Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion MQA - Related technology, products and music MQA solution into my DSP speakers?

Bruce can we chain endpoints via SL like this for example:

MS600 -> 218 -> DSP SE

Would the result of this be streamlined MQA limited to 96k by the MS600, or would it be "full fat" unfolded by the 218?

As you outline, Bruce, to get "full fat" MQA system performance, am I right in thinking the 861 owner will have to select the Direct DSP mode and no room correction on their 861?

Hi Lee,

Certainly there is point in using 818v3, 808v6 or 218 with Non-Se speakers.
These items will receive the MQA file and render it to the best that these speakers can receive (96/24) MHR, an improvement over simply upsampling the CD part of the MQA file.

They will do the job better than simply using the tidal app to decode and taking digital direct from a PC.

This wouldn't change with a firmware update for non-se speakers. I'm not expecting any 'MQA' firmware to be released for them.

Depends how the AC200 is used, it would still provide additional inputs over those in a 218, so AC200 > 218 > DSPSE speakers would work fine.


Rick

Thanks Bruce, so that raises additional questions (such as that from Vorticity) : what are the actual additions / set-up parameters required / playback scenarios?

Adding another processor (818v3 / 808v6) is completely absurd, but perhaps adding a 218 or similar would be an acceptable temporary fudge.

Do I need one 218 per channel? If I want to play (MQA through) Trifield, does that mean three 218's? Currently, and my preferred option, is to have all of my speakers connected to the 861v8 back-plane output individually, instead of daisy-chained.

Also, surely if the 861v8 receives a 48/24 signal from Roon (through the ID41) and applies room-correction / DSP, won't that damage or compromise or remove the other information in the signal - the information that's yet to be uncompressed / unfolded?

[This is basically the same question Vorticity has asked].

Thanks...

Interesting

So there no difference for MQA rendering options between a 27 year old 24/96 DSP speaker (say a 1990 DSP6000 upgraded to 24/96 in 1999) and the current 2017 SpeakerLink models (say the current DSP8000.2)?

Hi Jeje,

I think you're correct, I appreciate 8000.2 has had an upgrade for the .2 tweeter recently, but both DSP6000 and DSP8000 were conceived before MQA had been invented and max out on 24/96 PCM.

The DSP8000.2 will sound better though

Rick

Hi Rolski,

MQA and multi-channel don't really mix. It's a two channel format. So you'd best experience it through a two channel system.
You can't play MQA in Trifield at the moment.

You'd need a single 218, connected directly to your main left and right DSP8000SE. This will allow you to hear MQA music in two channel in all its glory.
The 218 has two outputs, one for Master and one for Slave, so you can maintain the home runs from your speakers as you have now.

Then connect one of the main left and right outputs of the 861 (doesn't matter which, they each carry both left and right channels of audio) to the SpeakerLink input of the 218, which would allow other multichannel sources to pass through the 218 on their way from 861 to the main speakers.

You could still have your current ID41 connected as you have now, for multichannel of non-MQA music.

Rick

In the senario you list the MS600 would be a bit redundant. The 218 would be the streaming endpoint.

Vorticity, The 861 settings in this case would be irrelevent as the 218 is the player direct to the SE 8ks. In multi channel mode, the 218 simply passes the signal from the 861v8. Same could be said for an 861v6

One of the reasons I went with Meridian was to get rid of extra boxes, so I'm a bit disappointed (to say the least) to read the requirement for a 218 to get MQA rather than a new card for the 861v8. Was hoping that the work on 808v6 and 818v3 would be extendable for at least 2 channel MQA through the 861.

I use the MS600 balanced analogue output for headphones. I don't think the 218 has this, does it?

I want to know if it's possible to chain a 218 to its digital output in order to get full fat MQA for DSPSE speakers not limited to 96k.

I thought there might possibly be some sonic benefit to chaining them like this if it were possible. Or it might just be a silly idea. Do say.

I suggest that you would run the MS600 in parallel to the 218