Fosi Merak Review (CD Player)

[FuzzPizza]

thanks
The types of CDs supported for playback by the Merak CD player are as follows:
Playable CD formats:
CD-R: Supports playing CD-R discs burned with music in FLAC/WAV/WMA/MP3 formats
。
SACD with CD layer: Supports SACD with CD layer, but does not support pure SACD format
。
Unsupported format: MQA CD is not supported
。
Other supported audio input formats (non-CD):
USB Flash Drive Playback: Supports playing audio files in MP3/WAV/FLAC/AAC/APE/WMA formats via the USB interface

Yes or no, does it play CDs with the enhanced logo? If you do not know, please just say so.

 

[Roland68]

Hi folks,

just bought the Merak CDP, planning to use it as digital CD source (i.e. as transport, leaving the analog out unused, although I'm aware that usage is irrelevant re my question below ).

Looking at the USB C port it sais 5V/2A supply. 10W are not a lot, but I'm asking myself if it would be OK to use the two 5V outputs (specified 1A output each) of a Topping P50 linear supply in parallel (Y-adapter) to power the CDP (not using the P50's 12V output).

What's your take or advice?

Thanks!
Winfried

Theoretically, you could wire them in parallel; however, since the P50 utilizes two distinct internal circuits, I would advise against it.
That said, you can test whether a single connection suffices, as that small CD player certainly won't be drawing 2 amps.

 

[yuting]

Yes or no, does it play CDs with the enhanced logo? If you do not know, please just say so.

thanks，sorry，Confirmed Discs in this format are not supported for reading,

 

[FuzzPizza]

thanks，sorry，Confirmed Discs in this format are not supported for reading,

Thank you!

 

[fuzzy_logic]

Yes or no, does it play CDs with the enhanced logo? If you do not know, please just say so.

I'm playing one now, no issues at all.

 

[Bacchusoo7]

Wasn't "enhanced CD" just meaning that there was a CD-ROM layer for "multimedia" computers from the mid-90s to early 2000s?

 

[Bleib]

Wasn't "enhanced CD" just meaning that there was a CD-ROM layer for "multimedia" computers from the mid-90s to early 2000s?

"Enhanced CD is a certification mark of the Recording Industry Association of America for various technologies that combine audio and computer data for use in both CD-Audio and CD-ROM players."

Enhanced CD - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Yes. So this means the FOSI Merak will read the normal redbook 16/44.1 audio data but will obviously not read the CD-Rom part. The few enhanced CDs I used to own usually had some extra video material on them. If that's important then it's better to buy an external reader for the PC/MAC instead.

 

[wgh52]

Theoretically, you could wire them in parallel; however, since the P50 utilizes two distinct internal circuits, I would advise against it.
That said, you can test whether a single connection suffices, as that small CD player certainly won't be drawing 2 amps.

Thanks for your answer and advice Roland!

Looking at the datasheet of the regulator (TI TPS7A470x) used in the P50, the app notes state a condition how to parallel the regulators by having small value resistors (in the 0.1Ohms range) in series with each output and then sum these up. The USB socket/plug contact resistances could already be of help here - no?

Regarding the 2A current draw: I agree with you in the sense that switch-on current draw may be in the 2A range, then deminishing to something significantly lower. So, I may just try

Thanks and Regards,
Winfried

 

[Joe Smith]

I can confirm that the Merak does not like "Dual Disks." I don't have many of those, but do have a Columbia-issue Kind of Blue, and that was unsupported.

 

[NTTY]

FYI, I tried with a lenghty 76+min SACD (Hybrid) : Dvořák* - Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra, Claus Peter Flor – Symphony No. 9 'From The New World', Czech Suite, My Home. A wonderful recording made in Kuala Lumpur (2009-2010) by BIS Records (still producing SACDs - all their catalogue!)) and mastered in their usual studio in Sweden, if I'm not wrong.

No issues with the Merak.

Beautiful interpretation by the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra, very well conducted by Claus Peter Flor, if you ask me.

 

[Scytales]

Why do you want the SACD feature? SACD should have stopped being published by now, right?

But publication has never stopped, despite the fact that the death of SACD has been remorselessly predicted every 6 months or so since more than 25 years now.

