08-Jan-2017, 00:59
I have a Meridian Explorer2 connected via USB/ Roon RAAT on a Rasberry Pi and based on admittedly just a few listenings, I think Tidal MQA played via Roon ( can be hit and miss to find the tracks in Roon) sounds better than MQA tracks decoded by the OS X Tidal app. This surprised me somewhat as the Explorer2 outputs analogue on a 3.5 mm jack which must be re-digitised on my D440. Both sound decernably better than the same track played undecoded via Roon and Ethernet AIR. The music sounds more "organic" and less lively, but more "real" - which as others and I have noted, seems the defining characteristic of MQA. Tomorrow I will listen more to compare Tidal app decoded MQA and Explorer2 MQA to see if I can better pin down the differences.
iTunes & TIDAL HiFi --> ROON on iMac --> ROON RAAT over Ethernet --> D440 Pro--> ProAc D40R floorstanding speakers (SAM)
Also: Linn LP12/Ittok turntable Cables: Nordost Shiva power, Nordost Flatline2 speaker cable
Also: Linn LP12/Ittok turntable Cables: Nordost Shiva power, Nordost Flatline2 speaker cable
Dublin, Ireland