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MQA
Feb 18, 2017 11:18:23 GMT
Post by davidf on Feb 18, 2017 11:18:23 GMT
I was going to resurrect an older thread regarding this, but as MQA is now a separate company from Meridian, I thought it best to keep them out of the title. That thread was started two years ago, and I'm surprised there's been no further discussion or any other threads, especially recently with it finding its way onto TIDAL.
Recent events have seen Universal and Warner sign up for MQA - whether that is for streaming their material via TIDAL or producing MQA CDs is not known at this stage, but I hear there are some other companies in talks for it too, so things are looking good for the format.
I'm guessing not too many members here stream music, which is maybe the reason for no discussion, but there did seem to be some interest in that other thread. Has anyone had any experiences of it yet? Anyone have any thoughts on the format?
I've been listening to quite a bit of MQA recently, and have to say it seems very promising - it seems to give digital an almost vinyl smoothness to it, and you seem to be able to hear everything more easily, having a better balance to it. A number of albums have revealed details I've not heard before on the CD or even hi-res versions! I'm just waiting for a few more albums that I know well to be able to make a more concrete decision on it.
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MQA
Feb 18, 2017 11:34:25 GMT
Post by MartinT on Feb 18, 2017 11:34:25 GMT
I've played with MQA a few years ago and didn't come to any conclusion. I do stream, but not as a primary source. However, things may change as and when we get Infinity at home.
Is Tidal viable yet in terms of catalogue? It has some way to go to match Spotify.
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MQA
Feb 18, 2017 11:59:11 GMT
Post by davidf on Feb 18, 2017 11:59:11 GMT
I don't know about the catalogue aspect, as I've always felt they both lacked to enough of an extent that I still use Napster for discovering new albums, as they have far more than Spotify or TIDAL. I prefer TIDAL to Spotify with regards to sound quality, and MQA (or Masters, as they call it) takes things a step further. I now have both accounts because of work, so I use them, but my main source is CD or vinyl.
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MQA
Feb 18, 2017 14:16:27 GMT
Post by Stratmangler on Feb 18, 2017 14:16:27 GMT
I'm guessing not too many members here stream music, which is maybe the reason for no discussion, but there did seem to be some interest in that other thread. Has anyone had any experiences of it yet? Anyone have any thoughts on the format? All of my digital audio is streamed. When I buy a CD it gets ripped to a local server and gets played from that server. My radio listening comes from online streams. I've been doing streaming for a long time now, for at least 10 years. I can't see me changing any time soon. Seeing as the thrust of your post was directed at subscription streaming providers I'll put this forward. If you have a dedicated network rendering device it will already be optimised for audio. If you have a Windoze computer you will have all sorts of other processes taking place, and audio is not given priority, so there is a requirement for drivers that prioritise audio playback. You're looking at ASIO or WASAPI drivers (which type you need is generally dictated by the age of your audio hardware). And none of the subscription streaming providers utilise these drivers within their respective software players. I've heard that Tidal are working on it, but that's it. Audio quality will never be optimal from any of the online streaming providers if they don't address the issue, and with respect to Tidal and the MQA material, anyone listening to it on a Windoze computer will not hear it properly. |
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MQA
Feb 18, 2017 15:15:25 GMT
Post by davidf on Feb 18, 2017 15:15:25 GMT
All my CDs get ripped to an Innuos ZENith, so I do the same as you but with an audio product rather than a PC. I don't have the knowledge to do that sort of thing properly with PCs, and would prefer a product that does everything for me, hence the Innuos.
But I suppose having to mess about with drivers etc is what comes from using computers for listening to music. I personally wouldn't, I'd rather have a dedicated audio product for the job, even if it is more expensive - at least it's simple. As I say, with regards to online streaming, all my listening has been via a Bluesound Node II, which I fed analogue into a Primare I22 and a pair of Ophidian Mambos - the system sounded amazing. The DAC in the Bluesound certainly wasn't letting things down, as it sounded transparent, detailed, and completely open. I'm not saying it's the best system ever, but for a steaming system, it massively outperforms what my expectations of a system streaming from online music services would be.
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MQA
Feb 18, 2017 15:45:26 GMT
Post by Stratmangler on Feb 18, 2017 15:45:26 GMT
I generally don't use what you'd think of as computers either.
I am a long term Squeezebox user, and I run server on a low powered NAS box.
Your Innuous box is a PC too, just set up to serve files, and to automatically rip discs inserted into its front slot.
Looking at the spec shows that it does DLNA file serving.
It's no more an audio product than I am Pope, it's just marketed as an Audiophile piece of kit.
It's still just a server.
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MQA
Feb 18, 2017 16:10:57 GMT
Post by pre65 on Feb 18, 2017 16:10:57 GMT
It's no more an audio product than I am Pope, it's just marketed as an Audiophile piece of kit. It's still just a server. Good day your Holyness.  |
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MQA
Feb 18, 2017 16:25:15 GMT
Post by Stratmangler on Feb 18, 2017 16:25:15 GMT
Good day your Holyness. Bless you, my son. Shouldn't that be Holiness? |
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MQA
Feb 18, 2017 16:30:13 GMT
Post by pre65 on Feb 18, 2017 16:30:13 GMT
Good day your Holyness. Bless you, my son. Shouldn't that be Holiness?
