MQA already dead in the water? No full decoding DAC alternatives...

[Mike]

The whole MQA thing seems to infuriate the left brainers. “If it can’t be proven by measurements, it isn’t good.” The right brain folks just don’t care. Listen, you may like it, don’t listen, don’t care. Nobody is making you buy your 17th copy of Kind of Blue. My Lampi doesn’t do MQA and it sounds great. My MSB does MQA and it sounds great too.

I swear this is reminiscent of the high res (“nobody can hear above 20khz!!”) and DSD arguments.


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[Kuoppis]

This might upset some, but now that I have experienced MQA with a reference level DAC, I must say to me MQA sounds best right after vinyl. I have also done head-to-head comparisons with vinyl, and MQA is by no means lagging behind.


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[CPP]

I like it at times, whats the next world issue that needs solving

[rbbert]

The whole MQA thing seems to infuriate the left brainers. “If it can’t be proven by measurements, it isn’t good.” The right brain folks just don’t care. Listen, you may like it, don’t listen, don’t care. Nobody is making you buy your 17th copy of Kind of Blue. My Lampi doesn’t do MQA and it sounds great. My MSB does MQA and it sounds great too.

I swear this is reminiscent of the high res (“nobody can hear above 20khz!!”) and DSD arguments

I know I sound like a broken record, but I just don’t see why any music lover wants to buy into the technology-static MQA monopoly attempt. How it sounds is absolutely beside the point, because no matter how good it is today, it can’t possibly be the best sound tomorrow, unless MQA has its way and it is the only sound tomorrow.

[Mike]

I know I sound like a broken record, but I just don’t see why any music lover wants to buy into the technology-static MQA monopoly attempt. How it sounds is absolutely beside the point, because no matter how good it is today, it can’t possibly be the best sound tomorrow, unless MQA has its way and it is the only sound tomorrow.

Even though I really like what I hear with MQA, I’m not that fussed if people are against it. If my DAC does it, I enjoy the full unfold. If not, I enjoy the first unfold thanks to Tidal. But I still play loads of PCM and DSD too.

IMO, what needs “fixing” in digital is much better A2D converters and an agreement to drastically limit compression. Those two things will trump all format wars.


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[rbbert]

For sure about the compression. I find I have to listen to many of today’s lousy masterings at much lower average volume (and therefore much much lower peak volume) than something better recorded. It’s just too painful otherwise. MQA doesn’t fix that, unfortunately.

[Glareskin]

Not everyone makes a DSD DAC either.

Actually I think technically PS Audio Direct Stream DAC's are DSD DAC's

[still-one]

Actually I think technically PS Audio Direct Stream DAC's are DSD DAC's

The point of my now 4 month old response to the OP was to equate the lack of across the board implementation of MQA with the lack of across the board implementation of DSD by manufacturers. As you note PS Audio now does both.

[johndoe21ro]

And on CA:

MQA: A Review of controversies, concerns, and cautions

https://www.computeraudiophile.com/c...cautions-r701/

P.S.:

"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 to submit a formal response.

Editor's Note 2: The author of this article is writing under a pseudonym. While he is unknown to the readers, his identity has been verified by Computer Audiophile. He has no vested interest in the audio business, other than being a consumer of music.

Editor's Note 3: The technical assertions made in this article have been thoroughly checked by independent engineers, both in and out of the audio industry. To the best of our knowledge everything technical in this article is factually correct and may be duplicated at any time by anyone with the requisite skills."

- Chris Connaker

[AJ Soundfield]

but what about how it sounds?

Like the original with unauthentic aliasing distortion and eq added...that some may find pleasing.

You know, if we went by measurements alone, nobody would ever buy a SET amp.

Good analogy, since SETs add unauthentic even order distortion and eq...that some may find pleasing.

The problem with adding maple syrup sweetness to everything is that it works great with pancakes...and terrible with steak.
YMMV

[still-one]

After listening to hundreds of MQA files I still haven't found one that sounds inferior to its 16/44 version when I have compared them. A few I have no preference.

[nonesup]

I usually prefer the non-MQA version to the MQA.
This is just my personal preference with my Lumin A1.
I would really like to listen to MQA with another DAC (for example the Nyquist) to check if the problem is MQA or Lumin.

[AJ Soundfield]

I usually prefer the non-MQA version to the MQA.
This is just my personal preference with my Lumin A1.
I would really like to listen to MQA with another DAC (for example the Nyquist) to check if the problem is MQA or Lumin.

Whether one prefers the unauthentic aliasing distortion/EQ of MQA, or not, will come down to personal subjective preference. Nothing wrong with either.
Unfortunately the perpetrators of this scheme wants it to be the only option for distributed music, including at the original recording level, not after the fact.

cheers,

AJ

[wisnon]

Yeah, that would be a problem.

If its only ONE delivery option, then its a win, if its the only, its a loss.

[CPP]

Yeah, that would be a problem.

If its only ONE delivery option, then its a win, if its the only, its a loss.

Thats why I just keep buying LP's and CD's and downloads. The unknown.

[Kuoppis]

My guess is MQA will be just one standard among others, demand will determine what happens.


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[CPP]

My guess is MQA will be just one standard among others, demand will determine what happens.


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demand will determine what happens.

