Meridian MQA

[Flashman]

I tried one 2L file (Britten: Simple Symphony, Op. 4) and listened to it via Mac/Audirvana+. The 24/96 version sounded much better than the MQA. So at least for that piece not decoded MQA had a similar sound quality to MP3. On CA there are several threads including this one (with measurements): http://www.computeraudiophile.com/blogs/...-flac-674/
Apparently MQA files need some decoding to sound as good or better than redbook. MQA now stresses the end to end i.e. AD and then DA conversions must be maintained in MQA technology. The first version would be a conversion in a server/streamer with a MQA licensed/approved software (Roon?) including some compensation of the DAC performance or the second version is MQA decoding at the DAC level. I wonder if these 2 options are sonically similar. The first option would be possible through appropriate streamers or computer software semi-independed of Devialet (except some knowledge of DAC performance) the second option would require Devialet to fully license MQA and implement it. Devialet has not made any statement about MQA (ignoring it?).
One problem would be any DSP like  for speakers (SAM), room or cross-over would influence time behavior and how that would be reflected in MQA decoding!

You raise an interesting point about whether SAM would have an effect -- positive or deleterious -- on MQA files.  I always thought that SAM optimized the interaction between the amplifier and the speaker cabinet but did not affect timing cues.  But I am terribly non-technical so perhaps I have this all mashed up.  It's also interesting that you found the decoding aspect to be critical to the process.  MQA have said this will be the best way to listen to its files but also said that CD quality should be available without decoding.  I will try the 2L files but I suspect the real test (for me) will be when TIDAL has adopted encoded files and Bluesound (via firmware) has implemented the decoding (I listen to TIDAL via a Bluesound Node 2 tethered by coax to my Dev200).  Should be fun to see how it all works out!