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

I assume for SE speakers that (if available) another unfold up to 384K is performed in the speakers. I also think the digital output will pass a non MQA 192K stream without downsampling to SE speakers.

I should have stated: I used a 96k original (unfolded) sample rate file. Yes, anything higher would also be further unfolded in the SEs.

On your second point, unfortunately the 218 does NOT pass 192k PCM to the SEs;'it down-samples. To my knowledge the 818v3 and 808v6 are the only devices capable of getting 192k PCM into SEs, presumably by doing an MQA fold to 96k then sending that over MHR for unfolding in the speakers.

VK my 218 versions are the same as yours. C10 version 2.535 build 535. No volume levelling.

Hey VK,

The Ultra would be able to do the same no ? Or more precisely it can achieve the same level of output signal, but perhaps using different tech ?

Thanks /bt

BengTi, the Ultra will do everything that the 8x8 will do and more. IIRC, it accepts up to 384k PCM and DSD128 DoP on its USB input (192k PCM and DSD64 DoP on it's coax SPDIF inputs). In one sense, its job is easier as it doesn't have have a 96/24 pipe to contend with and can do everything within the same box, but exactly how everything is handled internally will be known only to Meridian.

I acheived similar results to VK using a MS200 set to Direct. I so far have not found a similar setting in the C10 which probably prevents it from sending MQA to the 218.

Has anyone purchased any MQA CD's? If so, what titles and where?

Bruce,

Some MQA CDs might be worth investing in for demo purposes, these two should be out on the market already. One appears to be a live new recording and one is a classic, which makes comparisons even richer.

The Japanese label Ottava mentioned here issued a popular CD on Piazzola's tango music in MQA.

Happy Hunting!

Best /bt

I have both the Rebecca Pigeon (Raven) and Camille Thurman MQA CD's and they sound great. They display 176.4 when played on my 808v6.

Both import into Sooloos using Control:Mac and I was able to play both of these files also at 176.4. The CD plays a little louder than the import, so at first sounds a little better. However, I believe that once matched in level they appear to sound identical to my ear.

I was able to compare "The Raven" to an old CD using imports of both (the old CD itself is in storage) and there is no contest. The MQA version is so much more articulate and clean. Very musical. The Camille Thurman disc is very nice, small room jazz (with some vocal). Reminds me a little of the setting of "Jazz at the Pawnshop" with the applause after the numbers and the ambience.

The discs were also cheaper (Amazon.com) than most MQA downloads I've seen so far. Hopefully more will follow.

Wayne

I assume that the 93, 95 and 103,105 Oppo players, (with the proper settings engaged) would do the job?

Most likely. I just played the Raven MQA CD in my Marantz UDP 7006 that was connected to the 218 D1 input via RCA coax SPDIF. The blue MQA light was illuminated and the master DSP8000SE indicated MQA 176k.

Good to hear. I ordered it earlier today.