Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion MQA - Related technology, products and music MQA CDs and connecting players to a 218 via SPDIF

Would a CD player connected by digital coaxial to a 218 do the trick?

Yep, as long as it is 808v6. Happy to hear of other capable players. However you would not need a 218 or am I missing something.

Hector

Hi,

Provided it outputs a 16/44.1 bitperfect SPDIF stream it should be ok ... the 218 would then detect and decode MQA.

Are you saying that an 218 can decode MQA from its digital audio inputs as well as its networked input? I had assumed that it was just network input.

Hi Ian,

I don't have one on hand to test, but I too made an assumption ... I my case that all the digital inputs would be routed internally via the MQA decoded.

For what it's worth, the Data sheet does not list any MQA restrictions.

I guess the I only way to know for sure would be if someone could test and verify.

Regards,
Carl

Is it possible the CD player passes both a full analog unfold PCM signal, and SPDIF 96K PCM first unfold, which would contain the data necessary to be further unfolded in SEs?

I think, this is consistent with comments in the lengthy 218 usage thread, and the spec sheet here referenced, as to input performance of the 218 inputs.

Hi James,

I was only considering a non-MQA CD player outputting native 44.1 via SPDIF into the 218. I don't think there would be much point hooking up a MQA decoding CDP to it.

I'm pretty sure SE DSP's need the extended MHR signal via SpeakerLink before they will perform further MQA unfolding ... so I don't think hooking up a 3 party MQA decoding CDP would work.

Regards,
Carl

Hi Carl,

How about into an analog system? The set up that I am hoping is feasible is to connect the 218 via analog between my G68 and analogue amps, bypass the 218 when playing through the G68 and get MQA via the 218 from networked Tidal / Roon.

I am then hoping I can track down a CDP capable of forwarding an MQA signal to the 218 for it to decode via its digital input. As you have suggested, if anyone has experience with this or understands the 218's MQA's potential in an analogue system it would be great to hear from them.

Cheers, Andrew

Thanks. I was assuming that, IF such a CD player could output a SPDIF 192K MQA PCM data stream, it would pass as such to the 218, and then be output to SEs without downsampling.

I thought that since both digital inputs are said to accept 192k and I recalled a statement by VK that the 218 would pass 192k on to SEs without downsampling. Perhaps this only applies to streaming? More likely my misunderstanding.

If the CD player could decode MQA then it would only output 96KHz max to the SPDIF output as further unfolding (at least at present) is not allowed unless the DAC is known.

MQA or no MQA, it would be interesting if someone could test and confirm what the 218 would output to the SE DSPs when fed with an SPDIF 192kHz signal.

Hi Carl,
If this has been answered already I apologise because the penny hasn't dropped for me yet. I'm wondering if the CDP does not decode MQA but could pass an MQA signal to the 218 digitally unaltered, what would come out of the 218's analog outputs? Am I right in expecting it should be fully unfolded MQA?
Cheers, Andrew

Short answer: yes (fully decoded / unfolded / DAC-corrected / etc.)

Pedantic answer: you'll get an MQA-authenticated analogue output.