HQ Player

I completely understand how it works. I have a Meridian Explorer2. I was streaming 2L MQA files via Jriver 21 and the blue light on the Meridian would light up. Then Jriver crashed and I can't get it working so I tried VLC. No blue light.Tried Elmedia. No blue light. So that is why I am asking has anyone streamed MQA files with HQ Player? So apparently some playback software will not pass the flag that triggers the Meridian. My question stands, will HQ Player play MQA files into a MQA enabled dac
Alan

RE: HQ Player, posted on June 13, 2016 at 19:56:09

PAR

That is only one scenario. MQA have promised on numerous occasions that there will be software decoding options. The first to be available is strongly rumoured to be included in due course in the Tidal replay software. In fact I was talking with MQA and Tidal about this in London around 18 months ago during the initial launch phase (before the sale of Tidal to the artists' partnership ).

However you are right about the " correction" to the DAC which is one option in the "kit of parts", as it were, that makes up the MQA platform. I presume that a software decoder that is not tied to any given DAC cannot include this option. You are also right, I am sure, about the royalty aspect.

RE: HQ Player, posted on June 13, 2016 at 19:56:42

Isaak J. Garvey
Industry Professional

Posts: 1207
Location: Hollywod, CA
Joined: January 7, 2016

I just attended an MQA demo in London, ok.

They were using the Meridian Sooloos system to feed the new Meridan 23K DAC nothing but MQA files.

Half the time they could not get the MQA light to go on. It read PCM on the display of the DAC, even though they insisted they were playing MQA files.

It has NOTHING to do with playback software. This is 100% a hardware/firmware solution.

This is just like when I had a NAIM HDCD player. The HDCD light would go on even on many discs that I knew were not HDCD.

Bugs in the system or they have not worked out their flagging protocol.

RE: HQ Player, posted on June 13, 2016 at 19:59:31
Isaak J. Garvey Industry Professional Posts: 1207 Location: Hollywod, CA Joined: January 7, 2016	The software based solution is no where near ready, if ever. I just attended a demo in London with Meridian principals and I also asked them this and I got the run around. Don't hold your breath or you will turn blue.

RE: HQ Player, posted on June 13, 2016 at 20:03:46
PAR	Alan, that's a useful clarification. But I still don't understand why you can't get JRiver to work. I had to move my JRiver MC21 replay to another machine by downloading a new copy and entering my original authorisation code. No problem at all. Do you still have the email with the code and have you tried this?

RE: HQ Player, posted on June 13, 2016 at 20:15:48

Isaak J. Garvey
Industry Professional

Posts: 1207
Location: Hollywod, CA
Joined: January 7, 2016

It is my speculation, (not stating this as a fact!) that there is a bug in the flagging system.

As I noted above, in a demo I just attended, with the Sooloos system connected to the new $23,000 Meridian MQA enabled flagship DAC, half the time the LED indicated PCM when they were playing an all MQA playlist.

The reps had the deer in the headlights look when asked about it.

I know the small number of folks who have invested in this want that nirvana inducing blue light to go on. :)

It will..., posted on June 13, 2016 at 21:24:29

PaulN
Audiophile

Posts: 1412
Joined: January 13, 2000

Inasmuch as it will play any PCM or DSD file.

However, the MQA file needs to be "unfolded" prior to HQPlayer if you want expanded HF information, which will require a software decoder ahead of HQP. To wit, Jussi has not shown any interest in a plugin for that functionality; and why would he? An folded MQA file can be played though HQPlayer as a 24/48 or 24/44.1 file of course and the dithering used in the container will have no impact on HQPlayer functionality; it will play like any other PCM file would and you can filter and process it it as you wish but it will not have extended HF. An unfolded file can be processed using all of HQPlayer's various filters and functionality and will have extended HF.

I suspect that Roon integrating TIDAL will be the front-end you seek for MQA playback through HQPlayer as I suspect that Roon or at least TIDAL will get software decoding with a selection of a few DAC filters. As it stands, MQA wants to choose a filter for the data prior to the DAC based on the DAC transfer function in order to optimize the impulse response. But that is generally impractical and will yield a few generic filters that apply to TI, AKM and AD dacs selectable in software, since the end-to-end model is ridiculous in today's world.

RE: HQ Player, posted on June 13, 2016 at 21:37:28

PaulN
Audiophile

Posts: 1412
Joined: January 13, 2000

"My question stands, will HQ Player play MQA files into a MQA enabled dac"

Yes, of course it will, but you would have to disable all of it's functionality and send the data through bit-perfect. Otherwise, the hardware downstream would not recognize the MQA folded information. HQPlayer is usually configured to apply noise-shaping and filtering to incoming PCM for most implementations. You can't modify the datastream of MQA though or it will not be recognized by MQA hardware downstream. But you can always set HQPlayer to pass-through mode.

RE: HQ Player, posted on June 13, 2016 at 22:21:30

ahendler
Audiophile

Posts: 5151
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Joined: January 24, 2003

Just wanted to update my problems with JRiver. I had tried to download JRiver again and use my registration and it would not work. So I tried it again and went to a different source for the Jriver for Mac download. Downloaded 21 and put in my registration and everything is working again. The blue light on the Explorer2 comes on when I play an MQA file. I still want to know if anybody has played a MQA file succesfully with HQ Player into a MQA dac?
Alan

RE: HQ Player, posted on June 13, 2016 at 22:25:02
PaulN Audiophile Posts: 1412 Joined: January 13, 2000	Again, all you need to do is configure HQPlayer for pass-through. It will work fine.

