MQA audio, anyone tried it?

[PENG]

IMO, Hi Res is here to stay because there is a segment of the music buying population that want it, pure and simple.

Technology never rests. In just about every industry they are always trying to raise the bar, music is no different. Are they always successful? No, but that's never a good reason to stop trying. Bob Stuart is just next up.

I've dabbled in SACD...so far I like what I'm hearing, I agree wholeheartedly with PENG's comment...to paraphase...a good recording is a good recording, the format can't make a bad recording sound good. I haven't heard a MQA recording yet, so don't have a firm opinion of it yet. Right now I would challenge the theory of it becoming mainstream.

I must confess though, that I have spent a lot on 192/24 and DSD128, DSD256 etc., as I found more good recordings can be found in those groups, but again, I bought them not for the format resolution but for the recording quality of the masters they were made from. It is possible that the same may be happening with MQA.

 

[lovinthehd]

IMO, Hi Res is here to stay because there is a segment of the music buying population that want it, pure and simple.

Technology never rests. In just about every industry they are always trying to raise the bar, music is no different. Are they always successful? No, but that's never a good reason to stop trying. Bob Stuart is just next up.

I've dabbled in SACD...so far I like what I'm hearing, I agree wholeheartedly with PENG's comment...to paraphase...a good recording is a good recording, the format can't make a bad recording sound good. I haven't heard a MQA recording yet, so don't have a firm opinion of it yet. Right now I would challenge the theory of it becoming mainstream.

What MQA recordings? They just use existing recordings from what I know. They apply some magic algorithm for streaming efficiency as a main strength from what I remember. Kinda like Neil Young's Pono thing as far as "special" source format goes....hard to really know just what you're getting aside from marketing. IMHO YMMV etc

 

[MrBoat]

Agree, if the recording is good, it doesn't matter if it is in CD, SACD, 192/24, DSD512, or MQA. If the recording is bad, no format can make it sound good.

I have a friend who did studio work for a career until he retired from it. He has the means to, and has remastered old recordings professionally and even he claims there is very little improvement that would not be obvious, and, like many of the engineers who produced bad recordings, not everyone is good at it. Lossless becomes lossfull.

 

[2channel lover]

What MQA recordings? They just use existing recordings from what I know. They apply some magic algorithm for streaming efficiency as a main strength from what I remember. Kinda like Neil Young's Pono thing as far as "special" source format goes....hard to really know just what you're getting aside from marketing. IMHO YMMV etc

Gotcha...Probably a better way to say this is I've never heard the format.

 

[TheWarrior]

Gotcha...Probably a better way to say this is I've never heard the format.

The point he makes is that the 'sell' is on increasing bit rates of recordings with this software. That may result in some perceived performance increases, but would need to be confirmed in a double blind test. The fact is you cannot magically create more content from an original recording. If you want a higher bit rate, it has to have been recorded that way. Implementing software like this is taking you further away from the original recording and may not have been what the artist intended. But as with anything, YMMV.

 

[2channel lover]

The fact is you cannot magically create more content from an original recording.

Implementing software like this is taking you further away from the original recording and may not have been what the artist intended. But as with anything, YMMV.

Yeah I understand.

Interesting thought...particularly as it pertains to artist "Authentication".

 

[TheWarrior]

Yeah I understand.

Interesting thought...particularly as it pertains to artist "Authentication".

And some people will still argue that vinyl sounds better. My take is not on sound quality, the warmth of vinyl is more enjoyable with some recordings. Or Pink Floyd.

 

[2channel lover]

And some people will still argue that vinyl sounds better. My take is not on sound quality, the warmth of vinyl is more enjoyable with some recordings. Or Pink Floyd.

Yep...that's a hurdle that music will always have...some level of subjectivity.

I hate that I sold my LP collection, but at the time I was so enamored with the convenience of CDs that I never saw myself going back to vinyl.

I had the album, CD and now the SACD...I really like the multi-channel SACD version of DSOTM...I can see why people can get decent money for it on the secondary market.

I'm just noticing you're in GA...I'm in NE metro ATL...Buford.

 

[TheWarrior]

Yep...that's a hurdle that music will always have...some level of subjectivity.

