separate thread in decoded MQA.

If no coloured light with VLC (and there are some posts on web re bit perfect replay with VLC, then suggest trying, for example, AUDIRVANA as recommended by Meridian. You can trial it free!

Good luck....


MC 200 Simaudio MOON P8W7 MOON 750D DAC Explorer2 MQA DAC Linn LP12 Transfiguration Proteus Magnum Dynalab FM tuner MacBook Pro, Sonore Ultra Rendu >Audirvana streaming Qobuz and Tidal Martin Logan Spire electrostatics Stax 009 headphones Velodyne DD12+ subwoofer