MQA Discussion

[CPP]

And almost forgot to mention a German service, 'High Res Audio', the renowned international high-resolution music download service, joins the list of MQA content providers http://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/mqa-announces-new-partnerships-at-munich-high-end-2016/

 

[lallygagger]

I think this is the one radio is talking about. http://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/world-first-meridian-firmware-update-enables-mqa-playback/

Thanks, but this article does not say anything about the MQA sound quality compared to the MQA sound quality of the 808v6. So I don't think this is the one radioactive is talking about.

 

[lallygagger]

So it's actually in the print version, but I can't seem to find it online unfortunately. I don't think I can transcribe it or face the wrath of copyright infringement. I would think that Meridian will have a version of it on their site soon though as it's a review of their product and from my experience all manufacturers tend to make reviews available on their sites. I'll keep an eye out if I find it and post it when I see it. Has anyone else seen a version of it online?

It's on page 86 of the May/June 2016 edition and it's titled "Meridian Explorer2 MQA DAC - Lowering the Price of Admission"

Thanks, Radioactive

 

[j2020]

And almost forgot to mention a German service, 'High Res Audio', the renowned international high-resolution music download service, joins the list of MQA content providers http://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/mqa-announces-new-partnerships-at-munich-high-end-2016/

Good to know. Looking forward to more.

 

[radioactive]

You bet!

To be fair, they did say there was a difference, just not as big as one would expect, and only when playing back MQA. All bets were off for other formats according to the article.

Thanks, Radioactive

 

[radioactive]

It's a shame we can't get their service here in the US. It would be nice to have more competition in the marketplace.

And almost forgot to mention a German service, 'High Res Audio', the renowned international high-resolution music download service, joins the list of MQA content providers http://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/mqa-announces-new-partnerships-at-munich-high-end-2016/

 

[j2020]

J2020 reports that, when heard through the 808v6 (when it was working properly) MQA was spectacular.
CPP reports that, when heard through an upgraded Mytek Brooklyn DSD files sounded better than MQA.

What to believe???

A simple experimental approach to this issue :-

1. A/B the 808v6 vs Brooklyn for MQA files only
2. If the 808v6 beats the Brooklyn, then the experiment is over
3. If the Brooklyn outperforms the 808v6, then A/B DSD vs MQA by the Brooklyn alone.

We can believe that DSD actually sounds better than MQA only if the Brooklyn outperforms the 808v6 for MQA.

 

[CPP]

A simple experimental approach to this issue :-

1. A/B the 808v6 vs Brooklyn for MQA files only
2. If the 808v6 beats the Brooklyn, then the experiment is over
3. If the Brooklyn outperforms the 808v6, then A/B DSD vs MQA by the Brooklyn alone.

We can believe that DSD actually sounds better than MQA only if the Brooklyn outperforms the 808v6 for MQA.

So Jon when are you going to do this "simple experimental approach" and provide us your views on this comparison . So you own this $16K player and are you going to buy the $1800 Brooklyn DAC for the comparison ? While your at might as well pickup a $300 exployer2 . Can't wait to hear your views on this experiment .

 

[j2020]

So Jon when are you going to do this "simple experimental approach" and provide us your views on this comparison . So you own this $16K player and are you going to buy the $1800 Brooklyn DAC for the comparison ? While your at might as well pickup a $300 exployer2 . Can't wait to hear your views on this experiment .

Haha, Chris.
I am actually hoping for the audio dealers amongst us to carry out this experiment. Unfortunately, Mike doesn't carry the Meridian line and where I am, the Mytek line is not available.
So we hope others may step up to do the honours. BTW, I wish I could print money like the Fed.

 

[CPP]

Haha, Chris.
I am actually hoping for the audio dealers amongst us to carry out this experiment. Unfortunately, Mike doesn't carry the Meridian line and where I am, the Mytek line is not available.
So we hope others may step up to do the honours. BTW, I wish I could print money like the Fed.

Darn it and here I thought we had this thing resolved , I guess sooner or later when other DACs and players come out with MQA and when other sources of MQA is available, we can read about a few other comparisons. .

 

[j2020]

Darn it and here I thought we had this thing resolved , I guess sooner or later when other DACs and players come out with MQA and when other sources of MQA is available, we can read about a few other comparisons. .

+1, Chris.

 

[radioactive]

I'm sure in time if no one here does it, one (or some) of the folks at CA will do it. I can't imagine them not doing a comparison/shootout and comparing DSD to MQA at some point.

