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

Surely the MQA protocol has a provision for a decoded MQA stream to be authenticated and rendered by a supported device? Or is this currently just a Meridian issue?

Russ

I don't think that it's Meridian-only Russ. I think to do what you are suggesting, you'd need a cryptographically-secure means of transfer (like MHR).

Thanks Joel, so Roon doing the decode and applying DSP then adding the rendering information back before forwarding to the DAC even if it was capable of the MQA render would not currently work?

Just curious, I am quite satisfied with Roon MQA decode and DSP which I value more than the final render, ymmv.

Please would you re-phrase this in different and less ambiguous English?!!! I'm not sure what you are getting at and whether or not your point is Meridian-specific.

I’ll try, and I haven’t started on the wine yet!

Roon can do the MQA decode?

Roon can apply DSP to that decoded file?

The rendering information decoded from the MQA file is retained in the file by Roon?

That rendering information can not be used by an MQA DAC because it did not do the decode?

Wrong on your last point. The decoder/renderer or renderer cannot Authenticate the provenance of the decoded MQA stream, but it can render it. Unless it's a Meridian device Please fix!!! :on-knees-praying:

Ok I understand now, lastly does not being able to authenticate have any impact?

sorry for previous confusing questions.

The "impact" is, as I described: green and blue lights cannot be used, and decoders/renderers with textual displays need to communicate something different.

For example, the Pro-ject Pre Box S2 Digital displays "MQB" (which is accurate, but I don't think that this an approved phrase!).

Thanks for taking the time to answer.

... and MQA icons in the browser!

Nice one Viruskiller and mates. Please pass this lifetime subscriber's thanks on to the team. (and also the team at MQA that worked with them).

The update looks like it appeared last week. I'm over the moon with this. Just do the update, then hit the signal path button to see it.

Thanks!

Mark.

Ensure you update all remotes as well as the core.

Which maybe not beyond the realms of possibility given where MQA and Roon have roots - might even get the studios on-board quicker if it also makes the music more difficult to copy and torrent.

I guess it would run the risk of reduced take up from hardware and software manufacturers if they would in effect have to pay for 2 licenses - one for MQA and another for the decryption - presumably Roon and Tidal would have to pay for an encryption license.

Still, not beyond the realms of possibility and surely the more distribution / mix and match options that MQA can allow for without sacrificing integrity, the more chance it has of long term success.

Someone has to provide proof of concept though... Come on Roon and M .