Meridian Explorer USB D/A processor/headphone amplifier Specifications

Sidebar 1: Specifications

Description: Single-box, USB bus-powered digital/analog converter and headphone amplifier. Maximum word length: 24 bits. Maximum sampling rate: 192kHz. Input: mini USB-B. Line-level–S/PDIF output: 3.5mm mini-jack combining 2-channel analog and TosLink optical digital. Headphone output: 3.5mm mini-jack. Maximum line-level output voltage: 2V RMS. Headphone output impedance: 5.25 ohms measured. Maximum headphone output power: 130mW.
Dimensions: 4" (102mm) L by 1.25" (32mm) W by 0.7" (18mm) D. Weight: 1.76oz (50gm).
Serial number of unit reviewed: MA03BQ/020005BC.
Price: $299. Approximate number of dealers: 91.
Manufacturer: Meridian Audio Ltd., Latham Road, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire PE29 6YE, England, UK. Tel: (44) (0)1480-445678. Fax: (44) (0)1480-445686. US distributor: Meridian America Inc., 110 Greene Street, Suite 407, New York, NY 10012. Tel: (646) 666-0140. Tel: (646) 666-0152. Web: www.meridian-audio.com.

COMPANY INFO
Meridian Audio Ltd.
US distributor: Meridian America Inc.
110 Greene Street, Suite 407
New York, NY 10012
(646) 666-0140
ARTICLE CONTENTS

COMMENTS
jaywillin's picture

i believe there are several companies that make aftermarket usb cables, with all the necessary connector types at either end of the cable, and at differing degrees of quality, when i had the explorer, i used an audioquest forest usb cable.

audioquest alone makes a few different models.

Hi-Reality's picture

How does the M2Tech hiFace DAC (same price but 384kHz/32bit!) perform compared to the Meridian Explorer? 

Does Stereophile plan to test the M2Tech hiFace DAC?

Another question: can either of these DACs drive a power-amp when connected directly (i.e. with no pre-amp)? 

Thanks for any feedback!

nicoch's picture

HI

look like low latency  filter by on chip hardware pcm5102a  ...the chip dont have external filter pin, ie no meridian apodizin filter!

manu

JR_Audio's picture

Yes, this looks like the 0.55 FS notch of the TI low latency digital filter. The Meridian apodizing filter should have had his notch at exact 0.50 FS.

Juergen

John Atkinson's picture

nicoch wrote:
look like low latency  filter by on chip hardware pcm5102a  ...the chip dont have external filter pin, ie no meridian apodizin filter!

JR_Audio wrote:
Yes, this looks like the 0.55 FS notch of the TI low latency digital filter. The Meridian apodizing filter should have had his notch at exact 0.50 FS.
Thank you for the correction, guys. I have amended the text accordingly.

John Atkinson
Editor, Stereophile

nicoch's picture

Thanks you for Stereophile :)

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