Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Streaming Replacing a C15?

Hi All,

Now the C15 is no more, and mine is full up anyway, is it a good idea to change?

I'm awaiting delivery of a QNAP 4 bay NAS onto which I shall transfer all my music and possibly install Core.

Once this is done I wonder whether it would be a good move to replace the C15 with either a MS200 or an MC200. Which would be the better option?

Has anyone advice, comments, or alternative ideas?

Is the C15 not working now? If you are getting a QNAP put everything on it. You would however need some sort of player like a MS200, MS600, MC200 or 218.

Hi again Bruce, Thanks for your response. I'm looking to replace C15 because I fear that now it's out of production there will be a diminishing support for it and I'm looking to move on. To be frank I've had a number of issues with Sooloos, and whilst I still like it I'm considering alternatives. If I'm running Core on my Qnap will an MS200 do what I want assuming that it has a digital out?

Yes, MS200 will do.

However, MS200/MQA compatibility is not fully known but is anticipated to be existing baseline PCM playback only and not full MQA - if you can stomach the form factor of the new 218, for not alot more than the price of an MS200, you get a far more flexible and compatible unit going forward.

MS600 is better digitally than MS200 IMO, if you can accomodate, but not full MQA.

A few of these (MS600) are appearing at reasonable prices in FS. However 218 despite the "installer" form factor could be a better bet.

Hector

Yes MS200 has a combination digital and analog out as 3.5mm toslink/ mini stereo. The 218 will be compatible with MQA with analog and digital out to feed your tube amp. Yes the 218 as mentioned above is not a pretty box to set on a table top but it is designed to be mounted to a rack shelf and its performance and versatility should far supass its appearance.

I have a feeling that 'M'othership is letting Sooloos die a slow and painful death.

They are pushing Roon or core/store on QNAP. The problem is core/store is broken since May and only works if you downgrade the QNAP operating software. If it ever gets fixed, it might break in the next release.

There are quite a number of very good alternatives in the market - Aurender, Auralic, Lumin etc etc - for all budgets and tastes. They all do better than 24/96, including DXD and DSD. Most of them are easy to migrate to - export native from Sooloos, drag to their disks or to a NAS (any NAS - not QNAP only).

Not all do MQA but it is not yet universally adapted anyway. It might be brilliant technically, but, if there is no software, it is useless (see M's DVD-A experiment).

I was so hoping for a new C20 (or C30 or whatever).

Good luck in your search - happy listening.