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In Reply to: RE: 2 weeks of MQA thoughts posted by bigshow on January 18, 2017 at 14:05:09
Yes
Meridian Explorer2 MQA dac and Audio-GD Master 7 nos R2R dac Remember the Meridian costs $299 while the Master 7 is $2450. Playing non MQA files clearly demonstrates the superiority of the Master 7
Streaming MQA files from Tidal through both dacs does not change anything
The Master 7 retains its much better sound over the Meridian. You have to remember that Tidals software is doing partial MQA decoding. The Tidal software decodes material up to 96khz while the Meridian decodes material over 96khz which is mainly noise. So most of the improvement of MQA is going to both dacs. I think the additional decoding of the Meridian would be very small if audible at all. I do want to state that the Meridian Explorer2 is an excellent sound dac and well worth the money if you want to experience full MQA decoding
Follow Ups:
Can't you configure Tidal to "Passthrough MQA" in the streaming settings to that the Meridian can do all of the decoding?
Yes and even using passthrough the Meridian Explorer2 still does not sound as good as the Master 7 using passthrough or not passthrough.
Did passthrough vs. mon-passthrough sound different? If so, what were the differences?
I disagree that the full MQA verified decode doesn't sound good. My hearing is still pretty good and full decode does sound good on albums that stream at 96khz. Using software decode albums don't sound as good compared to the full decode of the Meridian using the hardware mode. You use passthrough and you can see the blue light on the Explorer 2 DAC. With the second white light on for the 96khz albums. There is one album a 2L Nordic album on Tidal that makes all 3 lights light up, that one is very good.
Just my opinion, if interested in MQA please wait for something better than the tiny units traditionally meant for portable listening.
The Meridian Ultra DAC is one, and at the entry level the Mytek Brooklyn is another.
Very frustrating.
"I disagree that the full MQA verified decode doesn't sound good"
Where did I say that it doesn't sound good? I simply said that under any condition it doesn't sound as good as my Master 7. What is frustrating?
This is new to all of us. We need to listen to each others experiences and go from there. And remember, everything we are saying is subjective opinions. There is no right or wrong here
Alan
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