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In Reply to: RE: Mastersound (MQA) on Tidal streaming posted by PAR on January 07, 2017 at 03:31:58
If that is true I need to apologise to everyone for arguing that Tidal is not decoding.
If that is true I don't know why the blue light on my explorer 2 lights up indicating it is getting a MQA file. If it was already decoded why would it light up?
Here is a quote from a press release at CES indicating something else
"For the full MQA experience, including hi-res unpacking, an MQA DAC is required."
So the jury is still out. Need to see a link to a press release from MQA or Tidal confirming they are doing the decoding. It does not make sence. If Tidal decodes MQA people will not flock to buy new MQA dacs including those from Meridian although you would need a MQA dac for MQA downloads
Alan
Edits: 01/07/17Follow Ups:
Do you have the MQA software decoding option set to disable?
As I understand it now, you need the following:
1) Latest Tidal app (not browser version)
2) with MQA software decoding enabled, non-native MQA DACs will get some benefit (ie hirez stream at 24/88 or 24/96).This is what I am seeing now.
3) for native MQA DACs, you can disable the Tidal software decoding and get the actual MQA stream which should light up your DAC. You need to insure that the Tidal app is set to allow exclussive access or your OS may up/down sample and effect the integrity of the MQA stream.
when I use 'Exclusive Mode', at least on 2L Nordic Sound tracks.
That said, 'Sailing to Philadelphia' track sounds as good or even better than a ripped CD, or so it seems to me. Not sure my version are is from the same CD?
And sound good as well, if you like that sort of thing. ;-)
Here's the Computer Audiophile story from CES which is where I picked it up. I also checked the Tidal website and "Master", as they are referring to it, is now shown as a benefit to subscribers to the hifi service but no mention is made to any external decoder being required.
NB: I have been aware that Tidal were developing something along these lines for along time. I gather it has not been straightforward to implement. When I say a long time I was discussing this possibility with guys from MQA and Tidal (together) at a show in in London in January 2015. Obviously they were not in any position to indicate more than it was a concept being looked at.
Regards
Pete
when streaming TIDAL, it's not a hardware implementation after all.
It's just the part of MQA that folds a 'Hi Rez' file/stream into a 16/48 packet.
Which is all I was looking for anyway.
Now we need them to do that to the entire classical catalog.
" Now we need them to do that to the entire classical catalog."
Yes indeed. I am going to hang back for a couple of weeks as Tidal load their initial offering onto their servers. Then I will take the trial period offered and see what is what. Can I afford or justify both Tidal and Qobuz?
I understand that most of the first titles are sourced from Warners which may mean that a lot of the old EMI catalogue will be available as well as Warner originals (fingers crossed). Reading between the lines on other MQA stories that have emerged over the past year, UMG may be the next.
Incidentally, did you manage to get that UK subscription to Qobuz? I have come to much prefer the beta desktop player to the old one despite its minor failing with certain lengthy track titles.
If you are looking for EMI classical stuff there is almost none on tidal right now but they continue to load new stuff. I am sure classical will get the least attention
Alan
I am sure that you are right about classical getting the least attention. However when you say almost no EMI stuff is on Tidal, do you mean just relating to MQA encoded or in a more general sense? In referring to EMI classical this is, of course, back catalogue now labelled as Warner. Is this what you mean? I am not expecting anything classical with an actual EMI attribution since Warner Classics purchased the marque.
Thanks in advance.
Regards
Pete
I did notice there are several Von Karajan MQA files
Alan
Thanks Alan. However most of HvK's recordings are on DGG. Only the early ones with (mainly)the Philharmonia Orchestra and L'Orchestre de Paris are EMI originated and now on Warner. So HvK being on Tidal isn't in itself a guide to the availabilty of the ex-EMI catalogue. However see below.
On to something that may be of interest to you. I was checking a report from the closing day of last year's RMAF in regard to MQA. It now looks as if things are going to plan as the article says that all of the Warner catalogue had ( at that point in October) been MQA encoded and that Sony and UMG are anticipated to be ready by the coming Spring. So that indicates that the HvK tracks are the EMI ones (DGG not apparently yet being ready for adding to Tidal's MQA database). It is looking very interesting for later this year.
Regards
Pete
I seem to be managing, but I don't have or pay for cable TV!
And I also justified ClassicsOnlineHD until the cut their catalog to just NAXOS and affiliates.
There is significant overlap, but still quite a bit of stuff available on TIDAL that, while showing up on QOBUZ, will not play more that 30 sec. and is there mostly to prompt paid downloads. :-(
I get the blue light on my Explorer 2.
could be two things, you have to bypass software decoding, and also if he got the explorer 2 awhile ago there's a firmware update to MQA for it.
blue light works for me. Also it goes higher than 96khz for me.
I got it working again. Had to turn on "Use exclusive mode" The strange thing is the blue light comes on whether passthrough is on or off
Alan
Which operating system are you using? I believe there's probably what they call a handshake with the verification of the codec to the hardware.I'll be looking into DACs that have hardware MQA now. How is the explorer? Looks like I'll have to blow away my bonus on something. Just as I upgraded my DACa few months ago.
This is crazy, really,
Edits: 01/07/17
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