MQA encoded UHQ CD’s from Japan

Mike, what is the verdict? How do the ripped files sound when played as MQA files?

Also, did you try ripping as FLAC? Or just AIFF?
 
BlueFox said:
Mike, what is the verdict? How do the ripped files sound when played as MQA files?

Also, did you try ripping as FLAC? Or just AIFF?
Click to expand...

Just AIFF and fantastic. I have others coming to the store to do the comparison. So far, it's all :celebrate008_2:
 
Just listened to Rod Stewart’s EPTAS and 1st impressions are beautiful. Listening to Steely Dan’s Pretzel Logic now.

The sound is fuller and more detailed than any of my previous versions.
 
Actually, they ripped to ALAC since I use iTunes. No matter what setting I tried on the Lumin, 44/16 was all that was played. Tomorrow I will rip to AIFF, and see if that makes any difference. I hope that works as the only reason I bought these was to hear MQA. At least the packaging is nice. :)
 
BlueFox said:
Actually, they ripped to ALAC since I use iTunes. No matter what setting I tried on the Lumin, 44/16 was all that was played. Tomorrow I will rip to AIFF, and see if that makes any difference. I hope that works as the only reason I bought these was to hear MQA. At least the packaging is nice. :)
Click to expand...

Need to rip to AIFF. Download DBPowerAmp (for Windows or Mac) 15 day free trial and try with that too. Much better for ripping than iTunes.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Okay. Will find out tomorrow. Now I am just tired and want to relax. I have to admit that as a regular CD, Wheels Of Fire sounds really good for a 1968 recording.
 
Re-ripped Exile On Main Street to AIFF, and that works. Now to do Wheels Of Fire, and Sticky Fingers, and listen. Not sure if I have the Lumin correctly set. I just went to MQA Mode, Analog out.

attachment.php


attachment.php
 

Attachments

  • DB7843D7-A249-4089-8625-17925EC6C94F.jpeg
    DB7843D7-A249-4089-8625-17925EC6C94F.jpeg
    115.6 KB · Views: 108
  • 433D2930-B5BE-4F12-B0A8-E609AC51F8E0.jpeg
    433D2930-B5BE-4F12-B0A8-E609AC51F8E0.jpeg
    563.2 KB · Views: 107
After comparing the SACD to the UHQCD it seems to be a tossup. With Wheels Of Fire the UHQCD is better to me. I found it to be a bit clearer and more defined. On both White Room, and Politician the cymbals aren’t buried on the UHQCD as they are on the SACD. They are clearer.

Then again, with Exile On Main Street I couldn’t really prefer either the SACD or the UHQCD. They both sounded pretty much the same to me. They reminded me of the eye doctor test where they switch lenses, ask which is best, and you are saying go back and forth, and you can’t make up your mind which is best.

I do like the SACD being in cardboard holders versus the plastic box of the UHQCD.

For testing, I played about 30 seconds or so of a favorite song, and would then switch. I did this about 5 times a song to identify and verify any perceived differences. This was a pain since it was up and down, over and over. Comparing the MQA to CD file will be easier as I just need to turn MQA off, and the song starts over as a CD. Turn MQA on, and the song starts over in MQA mode.

That is what I did last night for Exile, and will continue tonight with both it and Wheels Of Fire.

I guess if you are on the fence as to which to buy I would probably base my choice on which is less expensive. Unless you absolutely need SACD or MQA.

attachment.php
 

Attachments

  • EE3D1EED-B37A-4C4F-A572-F212F53D0C51.jpeg
    EE3D1EED-B37A-4C4F-A572-F212F53D0C51.jpeg
    802.8 KB · Views: 86
Continuing on from Friday’s MQA to non-MQA comparison between Exile On Main Street, Sticky Fingers, and Wheels Of Fire, I have reached the same conclusion. The MQA files sound a bit softer, more rounded, less edgy, than the CD version of the file.

This was a relatively easy test to do. I created a playlist of all three albums, and then just switched MQA on/off on my favorite songs. Back and forth. A/B those songs. And each time, I felt the results were the same. The MQA version was a bit smoother than the CD version. I suspect this is what people mean when they say something is more analog like. I wasn’t hearing new details like you do with a power cord upgrade. The music was the same, just a tad smoother.

However, to be honest, I found myself preferring the CD version. I could certainly live happily with the MQA version, but I suspect the volume would be a bit higher with MQA.

Now that I have dipped my toes into the MQA pool, I would like to hear some music that was recorded with MQA in the analog to digital phase, and then in playback. At this point I feel this technology can really shine.


attachment.php

attachment.php
 

Attachments

  • DB7926BE-839E-4FDA-8448-F3B20B62E42C.jpeg
    DB7926BE-839E-4FDA-8448-F3B20B62E42C.jpeg
    492.9 KB · Views: 84
  • E62F535A-F535-4C48-8AB3-14BF669B8784.jpeg
    E62F535A-F535-4C48-8AB3-14BF669B8784.jpeg
    482.1 KB · Views: 82
No, I didn't A/B Sticky Fingers to another version. I think I do have a high-res download of Sticky Fingers, and I will try that next weekend.
 
BlueFox said:
Comparing the MQA to CD file will be easier as I just need to turn MQA off, and the song starts over as a CD. Turn MQA on, and the song starts over in MQA mode.
Click to expand...

I'd like to clarify one thing though. By turning off MQA function of Lumin, you get the result of undecoded MQA, which is not the same as a regular non-MQA redbook CD.

To compare MQA CD against regular redbook CD, one will have to acquire both discs and rip both of them.
 
BlueFox said:
Actually, they ripped to ALAC since I use iTunes. No matter what setting I tried on the Lumin, 44/16 was all that was played. Tomorrow I will rip to AIFF, and see if that makes any difference.
Click to expand...

That's unexpected. I retested our test case of 16/44.1 MQA file using ALAC encoding and it's working. Either our test case is not general enough to reveal a limitation, or something went wrong with the ALAC ripping.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top