- Meridian direct dac vs meridian explorer dac install#
- Meridian direct dac vs meridian explorer dac full#
- Meridian direct dac vs meridian explorer dac free#
Then select it as the audio output device on their computer, to start playing music.
Meridian direct dac vs meridian explorer dac install#
As ever, Windows users have to install a driver. Getting going is simply a case of plugging it into your computer at one end, and plugging headphones or hi-fi into the other. Meridian won’t say what DAC chip is used, but points out that the digital filtering is implemented within the proprietary software. This is all done on the complex six-layer PCB.
Meridian direct dac vs meridian explorer dac full#
The Meridian’s USB audio class 2.0 protocol allows full native playback of high-resolution 192kHz sample rates, whereas some rivals have to downconvert this to 96kHz. All digital data is upsampled, however, to the highest multiple of the input signal. Because there are two clocks, running at multiples of either 44.1 or 48kHz, there’s no need for jitter-inducing, power-hungry sample rate conversion.
Inside that sleek, space-age casework there are two USB master clocks, one of which works for 44.1, 88.2 and 176.4kHz sampling frequencies, and the other for 48, 96 and 192kHz. It’s a shame it doesn’t have S/PDIF digital inputs because it limits the way that it can be used. There’s a mini USB input at one end, and a 3.5mm headphone socket and a 3.5mm line output on the other. It has the same svelte-feeling aluminium case of its predecessor, so is just about practical for mobile music use too. It sports an internal headphone amplifier, so it effectively transforms a laptop into a hi-res digital playback system.
Being a portable, it’s intended for use with a computer via its USB input. It will, it’s important to point out, also play back standard, non-MQA digital files in PCM format, although not DSD.Īs a product, the Explorer2 is lovely to look at and use. The MQA recording format uses intelligent encoding, which is then specially decoded by a DAC with MQA support, such as the Explorer2. It’s more than just another data compaction algorithm though, because it’s focused on preserving the correct time-domain information of the music – which recent neuro scientific research has shown to be paramount for serious sound quality. Effectively, it lets you have hi-res ‘for free’, as far as storage is concerned. Master Quality Authenticated is essentially a way of packing hi-res files into a ‘container’ the size of a standard CD file. The Explorer2 could be the product that Meridian always intended the original to be – because it now supports the new MQA format. Perhaps its successor might have more luck. Meridian’s original Explorer DAC, was a little out of the ordinary (not least because it was a new market sector for a traditionally high-end brand), but didn’t quite set the world alight.
Meridian direct dac vs meridian explorer dac free#
If you're interested in buying the item, simply get in touch with us and we'll put together a free shipping quote for you.Meridian has just brought improved sonics and MQA functionality to the Explorer DAC’s sleek alloy chassis, says David Price Lucia, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, the UAE, the UK, Vatican City, and Vietnam.
The issue is that due to international shipping regulations, Amazon is not allowed to ship the item outside of the US so you won't be able to buy the device yourself.īig Apple Buddy, your personal shopper, however is based in the US so we can help you purchase the Meridian Explorer DAC direct from Amazon and deliver it to you in Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Belgium, British Virgin Islands, Brunei, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, French Polynesia, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Greenland, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kuwait, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macau, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Monaco, the Netherlands, Netherland Antilles, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Poland, Qatar, Romania, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, South Africa, St. Given the Meridian headphone amp retails for $300 in the US and up to $499 in countries like Australia, this is a deal not to be missed. The Meridian Explorer DAC is currently on sale at Amazon for a mere US$149.00. Want to buy the Meridian Explorer USB DAC and save up to 50%?