MQA Discussion

j2020 said:
I would be happy with my current non-MQA collection and would not pay for new MQA versions.
But as you say, if the MQA catalog does not include your fave music, then it's moot again.
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I didn't say I would buy it mind you, I would just love to do the comparison to see if the hype matches reality. However, the real reality is that years after MQA was announced as the second coming of digital, there is a paucity of MQA files available for download. Where or where is the content?? When is a large or even small quantity of albums that people have ever heard of before going to become available for download?? It's easier to find a unicorn than it is to find any MQA files and the MQA files you do find are more obscure than a unicorn.
 
Mike said:
Do you know why? It's because Meridian requires anyone wanting the secret MQA sauce to disclose in full detail their DAC's - including anything proprietary. I would guess that the PS Audio DirectStream by converting everything to DSD, not to mention their ability to tweak the sound via FPGA definitely constitutes as proprietary.

My issue with MQA is: hurry up! We've been hearing about MQA for a while now. There seems to be no timeline. No plan. If they said, "we will be launching MQA on Tidal on July 1, 2016", we could work toward a date.

Get on with it boys! Time to sh!t or get off the pot.
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Nobody said it better than Mike.
What's happening with Tidal is very likely the same with Warner.
 
j2020 said:
Nobody said it better than Mike.
What's happening with Tidal is very likely the same with Warner.
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Agreed regarding what Mike said. Mass acceptance of hi-rez digital by ordinary people is doomed unless you give them the music and hardware for free, come to their house and set it up, and then make periodic visits to maintain it. And even then I'm not sure they could be bothered with it. I just started a thread on AN called "Choking on Digital."
 
Sonos/Bose is hi-end and MP3 is hi-rez for the masses. Convenience trumps quality. Headphones over speakers. The only listening ("hearing") music is in the car. What can we do?

We can continue to expose our family and friends to what a really good system can sound like and hopefully a few will become interested in getting better sound (Jim [emoji6]).


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Again....still no timeframe (even a proposal) from the folks at MQA. I wonder if they got to do this over again whether they would wait until there was actually content?


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Mike said:
Again....still no timeframe (even a proposal) from the folks at MQA. I wonder if they got to do this over again whether they would wait until there was actually content?
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Chicken and egg....

MQA needs content for success
-> Negotiation for content unresolved
-> MQA needs content for success
-> Negotiation .......

Quite a PR nightmare!
 
j2020 said:
Chicken and egg....

MQA needs content for success
-> Negotiation for content unresolved
-> MQA needs content for success
-> Negotiation .......

Quite a PR nightmare!
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I thought WB signed on?? Is this just one more interested party vice someone who owns a music catalog that is ready to release MQA files?
 
mep said:
I thought WB signed on?? Is this just one more interested party vice someone who owns a music catalog that is ready to release MQA files?
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Signed on paper or simply announced the collaboration? - big difference.

There is usually an escape clause at this very early stage.
Either party can walk as per terms of their agreement.

Just revisited the website and previous announcements regarding Tidal and Warner have been taken down.

http://www.mqa.co.uk
 
Compare the current web partners list to this snapshot from Jan 4, 2016: http://www.stereophile.com/content/mqa-takes-big-time-2016

010416-MQA_Banner-600.jpg
 
I only see one "partner" on that list that actually owns a catalog of music. If a large quantity of MQA files don't appear soon, it's all over but the crying. It doesn't matter if you have a million partners signed up to distribute your files if you have no files to distribute. In fact, I think it's already over. The world is awash with new and improved digital music formats that the average Joe doesn't even know exists nor care about. I don't see anyone who currently feasts at the all you can stand to hear digital music buffet paying a penny more per month for MQA.
 
I wouldn't pay more for it. It may convince some to use one service over another if it was the only beneficial differentiator.
 
mep said:
......... In fact, I think it's already over. ........I don't see anyone who currently feasts at the all you can stand to hear digital music buffet paying a penny more per month for MQA.
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+1. We are tired of waiting....

MQA basically shot themselves in the foot with all the hardware/software licensing requirements and fees.
 
Totally agreed... and making a hardware decoding versus and add-on for software programs such as Roon will make it never reach any kind of critical mass.
 
Randy Myers said:
Totally agreed... and making a hardware decoding versus and add-on for software programs such as Roon will make it never reach any kind of critical mass.
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It is hard to believe anyone would go for such a restrictive format, especially when there's no content. Content is king after all.


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Kuoppis said:
It is hard to believe anyone would go for such a restrictive format, especially when there's no content. Content is king after all.


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If content was truly king the only format audiophiles would listen to would be streaming.
 
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