Meridian Explorer DAC Audiophile USB

Asynchronous USB Audio Class Compliant 2.0 HS 480Mb/s for best-in-class performance

Highest resolution on the market (24-bit/192kHz)

192kHz fixed & variable analogue and 96kHz optical outputs

6-layer circuit board with audiophile-grade components throughout

USB-powered; plugs into any computer with a USB port

As with all Meridian products, our goal in developing the Explorer is to help you enjoy the music you love with the very highest quality playback, without compromise, using innovative engineering and technology.

Inside the Explorer

Audiophile music-grade electrolytic capacitors decouple the analogue audio stages, significantly improving the quality. Indeed, an enormous amount of careful design work has gone into the analogue circuitry of the Explorer, of which those capacitors are just a part. A significant proportion of the 6-layer circuit board is given over to analogue, not digital, circuitry.

Attention to detail

Explorer comes with a short USB cable instead of plugging straight into the computer like a dongle: there’s no danger of damaging the computer motherboard if you accidentally walk off with your headphones on. Instead of a plastic box, Explorer has a sturdy aluminium enclosure, reducing noise and interference as well as allowing it to withstand life on the move.

Analogue volume control

Most DACs simply alter the digital signal going into them, so the quieter you listen, the lower the quality. Explorer uses an analogue volume control, driven from the operating system, so you always enjoy the full digital resolution.

Additional outputs

As well as headphones, Explorer includes analogue and S/PDIF digital optical outputs. Connect Explorer to your home audio system and enjoy the ultimate in replay quality from your computer. It provides a fixed-level output so you can use your system’s volume control – for the very highest quality at any listening level.

True Class 2 USB audio device

Explorer has extended digital bandwidth, playing audio up to 192kHz sampling. You can plug it anywhere in your system – into a USB hub for example – not only direct into the computer.

Fully asynchronous

Explorer includes dual high-quality oscillators, based on those found in Meridian’s top-of-the-line Reference Series components, so it can handle any standard sample rate up to 192kHz with minimal jitter and thus improved clarity and stereo imaging.

Power

Explorer is a true Class 2 audio device and is powered entirely from the interface, with no additional power supply required. Simply plug it in to any USB port.