Meridian Explorer 2
FOR MQA support; easy operation; refined presentation AGAINST More insightful and rhythmically adept rivals
It’s unlikely many budget DACS suffer from enochlophobia (the fear of getting lost in a crowd). Under next-upgrade models from Oppo, Chord and Arcam, there are plenty of go-to options in the sub-£200 arena – the Audioquest Dragonfly Black and Dragonfly Red, the HRT microstreamer and dsp, and the TEAC HA P50 among them.
But thanks to its support of full native playback of 192khz sample rates – greater than the 96khz of its peers – and MQA (Master Quality Authenticated) support, Meridian believes its Explorer 2 will stand out from the competition.
Alongside several Meridian products, such as the Prime Headphone Amplifier, 808v6 Reference CD Player and its 40th Anniversary Systems, the Explorer 2 has MQA codec technology on board, which means it can deal with MQA'S smaller files that are easier to download and stream.
Subscribers to the £20 per month ‘hi-fi’ tier of Tidal can now stream thousands of hi-res MQA songs, so the Explorer 2’s support is a handy perk for those with access. However, both Audioquest Dragonfly models are due to receive an update for full MQA support too, so this exclusive benefit could be short-lived.
Sonic genes
The Meridian's design is both functional and aesthetically pleasing. Not only is there a 3.5mm output for connecting headphones, another lets you take a line-level output to a stereo amp so it can work in a hi-fi system.
A mini USB cable connects it to your laptop or PC, which is how the Meridian also gets its power. It’s the shape of a cigarette lighter and around twice the size, comprising an aluminium shell with a rubber strip to stop it rolling off your desk. Connections are housed in the plastic ends.
The three-led display lights up to show the resolution of the file that’s currently playing. It’s a useful guide and, if you are using Tidal, the only indicator of a stream’s resolution. The Explorer 2 features an analogue volume control, so it is adjusted solely by your source. If your PC or laptop is running Windows 7, 8 or XP, you’ll have to install the supplied driver.
With sonic genes passed down from the original, the Explorer 2 has an instantly agreeable sound. The presentation is clean and balanced, with a smoothness and refinement that seems almost instinctive. 10
“In the competitive budget DAC market, being different is necessary. Meridian has pipped its peers to the post with MQA support”
The Meridian succeeds in improving the sound from our Apple Macbook Air and Macbook Pro laptops’ headphone output. And it only takes a man-and-guitar arrangement like the opening of Biffy Clyro’s Medicine to hear that.
There’s more dynamic interest and rich textures to the melodic guitar plucking. Simon Neil’s Glaswegian twang is not only smoother and more solid, but the Meridian’s insight takes the song’s emotion up a notch. There’s also more sentiment behind his breakdown-focused lyrics.
Pipped to the post
It’s the Meridian’s second ambition – to offer better sound quality than its rivals – where it is less convincing. While its presentation tugs the rope one way with a touch more cleanliness and refinement than its peers, the Dragonfly Red hauls it back with its greater detail, subtler dynamics and firmer grasp of rhythms.
There’s a lot going on in the instrumental soundscape of The American Dollar’s 4 BC: intertwining percussion pattern, overlapping drum and acoustic guitar melodies, and underlying shimmery electronica. The Meridian affords them clarity, hard-driven momentum and a sense of purpose, but the Dragonfly Red not only follows each thread but, with better timing and precision, also makes the multiple rhythms work better together.
Instruments are delivered with more transparency and greater movement both geographically and dynamically within the Dragonfly’s soundstage. Ultimately, the Explorer 2 is closer to the sonic standard of the Dragonfly Black, cleaner and more solid, albeit not as rhythmically adept.
With such competition in the budget DAC market, being different is not so much courageous as necessary. Meridian has pipped its peers to the post with MQA compatibility, embedding the support well into its design functionality too. Unusually at this price, it offers resolution support all the way up to 192khz.
While commendable, its performance isn’t quite so progressive, and anyone seeking out a budget DAC without access to MQA les or much of a music library beyond 96khz, might benefit more from an alternative such as the Dragonfly Red.
So where does that leave the Meridian Explorer 2? As a decent option certainly, but ultimately not talented enough to put you off exploring other options.