The Computer Audiophile Posted February 12, 2013 Author Share Posted February 12, 2013 I am confused by the statement that the Meridian Explorer serves as a "preamp". With its fixed analog output, how could I connnect it to a power amplifier ? Am missing something here ? Hi gvb - My guess is you skimmed the review. The Explorer has three outputs one of which is variable. The fixed and optical outputs use the same port. Founder of Audiophile Style | My Audio Systems Link to comment
Serge Libotte Posted February 12, 2013 Share Posted February 12, 2013 I wonder how to best connect this to an iPhone. Could someone explain? Link to comment
dalethorn Posted February 12, 2013 Share Posted February 12, 2013 I wonder how to best connect this to an iPhone. Could someone explain? It looks like a USB DAC, not an Apple i-device DAC. So it won't work I don't think. Link to comment
felix Posted February 12, 2013 Share Posted February 12, 2013 I wonder how to best connect this to an iPhone. Could someone explain? it is not a product designed for iPhone, but for a desktop-laptop usage. it has a usb imput only & even if you could connect it with an adapter, what use do you have for the 24/196 DAC inside the Meridian? Link to comment
KDinsmore Posted February 13, 2013 Share Posted February 13, 2013 It still looks like a car muffler......... Furutech GTX-D, GTX Wall Plate,106-D Cover > NCF Clearline >Custom Computer>J River [Current] > Curious Cable Evolved USB > Chord Hugo MScaler > WAVE Storm Dual BNC> Chord DAVE>DCA Stealth>my ears > audiophile brain Link to comment
labjr Posted February 13, 2013 Share Posted February 13, 2013 I think the Meridian Explorer raises the bar for sound quality and raises the ante too with 4X sample rates. Anyone wanting to play in this game will now need to at least 4x sample rates and that means writing Windows drivers. And this isn't just some tiny upstart company looking to make a splash. It's Bob Stuart's Meridian. Link to comment
dalethorn Posted February 13, 2013 Share Posted February 13, 2013 Hopefully we can get a direct comparison to the Dragonfly soon. Link to comment
lorenfru Posted February 13, 2013 Share Posted February 13, 2013 My Explorer shows up next week. Hi, where did you pre-order it from? Thanks! Link to comment
The Computer Audiophile Posted February 13, 2013 Author Share Posted February 13, 2013 My Explorer shows up next week. Hi, where did you pre-order it from? Thanks! He is a dealer. Founder of Audiophile Style | My Audio Systems Link to comment
gvb Posted February 13, 2013 Share Posted February 13, 2013 Hi gvb - My guess is you skimmed the review. The Explorer has three outputs one of which is variable. The fixed and optical outputs use the same port. Hi Chris, thank you for your reply. My confusion came from the labeling of the outputs, the fixed output being the line out and the other being the headphone output. If I were to use the variable output to connect to a power amplifier, would that be an acceptable configuration ? I don't know much about impedance matching, voltage levels and the like, and I was wondering if controlling the output of a power amplifier through the volume control of the headphone output would still produce optimum sound quality. Regards, Gerson Link to comment
The Computer Audiophile Posted February 13, 2013 Author Share Posted February 13, 2013 Hi Chris, thank you for your reply. My confusion came from the labeling of the outputs, the fixed output being the line out and the other being the headphone output. If I were to use the variable output to connect to a power amplifier, would that be an acceptable configuration ? I don't know much about impedance matching, voltage levels and the like, and I was wondering if controlling the output of a power amplifier through the volume control of the headphone output would still produce optimum sound quality. Regards, Gerson Hi Gerson - It may work better with powered desktop speakers than a full fledged amp. Founder of Audiophile Style | My Audio Systems Link to comment
lorenfru Posted February 13, 2013 Share Posted February 13, 2013 He is a dealer. That's cheating! Thanks Chris Link to comment
bmf Posted February 13, 2013 Share Posted February 13, 2013 Hi Gerson - It may work better with powered desktop speakers than a full fledged amp. Chris, your is the only review I've seen that addresses the firmware upgrades. Thanks for that. I just reread that part of your review, hoping to see mention of analog volume control through the line-out jack. I really want to use my iPhone and iPad to control analog volume through iTunes when listening through speakers. Do you know if that will be an option, or do you expect it to be? Thanks. Link to comment
The Computer Audiophile Posted February 13, 2013 Author Share Posted February 13, 2013 That's cheating! Thanks Chris No need to cheat :~) CA supporter and advertiser The Audio Salon has them in stock and shipping daily for those who don't want to wait :~) Meridian Explorer | the audio salon Founder of Audiophile Style | My Audio Systems Link to comment
The Computer Audiophile Posted February 13, 2013 Author Share Posted February 13, 2013 Chris, your is the only review I've seen that addresses the firmware upgrades. Thanks for that. I just reread that part of your review, hoping to see mention of analog volume control through the line-out jack. I really want to use my iPhone and iPad to control analog volume through iTunes when listening through speakers. Do you know if that will be an option, or do you expect it to be? Thanks. Hi Gerson - Glad you noticed my extra info about firmware that nobody else has. I try to get that stuff to set CA apart from other publications :~) I don't think that volume control option will happen. You could run Pure Music with iTunes and the Explorer. This should allow control of the analog volume control via iPhone. But, your still limited to how much power the headphone can output to your amp. For example my Spectral DMA-260 amp works best with high current (minimum 180 ma continuous) preamps. I guess it all depends on one's system. Founder of Audiophile Style | My Audio Systems Link to comment