I hate that I sold my LP collection, but at the time I was so enamored with the convenience of CDs that I never saw myself going back to vinyl.

I had the album, CD and now the SACD...I really like the multi-channel SACD version of DSOTM...I can see why people can get decent money for it on the secondary market.

I'm just noticing you're in GA...I'm in NE metro ATL...Buford.

There's a few of us around here! Perhaps we should compare 'notes' some day...

 

[ATLAudio]

And some people will still argue that vinyl sounds better. My take is not on sound quality, the warmth of vinyl is more enjoyable with some recordings. Or Pink Floyd.

This is true, but sometimes the resolution is just simply better on a specific vinyl recording vs a specific digital recording.

 

[lovinthehd]

Yep...that's a hurdle that music will always have...some level of subjectivity.

I hate that I sold my LP collection, but at the time I was so enamored with the convenience of CDs that I never saw myself going back to vinyl.

I had the album, CD and now the SACD...I really like the multi-channel SACD version of DSOTM...I can see why people can get decent money for it on the secondary market.

I'm just noticing you're in GA...I'm in NE metro ATL...Buford.

I still have my LP collection, play some of it occasionally for nostalgia (or if I don't have a digital version) but prefer the silent background of digital, is the warmth from the friction caused by dragging the rock thru the canyons?

 

[Bucknekked]

Yep...that's a hurdle that music will always have...some level of subjectivity.

2channel
Subjectivity is the label that quacks hide behind to peddle all manner of audio tom foolery. I am in complete agreement the enjoyment of music is highly subjective and since its a human perception issue I believe it will always be that way. What sounds good to me may be nails on a chalkboard to someone else.

If you are an audiophile (I mean that in the best sense of the word not the worse) you already have some idea based on experience what sounds great and what sounds less than great to you. You experience leads you to certain conclusions. And if you are really an audiophile when a new format makes itself known, rather than poo-poo'ing it, you do a little research and then give it a try and see if its all talk or is there some good stuff there.

That's what audiophiles did when CD's became available. The market voted clearly for digital. Once digital, lots of improvements have come along. Some made it in the court of public opinion, some didn't. MQA has now come along with some lofty claims and some techno jargon. Audiophiles should go and try it out rather than just blather about it. Its free for 30 days on Tidal. Just sign up and hear for yourself. If you already have Spotify: so much the better. Do a side by side A-B test for yourself.

Vinyl is its own special case. I brought back vinyl in to my library after a long absence. Did I do it because it sounds better? No. I like the experience of viinyl. I also enjoy teaching my grandchildren about audio and the lessons around the turntable are awesome.

Music is subjective ? You bet. The listening experience is subjective. Its one of the reasons charlatans love our hobby.

 

[lovinthehd]

Its free for 30 days on Tidal. Just sign up and hear for yourself. If you already have Spotify: so much the better. Do a side by side A-B test for yourself.

Vinyl is its own special case. I brought back vinyl in to my library after a long absence. Did I do it because it sounds better? No. I like the experience of viinyl. I also enjoy teaching my grandchildren about audio and the lessons around the turntable are awesome.

Music is subjective ? You bet. The listening experience is subjective. Its one of the reasons charlatans love our hobby.

FWIW Spotify is rolling out Spotify Hi-Fi to compete with Tidal. Don't know about the library size differences. Might just try Tidal altho I usually don't hook my computer up to the avr, but what's one more hdmi cable?

I showed my records to a friend's visiting 6 year old....she gave me a funny look and changed subjects, LOL

 

[Bucknekked]

FWIW Spotify is rolling out Spotify Hi-Fi to compete with Tidal. Don't know about the library size differences. Might just try Tidal altho I usually don't hook my computer up to the avr, but what's one more hdmi cable?

I showed my records to a friend's visiting 6 year old....she gave me a funny look and changed subjects, LOL

A 6 year old potential audiophile? Wow, just think of what her expectations will be of audio and computer systems by the time she can make a purchase. I don't know what I would show my younger grand kids (I have 21 of them) in my listening room. I would probably just bust out some tunes

I have the version of Spotify that lets me do the 320kbps files. I do have the computer attached. I would encourage you to try Tidal for the free trial. I trust your audio judgement and would find your opinion to be useful. I already related mine earlier in this thread. Your opinion and your method for testing would be helpful I think.

