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Just wondering if any hi res player or dac has been updated to MQA by firmware only? Or have the MQA capable components all been built that way from the beginning?
Thanks
barondla
Follow Ups:
As for file size, I don't buy SACD's, I buy the files, so I'm going by what I download. :) They end up being pretty large.
Bluesound products have been upgraded to fully support MQA decoding with a simple free firmware update that was released in June. Until (Tidal) streaming starts supporting MQA files it's pretty useless. MQA still states Tidal is an active partner as they've been saying for a couple of years, but still no MQA file streaming is a reality yet...
Very good question.From my understanding, and I am pretty sure about it, is that IF your your DAC/integrated digital front end is user firmware upgradable, then MQA capability can be provided with a firmware upgrade. If not, you are out of luck.
Secondly, assuming your DAC etc IS firmware upgradable(many are) the manufacturer has to send their product to MQA/Meridian for a detailed analysis. Many manufacturers have balked at this.
Roon required streamer manufacturers send them hard ware to determine the best way to integrate, but Roon does NOT make hardware, as Meridian does.
Interesting times.
Edits: 08/24/16 08/24/16
In January at CES Auralic was actively demonstrating MQA streaming via their Aries. Within days an iron curtain descended and no more was to be heard - literally and figuratively on the subject. When I questioned Mr. Wang, head of Auralic, on this subject he replied that MQA had required licensees to sign a nondisclosure agreement and nothing more could be said on the subject.
My take: MOST of the benefits of MQA can be attained as you and I state - via firmware in streaming or other devices. IMO MQA is not satisfied in allowing this to happen. They appear to want and are attempting to require total control - from the recording/mastering/transfer, to the playing of MQA encoded music files.
I, for one, at this point am more than ready to write them off.
We are in total agreement. IMO, MQA is an attempt by Meridian to save the sinking ship (disclaimer, in my OPINION.)They have the pathetic audio press kneeling at their feet, which makes me so sad. They did this with DSD as a new purchasable file medium (as opposed to SACDs) 3 years ago and they have yolk all over their faces.
MQA is a farce. It is nothing but DSP and pseudo remastering of files.
It can't die a death fast enough.
Now, as a post script. If it becomes something beneficial to lossless streaming, and the market accepts it, then hooray for streaming fans.
Edits: 08/24/16
"Now, as a post script. If it becomes something beneficial to lossless streaming, and the market accepts it, then hooray for streaming fans."
Yes! This has been MQA's "rightful place" from the start. But,, and a BIG but it is... MQA has decided that this is not enough (delusions of grandeur?). They want a MUCH larger piece of the pie,, Why not just go for it ALL??
At the rate they're going it seems they're much more likely to end up with NOTHING.
again...in total agreement.
Meridian's history in digital audio is checkered, to say the least.
Their one successful "product" is MLP, which is still used occasionally for DVD-A.
MQA can be implimented via firmware but the manufacturer of the dac has to have a lioscence with MQA
Alan
Hi Alan:
Yes that is understood.
... there will be many others requirements :
Enough room inside dac's memory to hold the supplementary firmware
Enough processing time slices available to process it
Some testing to make sure that the supplementary load does not offset dac's original performance (as far as it is alleged that the lower the DSP's load, the lesser are the perturbation it generates)
The more I read interviews with the principles, the more I am convinced it is vapor ware.
MQA could be implemented in firmware IF there's enough processing power. It's not as simple as unzipping a file. It also is not generic. The temporal correction applied is said to be unique to each DAC.
Having said that, the samples I've heard of MQA files on a Mytek Brooklyn were completely unconvincing. I have not heard any benefit whatsoever. The claims of better.... whatever it's supposed to be..... have yet to be heard in this house. To be most fair I used a pair of AKG K712.
As I've said elsewhere, I won't hunt for benefits with tweezers and a magnifying glass. If MQA isn't easy to tell, it's DOA. After listening however I think I like DSD a little better than PCM. Not sure I want to pay for the gigantic files though.
...and as far as DSD vs PCM..the format used to archive a maatertape should depend on the music itself... i am big fan of DSD, but 24/192 PCM is excellent too.
BTW I around 2000 24/192 albums and almost as many SACD rips. Believe it or not there is virtually no difference in size based on a typical 40 minute album.
It seems to me you are a pretty well informed poster.
You are 100% correct in that the algorithm must be custom implemented for each DAC, hence the requirement to send a sample unit to Meridian.
This is absolutely a solution in search of a problem. And it is disgusting that he audiophile press is lapping it up.
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