That's what I writ first, but it looked wrong so I changed it.
Mea Culpa.  |
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MQA
Feb 18, 2017 18:04:08 GMT
Post by The Brookmeister on Feb 18, 2017 18:04:08 GMT
MQA does sound very good indeed if you have the tackle, Tidal MQA files can only be heard via their desktop app at the moment which means a laptop or PC and of course an MQA capable DAC of which I have.
Hopefully it won't die like HD-DVD or not take off like SACD.
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MQA
Feb 18, 2017 19:26:05 GMT
via mobile
Post by Eduardo Wobblechops on Feb 18, 2017 19:26:05 GMT
Recently got a Mytek Brooklyn off Dave, which is the first non Meridian DAC to utilise MQA.
Dave, just a small point - you don't have to have an MQA capable DAC, the conversion can be done in the Tidal software, so most DAC's can be used, as long as they will play Hi Rez FLAC files. You can of couse also use an MQA capable DAC, which means Tidal can be set to passthrough mode for the files.
Good thing with this DAC is there is an MQA enable/disable button, so files can be compared with and without on the fly.
Not had it long, but initial impressions are variable as regards MQA, but where it's good, it's easily better with than without.
What I can definitely say is that this DAC has been a game changer in my system. It is in most respects superior to my vinyl front end, something I never thought I'd say, but there you go. No mean feat up against a 401 with Mission 774 arm and Benz Gullwing SLR MC cart IMO.
If you are looking for a new DAC, I'd highly recommend one. Versatile too - has the choice of analogue or digital volume control, or direct through. Also has an analogue input, which is also configurable as an MM or MC phono stage.
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MQA
Feb 18, 2017 19:33:56 GMT
via mobile
Post by Eduardo Wobblechops on Feb 18, 2017 19:33:56 GMT
I've played with MQA a few years ago and didn't come to any conclusion. I do stream, but not as a primary source. However, things may change as and when we get Infinity at home. Is Tidal viable yet in terms of catalogue? It has some way to go to match Spotify. A reasonable amount of available content Martin, around 350 albums in MQA at the moment, though I'd imagine this will grow quite quickly. I don't imagine the entire catalogue matches Spotify, but it seems pretty good to me in the week I've been using it. |
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MQA
Feb 18, 2017 20:38:45 GMT
Post by ChrisB on Feb 18, 2017 20:38:45 GMT
The breadth of the Spotify catalogue is astonishing. I am constantly amazed at what's available there
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MQA
Feb 18, 2017 21:27:59 GMT
Post by John on Feb 18, 2017 21:27:59 GMT
Be awhile before I can go down the MQA and like to hear it first.
How much does it cost per month. Is it better than Roon in Tidal
At present the MQA catalogue would be a limiting factor for me too
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MQA
Feb 18, 2017 22:10:50 GMT
Post by davidf on Feb 18, 2017 22:10:50 GMT
I generally don't use what you'd think of as computers either. I am a long term Squeezebox user, and I run server on a low powered NAS box. Your Innuous box is a PC too, just set up to serve files, and to automatically rip discs inserted into its front slot. Looking at the spec shows that it does DLNA file serving. It's no more an audio product than I am Pope, it's just marketed as an Audiophile piece of kit. It's still just a server. No need to be pedantic your Holyness, I'm sure you understood what I meant. The Innuos is a "pre-packaged" product, for which I don't need to worry about updating anything under the hood, adding plug-ins etc etc - hence, it isn't a PC (even if under the hood, it is, somewhat). Although it is more of an audio product as the triple linear power supply has been designed for the product in order to get the best out of it. |
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MQA
Feb 18, 2017 22:11:26 GMT
Post by davidf on Feb 18, 2017 22:11:26 GMT
MQA does sound very good indeed if you have the tackle, Tidal MQA files can only be heard via their desktop app at the moment which means a laptop or PC and of course an MQA capable DAC of which I have. Hopefully it won't die like HD-DVD or not take off like SACD. And via Bluesound products. |
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MQA
Feb 19, 2017 6:29:37 GMT
Post by John on Feb 19, 2017 6:29:37 GMT
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MQA
Feb 19, 2017 7:15:42 GMT
Post by John on Feb 19, 2017 7:15:42 GMT
After reading a bit more research it seems MQA is part of the TIDAL costs and playback through TIDAL can be achieved through a none MQA DAC but not quite at the same quality
My concern would be the lack of material availble the libary really would need to expand to really interests me, but would love to hear what MQA can do
Spotify sound quality is no where near my PC using BH, so I find it hard to listen seriously with it. So hoping the catalogue gets bigger.
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MQA
Feb 19, 2017 10:10:52 GMT
Post by MartinT on Feb 19, 2017 10:10:52 GMT
John, do you have Spotify Premium? If not, you are not judging it in hi-bitrate mode. I find it quite acceptable even for the occasional bit of serious listening, and more than adequate for background.
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MQA
Feb 19, 2017 10:33:23 GMT
via mobile
Post by John on Feb 19, 2017 10:33:23 GMT
Yes ever in higher bit rate I cannot seriously listen to Spotify it lacks depth and impact for my serious listening
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