MQA: A Review of controversies, concerns, and cautions

[Sonnie]

This article is a few years old, but it's still an interesting read that I just came across. I have no opinion on MQA myself... have not listened to it enough to form an opinion.

MQA: A Review of controversies, concerns, and cautions

Editor's Note 1: MQA ltd was sent a copy of this article several days prior to the scheduled publication date. The company requested a phone conversation, which took place earlier this week. MQA was encouraged to write a response for inclusion with the article below, but it respectfully decline t...

audiophilestyle.com

 

[ddude003]

I ran across this article a few weeks ago at Archimago's... It is an interesting read... I had compared Tidal MQA with Qobuz Hi Rez several months back and did not like the sound of MQA... I do not like the idea of some third party mucking with the original music data... I can do that my self with so many utilities like SoX and/or with Convolution algorithms with something like Liquid Sonics Reverberate or Cinematic Rooms...

With most of the Internet being pretty high speed there is not much need for lossy compression codecs...

 

[Sonnie]

Kinda like he says... enthusiasts have mixed emotions about it... but I've read more controversy over MQA than I have positive comments. At some point I want to compare it. I have the new Yello CD and it is offered in MQA, which is how I've listened to it maybe 4-5 times thus far. I finally loaded the CD via dbpoweramp a few days ago, so I can swap between MQA, qobuz and local CD to listen and compare. It will be interesting to see if I notice any differences in them.

 

[Sonnie]

And all of your inputs go through different audio paths? So what are you comparing?
CD player it's own DAC or spdif out to an external DAC? MQA engages electronics in the DAC that are unused when MQA is not used.
So there is no way IMHO to "compare" MQA. I'm definitely not an MQA fan.
I'm a Schiit fan and none of the DAC's of this brand support it for a good reason. Search for interviews with Mike Moffat and how he explains.

MQA is bad for music according to LINN

I am comparing files all on my Roon ROCK NUC. Extracted CD in my local library, MQA from Tidal, and non MQA from qobuz. Very easy to compare.

 

[Sonnie]

I'm not at all familiar with MQA.

The HTP-1 will decode and render MQA. I have listened to it, but I have not compared it to the non-MQA version of the same song.

All I am comparing is a song/track ... for example I have the new CD from Yello that I have used dbPoweramp to extract it to my server library. I can play it in Roon, then I can swap over to qobuz and play the 16/44 version, then swap over to Tidal and play the MQA version... and compare how each sound.

 

[Sonnie]

I already own it, but yes... I've read that review... the issues have been corrected. It's even noted in the review. Several people own them and are quite happy.

I will later be looking at some other two-channel options as well.

 

[Grayson Dere]

Thanks for sharing this article, Sonnie! I'm going through it..lots of great in-depth analysis here : )

 

[ddude003]

MQA is bad for music according to LINN

Benchmark and Chord feel the same way...

Why mess about with small signals if there is really no need... And if you like to warm things up a touch why not just find a filter you like and use it as a plugin in your signal path... Hey, I get it... I have a tube preamp that sweetens things up... As for DRM (did they really inject a signal into the music data)... I still have purchased music from Apple that I can't play anywhere but iTunes... Yuck...

 

[Sonnie]

Well I can officially say that I can't hear a difference in any of the four versions I have, which doesn't really surprise me. I'm not saying there isn't a difference, but if there is a difference, it is not obvious enough for it to matter to me.

 

[Grayson Dere]

So I've been wondering for a very long time about recording masters and release versions. Take Pink Floyd's, Dark Side of the Moon. According to Discogs there are 1008 released versions since the album was released in 1973. Do all the release versions use the same master recording from the original session or at least an identical copy? Or is there a new master made every time a new release is made? ie: the Columbia EMI 11520 version would not be the same recording master that the Harvest SHVL 804 India release used. I hope that all made sense : )

https://www.discogs.com/Pink-Floyd-The-Dark-Side-Of-The-Moon/master/10362

Now back to Tidal. I'm curious how or who decides which master to use considering there's many versions out there.