Tidal/Explorer2/MQA/Roon

[James_Cortez]

Hi. Trying out Tidal/Roon/Explorer 2. Very confused at the moment LoL.
Up to date iMac
Audio Engine A5+ speakers
Meridian Explorer 2 DAC

When I play a Master in Tidal I get the Blue Light and a faint white light
When I play a Master in Roon I get a white light
From reading these forums I can say I have Exclusive Mode on/I have rebooted several times/I have closed Tidal when using Roon. My speakers are wired with an aux cable to the E2 (not to headphone jack)
Roon sounds good but I am obviously not getting MQA quality, which is why I bought the DAC and am trying Roon.
Will attach a photo and really hope someone can help. Roon is very confusing for a newbie I hope I can figure it out.
Oh, also, I have noticed that when I go back to Sound Prefs on my iMac, Explorer 2 is no longer chosen, it keeps reverting to Internal Speakers??? Anyone else have this problem? THANKS FOR ANY HELP AND ADVICE!!

[joel]

You need to go into your zone settings and turn off volume levelling.

[James_Cortez]

Joel! Thanks! Did that and am now getting a blue light and a white light. That means I’m getting full MQA right? Thanks so much for the quick reply and the help.

[joel]

Blue light (and green light actually) = full MQA decoding and rendering

[James_Cortez]

you mean blue and green at same time? or what does this blue and one white mean? what is the meaning of life?

[joel]

No. Blue or green + optional while LEDs.

Blue = “Studio MQA”
Green = “MQA”

Exact difference still unclear IMO.

Blue/green only = 44.1k/48k original sample rate.
Blue/green + 1 white = 88.2k/96k original sample rate.
Blue/green + 2 white = 176.4k/192k or higher original sample rate.

[James_Cortez]

Ah ok I get it now. Thanks so much again man! This is cool as eff!

[Bjarki_Laxdal]

Hi . I am having similar problem as James and seeking for help.

I am also trying out Tidal/Roon/Explorer 2.
Think pad connected to my Bryston amp true the Meridian Explorer 2 DAC or Auralic Vega.
Both are working fine in Tidal and Roon until I try to play MQA in Roon.

When I play a Master in Tidal I get the Blue Light and a faint white light
When I play a Master in Roon I get a white light .

THANKS FOR ANY HELP AND ADVICE!!

[RBM (René)]

Thank you for posting your signal path – it helps.

Your audio is passed through the OS Mixer, which is messing with your (MQA) signal.

Please enable ‘Exclusive Mode’ in the Device Settings for the Explorer 2 (Roon Settings > Audio, cogwheel next to Explorer 2, Device Setup), so Roon can talk to your little Explorer directly:

[Bjarki_Laxdal]

Thank you for helping me.

The changes you advised did work for one song and it is the first time I have seen the blue light on while using Roon.
After the first song this sign came on the screen.

[James_Cortez]

that happened to me. Quit Tidal if you have it open, that fixed it for me

[R1200CL]

Exact difference still unclear IMO.

There isn’t. It’s a fact.

Green is not approved by the artist or studio or something like that.
Who cares…

[Bjarki_Laxdal]

Not working for me but it was a try

[RBM (René)]

did work for one song

That’s cruel. Can you share screendumps of your Settings > Audio screen and of the Playback tab for the Explorer (like mine above)?

[Bjarki_Laxdal]

Hi Rene.
Thank you for your kindness!
First screenshot is of setting where I can play everything but MQA is not working.

Second screenshot is the setting that you recommended and worked fine for about three minuets for one song.

I have tried back and forth and MQA have not worked again. But next screenshot keeps coming up when I try.

I have my Tidal program turned off, but do the settings in Tidal have anything to do with tidal in Roon?

[Bjarki_Laxdal]

After reinstalling Roon all is OK