MQA encoded UHQ CD’s from Japan

CPP said:
It will be interesting to see how the rip come out. The MOFI SACD is pretty good, but I'm still partial to the 85 Original mastered by John Dent. Man I have so many "copes of this album its nuts. But hey you like what ya like.
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The MOFI SACD is very good. There’s something about this CD though. Need to do more comparisons, rip it, etc.


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Mike said:
The MOFI SACD is very good. There’s something about this CD though. Need to do more comparisons, rip it, etc.


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Keep us posted Mike! I can see some of us purchasing yet another BIA. I have so many copies I lost count but I too reach for the John Dent original.
 
Any verdict yet Mike, are the UHQ rips any better that regular CD?


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Mike said:
No chance yet.

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Sure, keep us posted if you will. Would be interesting to hear what you think.

While that Camille Thurman rip is only 16 bit it sounds really amazing.


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Import done.

Cool result.


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So according to the MQA patent a 16/44.1 file can expand maximally (and very lossily) to either 24/96 or 16/176.4 (compression ratio ~25%, compared to FLAC’s 50-60%). Even ignoring the fact that BIA is a 16/44.1 master, doesn’t this kind of hocus-pocus (24/352.8) make you realize that MQA is a shell-game to get you to hand over your money?
 
rbbert said:
So according to the MQA patent a 16/44.1 file can expand maximally (and very lossily) to either 24/96 or 16/176.4 (compression ratio ~25%, compared to FLAC’s 50-60%). Even ignoring the fact that BIA is a 16/44.1 master, doesn’t this kind of hocus-pocus (24/352.8) make you realize that MQA is a shell-game to get you to hand over your money?
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Nope. I use my ears to tell me. So far others with the same CD’s ripped have done more comparisons and are also enjoying the results.

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And this couldn't also be done using DSP and/or different filters in HQ Player or Roon, without the expense and other MQA whatever? I find that hard to believe.
 
rbbert said:
And this couldn't also be done using DSP and/or different filters in HQ Player or Roon, without the expense and other MQA whatever? I find that hard to believe.
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DSP programs don’t include MQA’s technology. It’s ok if people don’t care for it. I’ve seen this song and dance before with DSD. For years it felt like Norman, myself and Ted Brady were the only ones waving the DSD flag. Now DSD is a standard. MQA IMO has long since past DSD in terms of available album titles.


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On another forum, an SACD supporter derides MQA for charging licensing fees, and being proprietary. However, Sony does the same thing with SACD, and you can't copy (without jumping through hoops) an SACD file.

I will be glad when I can order the two CDs I want so I can make a comparison between the SACD and MQA version. Darn shipping cost from Japan is half the purchase price.
 
This is a new thing to try out. I’ll need to get some of these UHQ CDs as well and see how I like it. Key advantage is that you actually can rip them.

It is interesting that the resulting MQA file is 352/24, so the Japanese must be doing something differently. There are some 352K files on Tidal and they sound very good.


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So, I also ordered some of the UHQ CDs, just to check it out. Yet another way re-sell the catalogue ALL OVER AGAIN, as these babies cost as much as good vinyl (incl. shipping).

The funny thing however is the original master is not 352K, as that resolution did not exist when these records were produced. So these definitely are up-samples. That begs the question, why not listen to a regular CD rip or Tidal stream and have your DAC upsample it. Much easier, much cheaper.


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Mike said:
DSP programs don’t include MQA’s technology. It’s ok if people don’t care for it. I’ve seen this song and dance before with DSD. For years it felt like Norman, myself and Ted Brady were the only ones waving the DSD flag. Now DSD is a standard. MQA IMO has long since past DSD in terms of available album titles.
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But they could include something similar or even better (and I'm pretty sure they will in the very near future). Except for the lossy compression, all MQA is is proprietary DSP and filtering, and other engineers and developers can certainly match or better it, given time and motivation.

DSD is hardly a "standard", it's just one digital format. As you say, there aren't many titles available in it, and only a small percentage of those are originally recorded in DSD.
 
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These 4 just got delivered today. I'll give a listen to them tomorrow. If all goes well I'll order more.

Still want to know if I RIP them will the MQA decoding carry over? If so then I'll download the MQA software to my Aurender N100H.
 

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Audiophilehi said:
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These 4 just got delivered today. I'll give a listen to them tomorrow. If all goes well I'll order more.

Still want to know if I RIP them will the MQA decoding carry over? If so then I'll download the MQA software to my Aurender N100H.
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Rip to AIFF.


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