Getting full MQA from non-MQA DAC

[RDSChicago]

I’m using a Lumin DAC in one system and like MQA. I have a Border Patrol DAC in another. It isn’t an MQA DAC. I use USB from a MacBook into an IFi Micro USB 3.0 (which I purchased from Mike due to his strong recommendation) into the USB input in the DAC. Can I use something like an AQ DragonFly as an MQA renderer so I can get full MQA decoding out of the Border Patrol DAC? If so can someone elaborate on the connections and how to do so? And if so is there a better option than the DragonFly?

Thanks.

 

[Mike]

Well, somewhat. The AQ Dragonfly will output analog through the mini headphone jack output. If you then ran that back into the Border Patrol DAC (great DAC by the way), then you would have an extra A2D conversion in the process. It would technically work (you would need a mini to RCA stereo connector). But not sure it would technically be true MQA since there is a break in the chain.

 

[RDSChicago]

Thanks Mike. My BP only has the USB input so I couldn’t run RCAs into it from the AQ. Any other suggestions? Or maybe it cant be done so I’ll have to settle for the partial MQA unfold from the BP?

 

[Mike]

Thanks Mike. My BP only has the USB input so I couldn’t run RCAs into it from the AQ. Any other suggestions? Or maybe it cant be done so I’ll have to settle for the partial MQA unfold from the BP?

Yeah, I would just enjoy it with first and second unfolds.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[wklie]

I’m using a Lumin DAC in one system and like MQA. I have a Border Patrol DAC in another. It isn’t an MQA DAC.

With a non-MQA DAC, the best thing you can do is to have the first unfold (MQA Core decoding) done by Tidal desktop app / Audirvana / Roon / Lumin MQA digital output to it.