Ed Selley
Hi-Fi Editor
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Thank you Ed, timely article
Am I right in assuming that mqa is much better exploited if the hardware can unlock the full potential and not just via the tidal interface for example which has limited resolution ?
I am trying to assess if worth bithering with mqa if for example a naim atom doesn't decode it natively. I believe other format are better in that case.
Finally, can you please confirm my understanding that mqa real sweet spot and main advantage is in streaming high quality?
Thanks in advance
There's no mention, understandably so, of the cost implications for manufacturers to purchase this and embed into their products. You can bet it's not cheap though.
I actually did obtain this information but as you say, it's commercially sensitive. I think I can just about get away with saying that it fails or succeeds, the licensing will not have played a significant part either way.
In the article you only mention it outputting to USB devices? My current setup has a Windows machine with Tidal application going via HDMI to my Marantz 6010, I'm pretty certain the quality has been better with the master tracks I've listened to, either that or I'm suffering from the placebo effect.
In short, I don't know. Does the Marantz show incoming sample rate? That would be the easy way to check.
The main strength of MQA is the transmission of High Res Audio in a more efficient manner.
I have to slightly disagree with this.
For me; the main strength of MQA is the 'de-blurring' that occurs when played back with MQA enabled hardware. Having listened to some MQA music; I know the sound quality can be remarkable. Actually, quite incredible.
Of course; transmitting MQA quality music in more efficent manner may make it more commercially viable; but that's slightly different..
For me; the main strength of MQA is the 'de-blurring' that occurs when played back with MQA enabled hardware. Having listened to some MQA music; I know the sound quality can be remarkable. Actually, quite incredible.
Thank you ed for this, very clearThe main strength of MQA is the transmission of High Res Audio in a more efficient manner. This is most applicable to streaming services where the same file might be requested repeatedly by a customer rather than a download site where they will realistically request it once.
With Tidal, the resolution isn't limited- the unpacking is done in the desktop app so if I play a 24/96 or 24/88.2 file into the Hugo (which isn't MQA certified either), it will still light the relevant indicator up. I've done some tests of the 24/96 Division Bell vs the actual download and I'm not willing to claim I can tell one from the other.
With the Tidal implementation on the Naim (and everybody else), this isn't applicable. The Master files simply play as normal. No information has been given on whether embedded apps might see an update. It's worth noting that the Pioneer XDP100 is MQA certified but can't access them via the mobile app either. Tidal apparently hasn't made any decisions on this area yet.
For me, the absence of sufficient MQA encoded material I really know well enough to make that call and the ability to replicate a lot of the pre ringing reduction via other processes mean I have to leave that one for now.
Although, the number of MQA titles on Tidal now numbers in the hundreds and is increasing. They can be compared to their non MQA counterparts.
I like your comment and it reflects what I was struggling to articulate
I believe the benefit of mqa is in transmitting a good size file that can easily be de blurred like you rightly said via enabled hardware
I may be wrong but enabled hardware are supposed to go much further in resolution if files allow it than only non enabled ?
What's the point of an enabled hardware if a Hugo not enabled can play the same.
Ed answer was clear to me but not on this point
Thank you ed for this, very clear
Can you please confirm what an mqa enabled device do which I Hugo don't ?
I am no expert on MQA.
But, as I understand it, if you play MQA material on non MQA hardware, you will get an increase in quality, albeit a slight one.
If you play MQA from a platform like Tidal (desk top version only I believe) that can software decode MQA; you will get the first 'unfold' of MQA - but no more. But still a step up from playing MQA on non MQA equipment.
If you play MQA music on MQA hardware; the MQA is 'fully unfolded' and 'rendered' i.e. the charcteristics of that specific DAC are allowed for.
I am happy to be corrected if I have misunderstood things.
Tidal's statement regarding "desktop app only" is very misleading.
In this case, Tidal performs a full 'unpack' of the MQA material. As such, a USB DAC that can handle the sample rate in question will receive 24/44,1, 24/88.2 or 24/96 as appropriate. This is confirmed by the Hugo's indicator changing colour to reflect the incoming sample rate.