Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Streaming Not liking Roon... Can I stream Tidal directly? How about Sooloos?

Hi,

As far as I'm aware, Apple discontinued the optical output from the 2017 iMac.

I'm not sure about which particular USB DACs have a digital output, but you could try and pick up an (original) Explorer and use the optical output from that to feed your 218.
While an Explorer might be a bit difficult to find in Sydney, they aren't too big to ship one from the UK, so you could put a wanted ad in the restaurant.

I was interested to hear your reaction to Roon, so I'm also keen to hear how you get on.

Brian

If you go the route of using a Mac, think about getting a USB async SPDIF converter. They will sound much better than the Mac direct connection and are good value in terms of bang to buck. Google 'Dragonfly Red' for an example, although there are loads out there.

They can also be used with your phone, so you can listen to tidal on the go in better quality.

Cheers
Greg

Good suggestion.

I had no idea when I started this thread it would provide so much enjoyment! I'm on to my second G&T and having a chuckle...

Isn't technology wonderful! 6000 pounds of audio equipment and I'm having trouble just playing songs without having to Google terms like Dragonfly, SPDIF, Toslink and then looking at the specs of each Mac to see which was the last model to have optical out.

On another note, I'm having SERIOUS equipment envy reading peoples signatures... It took me 10 years before I could justify buying a pair of 3200's and 218... is everyone on here a drug dealer or banker apart from me? LOL

Alex, First to say I have Meridian for 22 years, several set-ups including Sooloos C15, and several end points and a large QNAP server.

I also bought a Naim Muso 2 one week ago so I am still learning that. We use Tidal and Roon for almost everything, though I still have my old sources including CD and vinyl for nostalgia

I mention all this because it's about experience with these various music delivery options - hands-on user experience is everything. I could not use a Mac when I first got it 10 years ago .. now I struggle with Windows! Meridian was also a struggle at the beginning.

First the Muso2 because it's brand new to me. The functionality and convenience is excellent. The SQ is good but it's by far no Meridian.
It's truly a very good life-style product. Can be played very loud with no distortion- but it's rather base heavy. It also can't decode Tidal MQA( Naim will never adopt that I guess). I am very happy with the Muso but we use in a room where we "hear" music rather than "listen"...
In the latter case only Meridian delivers true hi fi quality even without MQA.

Roon is way more functional than Sooloos - which good as it is, has always been trifle clunky operationally, and its already said it's no longer supported so will not improve. I am the only one in our household still using Sooloos - the others only use Roon. They swear by it and will never go back to Sooloos.

Keep the faith - it will pay dividends in the end ( of course Roon works on the Muso too)

Best Regards
Huw

Have not seen anyone on this forum own up to being a pharmacist.
Hector

Pharmaceutical wholesaler perhaps, doubt your jobbing pharmacist is up there...

Cheers

George

@JustAlex, if connecting your iMac to your 218 directly (assuming it has audio out), the Audirvana alternative is Amarra Luxe: which also includes Tidal integration.

There’s a free trial download, and, given Black Friday is almost here, there’s a substantial discount on offer - making it cheaper than Audirvana.

You can stream Tidal from a Mac mini fairly directly into DSP speakers using a USB to SPDIF converter such as the Musical Fidelity V-Link without needing a 218. I assume the same is true from an iMac? I had this temporarily into DSP 5000’s but as the Mac mini’s display was my tv and iPad control was a clunky vnc route I decided to go back to Spotify with a 210 as it’s all controlled by my iPhone, very elegant and simple solution and surprisingly good sound quality! Even better now I’ve just added Gaia III’s!
So the solution I suggest for the OP is adding a relatively cheap USB to SPDIF converter. Hope that helps in some way!

Hi,

I'd be a little careful about the pricing on Amarra Luxe as there may well be tax to pay on top of the offer pricing.
I also discovered that Tidal access wasn't included ('Amarra upgrade for Tidal') and that the upgrade would cost more than I'd paid in the first place.

However, I might go with the Tidal upgrade with the current offer price.

Brian

That is factually incorrect: Amarra Luxe is MQA capable ‘out of the box’.

It is Amarra Play (iOS) that requires an upgrade fee to include MQA - but if you are using Amarra Play as your remote for Amarra Luxe it is a non issue.

Hi,

Thanks for the correction. I'll correct my original post.

I've just been checking back and realised that it was the "Amarra upgrade for Tidal" that was the additional upgrade cost (another £63 at the time) on top of the £49 + £9.86 vat that I'd just paid out.

Brian