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

CPP said:
I think Charlie is so far into talking down MQA that getting out of that hole could be difficult .

Have have given the MSB Analog Dac with the MQA module a thought, they make excellent gear and offer so many modules to custom fit a persons system.
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IMHO the Analog DAC is one of the better alternatives currently available to do MQA, I also looked into it.

But then again investing into a 6-7 years old DAC design just to do MQA? I guess that’s ok if you getting a pre-loved one.


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A little bit of new information on the Brinkmann Nyquist: JAs measurements were done with a pre-production unit, so what is now in the market might actually be a bit different from the test configuration.

I will definitely try get a unit to test in my system: Exceptionally positive tests in TAS (Robert Harley), Hifi+ (Alan Sircom), Stereo (Matthias Böde)...and Fremer actually liked it as well. That reviewer list is like a current who-is-who of the industry’s most respected reviewers.


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Interesting test tonight with an Auralic Aries Mini at the summerhouse: While Auralic pulled out of MQA, the streaming DAC is nevertheless able to recognize MQA files as something different from regular Tidal streams.

Testing done with:
- Beck/ Sea Change/ The Golden Age - non-MQA/ MQA
- Eagles/ Eagles/ Hotel California - non-MQA/ MQA
- Debussy: Sonatas Trio/ Cello Sonata D-Minor, L.135: III. Finale - non-MQA/ MQA

The stream handed over to an Ayre Codex DAC are recognized as a 44K and a 48K input respectively. That means it looks like the Auralic is at least doing the first level unfolding.

The difference in sound is also clearly recognizable with the 48K stream being more refined and showing less digital glare.

But how is that possible, as Auralic pulled out of MQA? Does that mean that Auralic now have at least to some extent managed to decode/ unfold MQA w/o being part of the overall effort?

It sure looks like it.


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Kuoppis said:
Interesting test tonight with an Auralic Aries Mini at the summerhouse: While Auralic pulled out of MQA, the streaming DAC is nevertheless able to recognize MQA files as something different from regular Tidal streams.

Testing done with:
- Beck/ Sea Change/ The Golden Age - non-MQA/ MQA
- Eagles/ Eagles/ Hotel California - non-MQA/ MQA
- Debussy: Sonatas Trio/ Cello Sonata D-Minor, L.135: III. Finale - non-MQA/ MQA

The stream handed over to an Ayre Codex DAC are recognized as a 44K and a 48K input respectively. That means it looks like the Auralic is at least doing the first level unfolding.

The difference in sound is also clearly recognizable with the 48K stream being more refined and showing less digital glare.

But how is that possible, as Auralic pulled out of MQA? Does that mean that Auralic now have at least to some extent managed to decode/ unfold MQA w/o being part of the overall effort?

It sure looks like it.


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An interesting read https://community.roonlabs.com/t/au...-interface-and-roonready-for-aries-mini/24267

Quote by Auralic
"Quote
Add MQA decoding support.Note: The MQA decoding method integrated by all AURALiC streaming device is solely developed by AURALiC using AURALiC’s proprietary resampling and de-blurring method. This process is not an MQA-created or MQA-licensed process.
End Quote
 
As he was part of the original group I suspect that statement was felt to be necessary. With the Aries I am getting the full 24/192 when the recording allows it according to the display on the DAC.

Kuoppis

Try some of the recordings in the MQA finds thread Mike started and see if you get the results that he got. Also if you haven't using the desktop Auralic app sign in to your Mini's IP address and make sure the "MQA" and up sampling settings are correct.
 
Jack said:
As he was part of the original group I suspect that statement was felt to be necessary. With the Aries I am getting the full 24/192 when the recording allows it according to the display on the DAC.

Kuoppis

Try some of the recordings in the MQA finds thread Mike started and see if you get the results that he got. Also if you haven't using the desktop Auralic app sign in to your Mini's IP address and make sure the "MQA" and up sampling settings are correct.
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Hi Jack, thank you for your support. I am using the iPad client and I do get a different bitrates for regular Tidal and MQA versions.


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Kuoppis said:
Hi Jack, thank you for your support. I am using the iPad client and I do get a different bitrates for regular Tidal and MQA versions.


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Hi Jack, I now subscribed to the Auralic beta program and updated the SW and now I am also getting 24/192 on MQA files via Tidal.

Quite fantastic, again thank you so much!


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Glad it's working out. Once they start shipping the Aries G2 the first of the year that might be a fitting partner with your Meitner if you thinks Auralic's "MQA like solution" is an improvement.
 
So finally, from MQA critical to a total convert: Using this funny little Auralic Aries Mini at my summer house I suddenly do get Beck/ Sea Change, Grant Green/ Idle Moments, Imelda May/ Live Love Flesh Blood, Hank Mobley/ Workout (and thousands more) in 24/192 just through my regular Tidal Hifi subscription.

Complete no-brainer, just ordered one for my main system as well.


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Jack said:
Glad it's working out. Once they start shipping the Aries G2 the first of the year that might be a fitting partner with your Meitner if you thinks Auralic's "MQA like solution" is an improvement.
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I’m already now going for the little one in the interim and will give the G2 a good hard look when it becomes available.

Thanks again Jack, you really made my day.


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Sounds good. One thing different about the Auralic system is that it passes the whole "unfolded" datastream to you DAC and lets it do the rest. So you still get to "flavor" it however you want with the DAC.
 
Jack said:
Sounds good. One thing different about the Auralic system is that it passes the whole "unfolded" datastream to you DAC and lets it do the rest. So you still get to "flavor" it however you want with the DAC.
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I understand, this is already a huge benefit for me though.

While I still have to figure out the a suitable MQA solution, getting a lots of good material in 24/192 instead of 44.1 is something I happily pay for.


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Kuoppis said:
So finally, from MQA critical to a total convert: Using this funny little Auralic Aries Mini at my summer house I suddenly do get Beck/ Sea Change, Grant Green/ Idle Moments, Imelda May/ Live Love Flesh Blood, Hank Mobley/ Workout (and thousands more) in 24/192 just through my regular Tidal Hifi subscription.

Complete no-brainer, just ordered one for my main system as well.


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Click to expand...

Man that's awesome. You might have stumbled upon a win-win.
 
Kuoppis said:
So finally, from MQA critical to a total convert: Using this funny little Auralic Aries Mini at my summer house I suddenly do get Beck/ Sea Change, Grant Green/ Idle Moments, Imelda May/ Live Love Flesh Blood, Hank Mobley/ Workout (and thousands more) in 24/192 just through my regular Tidal Hifi subscription.

Complete no-brainer, just ordered one for my main system as well.


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Click to expand...

Now that's cool! Wow. I would love a device that decodes MQA to ANY DAC.


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Jack said:
Kuoppis

Are you connecting the Mini directly to the Pass or going through the Codex?
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Hi Jack, through the Codex. That means I’m just getting a higher resolution signal into the DAC.


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