Meridian 23k, posted on June 13, 2016 at 23:30:27
fmak Audiophile Posts: 13158 Location: Kent Joined: June 1, 2002	How does this sound? 23k to play dsp manipulated music only!

Just a light?, posted on June 14, 2016 at 06:05:08
E-Stat Audiophile Posts: 37644 Joined: May 12, 2000 Contributor Since: April 5, 2002	I know the small number of folks who have invested in this want that nirvana inducing blue light to go on. We know exactly what kind of indicator one particular company from upstate New York will be using. ;)

RE: HQ Player, posted on June 14, 2016 at 07:28:15
ahendler Audiophile Posts: 5151 Location: San Antonio, Texas Joined: January 24, 2003	Thanks. Since I finally got JRiver working again I will stay with that. You guys have been very helpful Alan

RE: Meridian 23k, posted on June 14, 2016 at 07:29:51
ahendler Audiophile Posts: 5151 Location: San Antonio, Texas Joined: January 24, 2003	It is really a combination cd player, dac and preamp Alan

MERIDIAN ULTRA DAC, posted on June 14, 2016 at 09:32:47
fmak Audiophile Posts: 13158 Location: Kent Joined: June 1, 2002	It's a dac and costs �15000 - $21000

RE: Meridian 23k, posted on June 14, 2016 at 11:59:59
Isaak J. Garvey Industry Professional Posts: 1207 Location: Hollywod, CA Joined: January 7, 2016	To be fair, the DAC plays all formats. I have to say the system sounded rather excellent. ARC Ref amps, Wilson speakers, and Audioquest power conditioning.

RE: MERIDIAN ULTRA DAC, posted on June 14, 2016 at 12:20:26
ahendler Audiophile Posts: 5151 Location: San Antonio, Texas Joined: January 24, 2003	Sorry. i was thinking of the Meridian 808/V6 which Robert Harley reviewed in Absolute sound. It has all the features I described Alan

RE: MERIDIAN ULTRA DAC, posted on June 14, 2016 at 12:42:52
Isaak J. Garvey Industry Professional Posts: 1207 Location: Hollywod, CA Joined: January 7, 2016	But interestingly..does not support, DSD...and the transport is Redbook CD only.

RE: HQ Player, posted on June 14, 2016 at 14:25:57

Tony Lauck
Audiophile

Posts: 13629
Location: Vermont
Joined: November 12, 2007

Let me get this straight. Every time you switch between an MQA kluged file and a normal PCM file you have to reconfigure HQ Player to get the best sound? This sucks. And guess what: MQA sucks! HQ Player doesn't suck.

BTW, because Meridian created this damn format I have added them to my personal blacklist of vendors: "Do not buy". And I have half a mind to add any hardware vendor who supports MQA to my list, even for other products in their line up that don't support MQA.
Tony Lauck

"Diversity is the law of nature; no two entities in this universe are uniform." - P.R. Sarkar

RE: MERIDIAN ULTRA DAC, posted on June 14, 2016 at 16:11:03
ahendler Audiophile Posts: 5151 Location: San Antonio, Texas Joined: January 24, 2003	This is from there site on the Ultra Dac "The Meridian Ultra is a 384kHz/24-bit dedicated DAC capable of playing virtually any recording format including DXD, DSD64 and DSD128 (DoP), and MQA." Alan

RE: MERIDIAN ULTRA DAC, posted on June 14, 2016 at 16:22:07
Isaak J. Garvey Industry Professional Posts: 1207 Location: Hollywod, CA Joined: January 7, 2016	We have crossed lines here... YES, the ULTRA DAC, as I said, plays all formats. The 808..does NOT. Just to clarify.

Tony..., posted on June 14, 2016 at 20:17:55

PaulN
Audiophile

Posts: 1412
Joined: January 13, 2000

I am sensitive to your perspective. I do get it. But try to stretch a bit here: MQA isn't for you. It is a whole model designed to get a better file in the hands of a generation that simply does not understand HiFi like we do. The kids get that vinyl is fun and retro but they do not get the reasons for extended HF and better impulse response. You and I can debate minutia for days while the target of MQA yawn and can't be converted. Be a supporter for no other reason than the average Joe can get a pretty good real-time stream now. One that considers fidelity rather than strictly bandwidth.

You and most of the minions have lost sight on who rules this musicverse. Bitch in private but vote with a mind to the future.

RE: Tony..., posted on June 15, 2016 at 08:19:07
Tony Lauck Audiophile Posts: 13629 Location: Vermont Joined: November 12, 2007	I do not and will not support proprietary protocols. That's the entirety of it. Tony Lauck "Diversity is the law of nature; no two entities in this universe are uniform." - P.R. Sarkar

What I don't comprehend is, posted on June 15, 2016 at 08:22:50

fmak
Audiophile

Posts: 13158
Location: Kent
Joined: June 1, 2002

why use a $21000 dac as a 'key launch' product for a format designed for low speed streaming, when very good dacs can be had for $5000.

And why use that dac to demonstrate MQA only and not MQA against 176/352k material, to demonstrate its capabilities.

As a matter of interest. does the music sound as good without the blue MQA light on?

RE: What I don't comprehend is, posted on June 15, 2016 at 12:40:21
Isaak J. Garvey Industry Professional Posts: 1207 Location: Hollywod, CA Joined: January 7, 2016	To be fair, MQA is available on their under $1000 (?) Explorer 2 DAC which was released two months ago.

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HQ Player

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