MQA Discussion

an algorithm that fills in the steps of the PCM waveform with original musical information, to obtain a more enjoyable analog-like listening experience from standard digital audio formats.
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Oh boy...
 
CPP said:
Oh, some more MQA smack down, from Srajan Ebaen from 6 moons, on the DAR site. http://www.digitalaudioreview.net/2017/07/kih-46-mqas-missing-link/
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A large part of the information quoted in that article by "Frederic Vanden Poel, designer of the 432 Evo music server of Belgian brand Klinktbeter" has been lifted straight out of a discussion from CA (and possibly elsewhere). That discussion was started by a CA member "soxr" whom we all assume to be Rob S the developer the SOX engine.
 
I really liked that article. I didn't follow much of the technical elements but I think the author did a great job of boiling it down. Can someone confirm the comment that much of this technology is due to recent developments in mathematics and technology that is being used in precision electronics?
 
Unworthy said:
I really liked that article. I didn't follow much of the technical elements but I think the author did a great job of boiling it down. Can someone confirm the comment that much of this technology is due to recent developments in mathematics and technology that is being used in precision electronics?
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That article is ghost written by MQA. All the technical speak pertains to the area of digital filters and dates back to the early 80s. Wadia was among the first to use filters to address the issue of "smearing" as it's now called by MQA. In 2017 the "math" is easily implemented by software.

MQA's claims are specious.

What they can claim as their own is the "recipe" for the filter that creates the MQA sound signature.
Meridien sponsored Peter Craven's research on apodizing filters which was published in 2004.
The sound is relaxed and pleasing to many who like MQA because of it.
 
"Implemented by software" is exactly what Auralic, one of the original members of the MQA group, was prepared to demonstrate at CES 2016 before the plug was pulled by the "leader" of MQA. They have since implemented the same thing thing they were going to demonstrate at CES as a part of Lightning DS several months ago. It works just as it would have back then.
 
Unworthy said:
If that's true, I agree that's pretty shady practice. I know that a lot of people are skeptical due to MQA's methods and motives, but isn't it how it sounds that counts?
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I'm not even sure the source site is that notable. Does anyone have any real experience with the site hosting the article or it's standing in the community? I'm not familiar with them in the USA, however they appear to be a UK site and publication. So perhaps they're "right down the street" from B.S?? :0
 
rbbert said:
Although SACD's keep being released, around 15-20 new classical SACD's every month, and Audio Fidelity and MFSL for jazz/pop/rock several more... That isn't a lot, but they are pretty much all "keepers", unlike most of the stuff that comes out on CD every week.
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Rob, what would be your preferred digital setup if you wanted to just stream? software, renderer, outputs, etc.
 
KeithR said:
Rob, what would be your preferred digital setup if you wanted to just stream? software, renderer, outputs, etc.
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Depends what you want to spend, of course. For a high but not outrageous amount of money, either the Ayre QX-5 or the PS Audio Direct Stream plus Bridge at the DAC end. I lean toward Roon for software but haven't tried it yet; my biggest problem with any software is the amount of music I have that is "unofficial" and will need to be manually tagged. There are quite a few decent choices for Roon renderers, starting at about $1200 for something from Small Green Computer (probably something by Sonore) up through the Aurenders, etc, again depending on your budget. I like the concepts behind an I2S or Ethernet connection, but haven't used either enough to have a good grap of pros and cons.

I think Alex Siufy can probably answer your general questions better than I.
 
I think with either of those DAC's, having Roon run on an NAS would obviate the need for any other hardware or software, but I'm not sure of that
 
Thanks - I am indeed leaning to a Roon-based streaming system after asiufy let me demo it. I currently have a MSB Analog dac, but their renderer isn't Roon compliant and an upgraded version isn't imminent :( If I am reading things correctly, I'd need a microrendu type device.
 
Roon is fantastic. I will not consider any music server, DAC, renderer, or whatever if Roon is not supported. The Roon lifetime subscription is the best money spent in this crazy hobby to date.
 
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