Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Streaming Hardware with Roon Application Roon 1.5 is here, c/w MQA software decoding

You are in a great place with legacy kit that can get a good chunk of the MQA benefits.

Those with SE can get the cherry on top.

Those with SE that want things like Roon and room correction need M's help to make the 1st decoded signal a valid signal to render in the SE's.

Is this also (in addition to SE's) the case with Prime and/or Explorer 2, or can they just render the Roon decoded stream?

I guess it's the same with Tidal app?

If I understand correctly, for those of us without SE DSP, Roon 1.5 would make MQA hardware like the 218 redundant - or not needed - to enjoy as much MQA as possible? Or does the 218 still add something to the decoding of MQA?

That was my thinking and why I didn’t buy a 218. With Roon I have first unfold and the option of DSP for no extra outlay. With the 218, I wouldn’t have the DSP option at all.
To get full MQA from my Meridian system, I would have to completely start again and with things sounding as nice as they do now, I don’t think I will bother.

Hi Jeje

You are correct and as Chris says with the ability to apply DSP it could be argued Roon is a better option. However the 218 can provide fully rendered MQA to its analog output should that be your setup?
It could also be argued that Tidal offer the first decode and I imagine 99% of MQA music is streamed from Tidal so Sooloos users with legacy DSP’s already have the best MQA can give them?

Russ

I don't have a 218 so cannot comment on its capabilities or SQ, but, from a signal path p.o.v. I don't think it offers non-SE speakers anything extra. It too can only do the first unfold for non-SE speakers.

Maybe the 218 does other stuff besides. I don't know.

Just wondering why the default device settings in Roon for the 218 has ‘software decode’ set to ‘on’.

I believe there is a software issue that Meridian are going to address.

I’ve worked it out. It doesn’t matter that Roon Decode is set to ‘on’, because the fact that the 218 device setting of ‘decoder and renderer’ overrides that.

I can confirm you cannot use Roon to do the first unfold, apply DSP, and pass onto a Prime HA to render as yet which is a real shame as I was looking forward tinkering with EQ while maintaining a ‘blue’ light. I believe this closes the question on all Meridian MQA products as SE speakers have been ruled out here and the Explorer2 is ruled out in the Roon forum .

I wonder if M will see any value in updating their software to accommodate this development or will perhaps see it as loosing too much control of the audio chain to put their name too.

It could also harm their sales of end points for SE speakers I guess, as all you would only need a simple and relatively inexpensive Allo Digi-one or equivalent instead of being forced down the 218 / 818 route where I imagine a significant amount of the cost has gone into the integrated DAC that SE owners would never use.

Three points:

1. The "Enable MQA Decoder" setting is basically a nuclear option for those who don't want it in any shape or form. Most users should leave it on for all zones all of the time (which is why it's buried in advanced settings).

2. Yes, it's very disappointing that so many (all?) Meridian MQA devices have issues with decoded MQA inputs (with rendering information); I'm sure that this will be fixed.

3. You'll not get the blue or green light on a Prime or Explorer2 if the decoding takes place in Roon, because Authentication is performed (securely) on the device or software which performs the first unfold. The recommendation is that a magenta light should denote that the hardware is receiving an MQA stream which cannot be authenticated; I don't know if these Meridian devices have such a coloured light.

Point 3 is unfortunate, how would we know if the Prime or E2 was rendering then, assuming M provide a fix of some sort.