[OzarkTom]

Meridian's Bob Stuart has been working with digital longer than anyone I know. Here is what some reviewers have said was the best of the CES show. Bob invented the first digital loudspeaker 25 years ago.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YKHQOKd7DfI

This review said it was the best. Dac to be as low as $300, Meridian Explorer2 USB DAC.

http://www.techhive.com/article/2866274/meridian-audio-s-mqa-technology-is-the-best-product-at-ces-so-far.html

Robert Harley of TAS said it Most Significant Product Introduction!

http://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/ces-2015-robert-harley-on-show-highlights/

And this article from Stereophile.

http://www.stereophile.com/content/ive-heard-future-streaming-meridians-mqa

And a review.
http://www.stereophile.com/content/meridians-mqa-one-listeners-impression

[ted_b]

I have huge skepticism about MQA.  I visited Meridian and their MQA suite at CES.

1) When I visited the suite I was given a demo of MQA. How? They sat me down and played some Ella, Sinatra and Norah. Period. No comparisons with MQA on and off? Nope. The system was nice, the room was a rather quiet suite, the speakers were very nice Meridian floor standers...but the rep said they weren't doing MQA on and off demos cuz this wasn't the best environment for it. Huh?? If I am being asked to buy new hardware and yet another copy of Norah, Frank and Ella (own all three demo albums where the demo cuts were from, for example) I'd better be able to hear the advantages in a crowded bus, let alone a quiet high-end suite. Or just give me headphones...something! And I'm in the industry...
2) Another copy of all these premium-priced albums...again?? Let alone buying new hardware? Good luck, Meridian. That's a huge selling job you've got.
3)  Insiders say the process of storing the extra hirez info in the tagghing area (keeping unprocessed files from being non-compatible) is a somewhat lossy process.  Hmm...

Stay tuned to this.  I don't disagree that Bob and Meridian have earned the benefit of a doubt.

[OzarkTom]

I suspect this was the format that Neil Young was working with Bob Stuart, but Bob backed out at the last moment. Neil then turned to Ayre Acoustics for the Pono.

[OzarkTom]

Meridian Explains New MQA Lossless Audio Format

http://www.cepro.com/article/meridian_on_new_mqa_lossless_audio_format_artist_authenticated/K5%EF%BF%BD%e2%80%9a%A0

Already, several companies are supporting or are in discussions to support MQA. Following an announcement of support by 7digital in December 2014, other companies already in advanced discussions include:
Imagination Technologies and its Caskeid wireless multi-room audio IP platform
Onkyo, the Japanese electronics giant
Arcam, the British hi-fi manufacturer
TIDAL, the high fidelity music streaming service from the Aspiro Group, currently available in U.S, U.K. and Canada. TIDAL was streaming MQA files in demos at CES through the updated Meridian Sooloos digital media system.

Mike Jbara, Warner Music Group, states, “In terms of impact in audio quality it’s a hugely important development and a big step forward. Meridian’s achievement is significant because it goes back to the source of the artists’ recording and provides studio master quality sound while not compromising on the convenience people expect."

[OzarkTom]

Interview with Tidal official on MQA.

http://www.whathifi.com/news/ces-2015-tidal-to-launch-high-res-streaming-service-using-meridian-mqa

[OzarkTom]

7digital's anouncement of using MQA.

http://rainnews.com/7digital-announces-high-quality-audio-strategy-new-meridian-mqa-format/