Jsmith Posted February 13, 2013 Share Posted February 13, 2013 No need to cheat :~) CA supporter and advertiser The Audio Salon has them in stock and shipping daily for those who don't want to wait :~) Meridian Explorer | the audio salon Can someone send this link to my wife with a comment about Valentine's Day being tomorrow? Main / Office: Home built computer -> Roon Core (Tidal & FLAC) -> Wireless -> Matrix Audio Mini-i Pro 3 -> Dan Clark Audio AEON 2 Noire (On order) Portable / Travel: iPhone 12 Pro Max -> ALAC or Tidal -> iFi Hip Dac -> Meze 99 Classics or Meze Rai Solo Link to comment
Snowmonkey Posted February 14, 2013 Share Posted February 14, 2013 I wonder how it stacks up sonically against the MicroMega MyDac, as that was the other acclaimed bargain DAC in 2012. Not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted. - Einstein Link to comment
Aerocraft67 Posted February 14, 2013 Share Posted February 14, 2013 In a minor triumph of online commerce, I just ordered an Explorer from Audio Salon, based on my short time on CA and the link above. And lack of obvious online availability elsewhere. A bit of an impulse buy, but I'm still within the return window of my Dragonfly, and should have time for a quick shootout before it closes. ALAC=>Synology 212j=>MacBook OS X Yosemite=>BitPerfect=>iTunes=>Meridian Explorer Desktop: Schiit Asgard 2=>Emotiva Airmotiv 4 or HiFiMan HE-500 Family room: wifi to portaged laptop/DAC or Apple TV 2=>Denon AVR-1712=>PSB Image B6 (bi-amped); Dayton HSU10, Image B4 surrounds Link to comment
dalethorn Posted February 14, 2013 Share Posted February 14, 2013 In a minor triumph of online commerce, I just ordered an Explorer from Audio Salon, based on my short time on CA and the link above. And lack of obvious online availability elsewhere. A bit of an impulse buy, but I'm still within the return window of my Dragonfly, and should have time for a quick shootout before it closes. I sure hope you can - this is what I'm waiting for. Link to comment
Bones13 Posted February 14, 2013 Share Posted February 14, 2013 The DragonFly is a great DAC/AMP, and really established this type of audio gear as a "must have". I had the DACPort, and the DragonFly, with its asynchronous USB really bested it. The Meridian is just "that much" better than the DragonFly. The difference between these two is more of a difference in musical taste. To my ears, the Meridian is a bit more "hifi" sounding, very neutral, spacious, with tremendous sound stage. The DragonFly is a bit more punchy. The mid-range of the Meridian is to die for, if thats your thing. (mine is) I preferred the DragonFly with Sennheiser Momentum headphones. The better flavor for me is the Meridian with the AudioTechnica ESW10JPN headphones for travelling with my laptop. I have yet to test it with some IEMs. [Home Digital] MSB Premier DAC > Modright LS300 > Atma-Sphere "Class D" Monoblocks > Daedalus Audio Muse Studio Speakers [Home Analog] Technics SL-1200G > Boulder 508 (Benz Glider SL) [Office] Laptop > Kitsune R2R lvl3 > Violectric V281 > Meze Liric / Meze Elite [Travel] Laptop/iPad -> Focal Bathys Link to comment
felix Posted February 14, 2013 Share Posted February 14, 2013 did you test the quality of toslink output? Link to comment
Elberoth Posted February 14, 2013 Share Posted February 14, 2013 It seems that Meridian has came with a winner. It seems to better the AQ in terms of features (24/192 support), sound quality, build quality, looks and perceived value. All for a mere $50 more. I expecting AQ to undercut the DragonFly price by $50, just to stay competitive. Interesting times indeed. Adam PC: custom Roon server with Pink Faun Ultra OCXO USB card Digital: Lampizator Horizon DAC Amp: Dan D'Agostino Momentum Stereo Speakers: Magcio M3 Link to comment
audiojim Posted February 17, 2013 Share Posted February 17, 2013 Does anyone know how to order this by Internet ? If I buy in a store it won't be returnable and I want to compare it to a couple things ,. Thanks mac mini 2011, Transparent audio usb cable, bryston bda-2, hegel h300 integrated amp, audio physic virgo 25 speakers, transparent audio speaker cables interconnects and digital cables. Link to comment
dalethorn Posted February 17, 2013 Share Posted February 17, 2013 Does anyone know how to order this by Internet ? If I buy in a store it won't be returnable and I want to compare it to a couple things ,. Thanks You could order from someone who will let you return it if you don't like it. I think Todd the Vinyl Junkie will let you do that, but there are many others... Link to comment
stewboss Posted February 17, 2013 Share Posted February 17, 2013 You could order from someone who will let you return it if you don't like it. I think Todd the Vinyl Junkie will let you do that, but there are many others... I got mine from Amazon.co.uk - 28 day return policy. Just listening now. 2 tracks in with a SACD rip / Senn 650 and I'm smiling already :-) Early days of course but it's good out of the box. I'd say it's warmer than the Dragonfly which went back. Link to comment
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