 

[lovinthehd]

A 6 year old potential audiophile? Wow, just think of what her expectations will be of audio and computer systems by the time she can make a purchase. I don't know what I would show my younger grand kids (I have 21 of them) in my listening room. I would probably just bust out some tunes

I have the version of Spotify that lets me do the 320kbps files. I do have the computer attached. I would encourage you to try Tidal for the free trial. I trust your audio judgement and would find your opinion to be useful. I already related mine earlier in this thread. Your opinion and your method for testing would be helpful I think.

LOL don't know about the audiophile part for her....she's more interested in cartoons on her ipad....she's a digital/internet child! I don't think her parents have any LP's either. Doubt if she cares for my music taste either, LOL.

I just might try Tidal, if the library is small it won't last long, as I think I've seen comments to that effect;. Can I do the MQA version on a pc?

 

[Bucknekked]

LOL don't know about the audiophile part for her....she's more interested in cartoons on her ipad....she's a digital/internet child! I don't think her parents have any LP's either. Doubt if she cares for my music taste either, LOL.

I just might try Tidal, if the library is small it won't last long, as I think I've seen comments to that effect;. Can I do the MQA version on a pc?

Can you do MQA on a pc? Yes. They have put in a software gizmo that does the initial unfolding of the MQA files so everybody gets a shot at the first level of MQA goodness. I ran the Tidal app on my Mac Mini and then pushed the sound out to my AVR via HDMI. I could have plugged in headphones.

6 year old grand kids will have such different expectations than we have. What we look like to them must be very, very different than we look to ourselves.

 

[lovinthehd]

Can you do MQA on a pc? Yes. They have put in a software gizmo that does the initial unfolding of the MQA files so everybody gets a shot at the first level of MQA goodness. I ran the Tidal app on my Mac Mini and then pushed the sound out to my AVR via HDMI. I could have plugged in headphones.

6 year old grand kids will have such different expectations than we have. What we look like to them must be very, very different than we look to ourselves.

The MQA thing is part of the Tidal download already? Or do I need to source it separately? I did the download. Not a good sign when I see all the JZ choices Now to find my long hdmi cord....

 

[Bucknekked]

Yes, there's the Tidal app or download and that provides the first layer of MQA magic. Nothing else is needed. To get the absolute grande experience (the audiophool experience) there's equipment to buy.
But for the first level of MQA bliss, the app provides the magic.

I shall hold my peace on the JZ ownership and the hip hop and rap megastars feeding on the carcass of the music market. That wouldn't be helpful. That wouldn't be conducive in helping you experience Tidal in all its MQA glory.

When you get the app set up (nothing to that except preferences etc ) and your HDMI cable plugged in, you just need to search out some music. For Tidal, they designate the MQA files with a capital M sitting out next to the file names. I can tell you Sheryl Crow's new "Be Myself" is an MQA album. You can also search just for M music I suppose. You may have to search a bit to find something you like that's available as an MQA or M file. The catalog is a fraction of Spotify. I don't know how robust it is by comparison percentages, but Spotify has pretty much every title (although not every title in 320kbps). Tidal's catalog is smaller but has some very nifty features.

One of the Tidal features I did like very much was the extended liner notes on every song. Every song has a complete set of details attached to it. Very slick feature. Of course older music that never put those details out doesn't have spit in those notes. But, new music made with digital in mind does have some interesting stuff there. Much better than Spotify in this regard.

 

[lovinthehd]

Well, seems I can't use the hifi/master files with the free trial. Only allows "high" quality streaming or "normal".

 

[Bucknekked]

Well, seems I can't use the hifi/master files with the free trial. Only allows "high" quality streaming or "normal".

you can use the M files on the free trial. I just did it. Perhaps when you enroll in the trial you have to choose some premium option or master of disaster option at enrollment time. But I just did the 30 day trial in May and the M files were definitely there. The option I chose required me to give them a credit card number. They did not charge the card. It was the $20 per month option. On about day 28 I cancelled and they never touched my card.