Almost half of the more than 16,500 SACDs released to this date are multichannel and they definitely deserved to be read, as the pure stereo SACDs, of course.

Potential clients that own or want to buy a library of a particular type of disc are legitimate to ask for the feature that would let them read these discs.

 

[Bacchusoo7]

"Enhanced CD is a certification mark of the Recording Industry Association of America for various technologies that combine audio and computer data for use in both CD-Audio and CD-ROM players."

Enhanced CD - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Yes. So this means the FOSI Merak will read the normal redbook 16/44.1 audio data but will obviously not read the CD-Rom part. The few enhanced CDs I used to own usually had some extra video material on them. If that's important then it's better to buy an external reader for the PC/MAC instead.

Yeah, those video files are long outdated and one would probably be hard pressed to find a computer that could open the enhanced portions.

 

[Bacchusoo7]

They charged me $114.49 ($139 - various discounts and coupons that were in play at the time. I got to stack them which was cool.) No other fees were levied along the way. OK, actually the price did include a "Worry Free Purchase" service which as a chronic worrier I paid. Totally self-inflicted aothough maybe it provided me with a few worry-free minutes during the (reasonable) time for the unit to arrive. One of these days, I'll actually try the unit.
Jonathan

Does anyone know if there are any current coupons codes or discounts floating around?

 

[Asher]

Does anyone know if there are any current coupons codes or discounts floating around?

I got 10% off as a first-time customer by giving them my email address.

 

[Audioagnostic]

FYI, I tried with a lenghty 76+min SACD (Hybrid) : Dvořák* - Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra, Claus Peter Flor – Symphony No. 9 'From The New World', Czech Suite, My Home. A wonderful recording made in Kuala Lumpur (2009-2010) by BIS Records (still producing SACDs - all their catalogue!)) and mastered in their usual studio in Sweden, if I'm not wrong.

View attachment 531955

No issues with the Merak.

Beautiful interpretation by the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra, very well conducted by Claus Peter Flor, if you ask me.

Thanks for checking! Think I will buy one.

 

[Fleuch]

Other supported audio input formats (non-CD):
USB Flash Drive Playback: Supports playing audio files in MP3/WAV/FLAC/AAC/APE/WMA formats via the USB interface

If Merak can read the audio file structure on a USB Flash Drive Playback, will it also read the audio file structure from an external hard drive via the USB interface?

 

[wgh52]

If Merak can read the audio file structure on a USB Flash Drive Playback, will it also read the audio file structure from an external hard drive via the USB interface?

My experience (with other devices) is that the flash drive would have to be connected to the USB port directly, without an interface. The CDP would be the master, pulling files from the flash drive. Merak is probably not a USB DAC... My own one is still on its "journey" to me, so I can't test (yet).

Regards,
Winfried

 

[FuzzPizza]

It's currently in my shopping cart; everytime I'm an early adopter I get burnt. You guys that have one in how does the CS43131 sound? I prefer ESS DACS because I think they have a more analogue sound. I know this is primarily supposed to be used as a transport, but It should also have RCA out.

 

[Joe Smith]

It's currently in my shopping cart; everytime I'm an early adopter I get burnt. You guys that have one in how does the CS43131 sound? I prefer ESS DACS because I think they have a more analogue sound. I know this is primarily supposed to be used as a transport, but It should also have RCA out.

Sounds great to me! It's a nice little unit and worth the money...IMO...

 

[NicS]

You'll probably be waiting a long time before something like that comes onto the market again, especially at an affordable price.

Many of the necessary integrated circuits are no longer available, all the good drives are no longer in production, and the last developers who could actually build something like that are retired or doing something else. The worst part is that most manufacturers have lost crucial expertise. Almost all manufacturers and developers are currently failing at something as simple as a flawlessly functioning Red Book CD audio player.

My advice: get a used Oppo player (or an alternative) that meets your needs. I'm afraid that prices will rise sharply again in the next year or two.

I am selling my Reavon UDP but keeping my Sony BluRay player, which I just use as a transport anyway. Be nice to have something simple and compact. Sony still makes disc drives that make great UDPs. And data is data. I don’t get why it’s that complicated.