I'm not sure one can say that if one DAC outperforms another on MQA then it will also do so for PCM. The article I quoted on the Explorer2 pretty much sums up saying that the PCM performance of the explorer 2 is not that good, but the MQA is. So to me, that would mean that they have different sections (same power supply which would support your statement though). I would say it might have "some" similar characteristics, but that you would have to test them separately and judge for yourself (at least I would since all of my collection is PCM/DSD).

Anyone got a time machine?

 

[still-one]

From previous reviews of the Explorer I assume the E2 will still compete with other $300 PCM DACs. I don't know why anyone would expect the E2's PCM performance to rival the 808v5 or v6 or for that matter any 5 figure DAC.

 

[rbbert]

It's a shame we can't get their service here in the US. It would be nice to have more competition in the marketplace.

A fair amount of their catalog is available to US customers; I've had a couple of great deals from them

 

[radioactive]

Huh. I guess I have bad luck. Every item I look at says they can't sell it to the US market. I guess it's based on item then? I assumed (incorrectly it appears now) that their entire catalog was off limits. Thanks for the info.

A fair amount of their catalog is available to US customers; I've had a couple of great deals from them

 

[lallygagger]

I'm sure in time if no one here does it, one (or some) of the folks at CA will do it. I can't imagine them not doing a comparison/shootout and comparing DSD to MQA at some point.

I'm not sure one can say that if one DAC outperforms another on MQA then it will also do so for PCM. The article I quoted on the Explorer2 pretty much sums up saying that the PCM performance of the explorer 2 is not that good, but the MQA is. So to me, that would mean that they have different sections (same power supply which would support your statement though). I would say it might have "some" similar characteristics, but that you would have to test them separately and judge for yourself (at least I would since all of my collection is PCM/DSD).

Anyone got a time machine?

I am not sure what you mean by ''two different sections.'' Do you mean two different dac chips, one for MQA and one for PCM?

I am pretty sure the would share the same analogue output stage, no?

 

[radioactive]

To be fair, I don't know how they're implementing MQA, but from what I've read it sounds like a lot of it is done in the digital domain which to me sounds like a DSP circuit the way they're applying filters, etc. (and yes, this can all be done in software/firmware too). Anyone know for sure how the industry is going to design MQA into existing DAC's or how new implementations are going to look?

Some DAC's may be highly optimized/designed for DSD and their implementation of MQA may not be the best. Meridian took a mediocre DAC and bolted on MQA, but what about companies that have great DAC's and bolt on MQA and it doesn't optimize or integrate well, but it sounds "pretty good or on par"? I'm just saying it's really all up to the implementation that's all and those will be separate from the PCM implementation within the DAC.

I am not sure what you mean by ''two different sections.'' Do you mean two different dac chips, one for MQA and one for PCM?

I am pretty sure the would share the same analogue output stage, no?

 

[j2020]

From previous reviews of the Explorer I assume the E2 will still compete with other $300 PCM DACs. I don't know why anyone would expect the E2's PCM performance to rival the 808v5 or v6 or for that matter any 5 figure DAC.

+1, Jim.

 

[lallygagger]

From previous reviews of the Explorer I assume the E2 will still compete with other $300 PCM DACs. I don't know why anyone would expect the E2's PCM performance to rival the 808v5 or v6 or for that matter any 5 figure DAC.

No one does expect it have that kind of PCM performance. But I think I read somewhere that the PCM performance of the E2 is superior to that of the E1.

No matter. I am not interested in the E2's PCM performance. I am only interested in its MQA prowess. I am so curious about MQA that I am sorely tempted to get one to see what people like Harley, Fremer, and others are all so hyped about. I can use the Explorer 2 for the MQA processing and run it into my DAC which has what is considered to be a very fine preamp.

This might be worth doing if the Explorer 2 offers a goodly amount of MQA performance, but if it offers only a smidgen then it would not be worth it. That is why I have been seeking more information.

Seemingly I do not have the option of going to a Meridian dealer and having a listen. I live in a small hill town in Italy and I have not been able to find a Meridian dealer near me. Actually I have not been able to find any Meridian dealer by looking on line. Some manufacturers' website give dealer location information... but not Meridian.

I will contact them tomorrow and see if they can tell me where a dealer might be located.

In any case, I think a trial would only be valid if I did it in my own home with my own kit. I would need to test it against that which my DAC already does... which, imo, is considerable.

 

[mep]

I might be interested if we have some albums released in the MQA format for sale that somebody has heard of.