I don't think so, in my opinion the labels who own the music will determine what happens

Me, personally, why shut down all other formats its makes no sense.

[Kuoppis]

I don't think so, in my opinion the labels who own the music will determine what happens

Me, personally, why shut down all other formats its makes no sense.

Right, and then they just sell what they want... As labels did with DVD-Audio, BlueRay Audio etc.

Also agree that variety is the best option.

[Dr Tone]

My guess is MQA will be just one standard among others, demand will determine what happens.


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I'm quite certain that won't happen. If studios start selling downloadable MQA content their goal will be to quit selling all other high-res (the crown jewels). Remember their download sales are pretty minuscule with most people streaming mp3s or still physically buying CDs.

So, unfortunately demand will play very little in it, and causes the "left brainers" to be concerned.

[still-one]

I'm quite certain that won't happen. If studios start selling downloadable MQA content their goal will be to quit selling all other high-res (the crown jewels). Remember their download sales are pretty minuscule with most people streaming mp3s or still physically buying CDs.

So, unfortunately demand will play very little in it, and causes the "left brainers" to be concerned.

Downloadable MQA content has been around for well over a year now. So that part of your post has come and gone. There are many options as with some content you can select from MQA, 16/44 or 24/96 or 24/192. Not sure where you get your information that people are still buying CD's. Several graphs have been posted showing that CD sales and digital downloads peaked a few years ago and are dropping at an increasing rate. So there isn't much chance that downloadable MQA will ever be more than a niche market that will probably be smaller than vinyl and slightly larger than DSD. Streaming is the current preferred delivery method by the mass consumers. Unless Apple, Amazon and Google get on board I doubt that the studios will put all there eggs in the Tidal basket wit MQA.

[CPP]

Yep CD sells in the US, downward downward and further downward , I guess I'm the only one still buying

https://www.statista.com/statistics/186772/album-shipments-in-the-us-music-industry-since-1999/

Streaming

https://www.statista.com/statistics/437717/music-streaming-revenue-usa/

LP

https://www.statista.com/statistics/188822/lp-album-sales-in-the-united-states-since-2009/

The Digital Download stats encompass any thing digital, but the bars on the graph do note what is contained in that year be it digital music, ringtones etc,

https://www.statista.com/statistics/...us-since-2008/

[Dr Tone]

Downloadable MQA content has been around for well over a year now. So that part of your post has come and gone. There are many options as with some content you can select from MQA, 16/44 or 24/96 or 24/192.

I'm talking the big studios not the puny amount of downloadable MQA content currently available by a couple of specialty tiny labels.

Not sure where you get your information that people are still buying CD's.

Are you saying that lossless downloads have overtaken CD purchases? I consider purchasing MP3s from iTunes a different classification, as they are lossy, they already protects the labels crown jewels.

[still-one]

I'm talking the big studios not the puny amount of downloadable MQA content currently available by a couple of specialty tiny labels.



Are you saying that lossless downloads have overtaken CD purchases? I consider purchasing MP3s from iTunes a different classification, as they are lossy they already protects the labels crown jewels.

I guess you haven't been to the Onkyo site. The artists are far from what you are thinking about on 2L.

Lossless downloads have never had an impact on the market.

[Dr Tone]

I guess you haven't been to the Onkyo site. The artists are far from what you are thinking about on 2L.

Lossless downloads have never had an impact on the market.

No I haven't, that's new for me, I'm Canadian so my choices are limited to 7digital and prostudiomasters.

That was kind of my point, lossless downloads are such a small market, user demand in this niche market won't impact their decisions.

[Dr Tone]

On a side note those Onkyo MQA prices are little ridiculous. $16US for a lossy version of the album? That's $20CAD.

[still-one]

On a side note those Onkyo MQA prices are little ridiculous. $16US for a lossy version of the album? That's $20CAD.

Oh you prefer to pay ~$24 for DSD or Hi Rez that don't sound any better. Go ahead.

[Dr Tone]

Oh you prefer to pay ~$24 for DSD or Hi Rez that don't sound any better. Go ahead.

I don't. I can get the 24/96 for $16 or less Canadian on 7digital or prostudiomasters. Or the CD for even less sometimes. All better quality than MQA.

[still-one]

I don't. I can get the 24/96 for $16 or less Canadian on 7digital or prostudiomasters. Or the CD for even less sometimes. All better quality than MQA.

So you say.

[wisnon]

Oh you prefer to pay ~$24 for DSD or Hi Rez that don't sound any better. Go ahead.

I can get CDs for free at my local recycling center. Ha.

[rbbert]

Jon Iverson's editorial in the latest Stereophile isn't yet online, but know that it takes dead aim at MQA. Long, long overdue IMHO.

[nicoff]

So... how does MQA sound compared to hi Rez files?

Anyone can do the blind test referenced to in the article. Here is the link.

http://archimago.blogspot.com/2017/0...-decoding.html

After you have done the test, you can go to Archimago’s blog (from September 2017 I believe) and see what you actually preferred from the blind test.

[AJ Soundfield]

Jon Iverson's editorial in the latest Stereophile isn't yet online, but know that it takes dead aim at MQA. Long, long overdue IMHO.

Well now it is https://www.stereophile.com/content/...fits-and-costs
Hopefully the fanboys don't freak