|
Audio Asylum Thread Printer Get a view of an entire thread on one page |
For Sale Ads |
73.198.63.158
In Reply to: RE: MQA questions posted by tubby2 on January 17, 2016 at 10:19:05
At present, the only way to decode an MQA file is with an MQA-enabled DAC. I'm not in a position to argue the merits of this approach, it is simply the way it is. Based on listening to three MQA DACs with MQA encoded music at CES proved very convincing as proof of concept. One of these demos involved a comparison between an MQA encoded/decoded file and the same file without MQA decoding using the Mytek Brooklyn DAC and there were clear and obvious improvements with the MQA decoded version. At least according to my ears.
Another MQA demo at CES used the Bluesound Vault 2 as decoder and MQA capabilities were implemented in that device through a firmware upgrade. My point being, MQA does not always require purchasing new gear. Of course no one is being forced to buy in.
If we couple this convincing proof of concept with the fact that MQA is working with Tidal to deliver MQA streaming, I do not see anything to complain or worry about.
Michael Lavorgna
Editor, AudioStream.com
Follow Ups:
"My point being, MQA does not always require purchasing new gear." Of course it does. I have a brand new Audio-GD Master7 and I stream Tidal to it. I do I decode MQA files from Tidal? There are many audiophiles like me and this question must be answered with no added expence or MQA is dead for many audiophiles. In all the conversation going on here there is no answer at least for now to this question. I know it is early in the MQA game but the rollout is not being handled very well
Alan
These people are trying to turn audio into the same DRM'd mess that video has become. No thanks!
Tony Lauck
"Diversity is the law of nature; no two entities in this universe are uniform." - P.R. Sarkar
As I mentioned, one of the demos at CES used the Bluesound Vault 2 where MQA was added as a firmware upgrade. This option also applies to other existing DACs. So not everyone will have to buy a new DAC.
But I completely get your point. Unless there is a compelling reason, there's no reason to spend money. We are not at the point, yet, where this compelling argument exists. First off, there's no MQA content available and software-based decoders are still in the works and may not work with every DAC, as far as I understand things.
The problem I'm seeing here is due to people like me writing about our experiences with MQA at CES and readers getting excited over the prospect of improved playback. As I've said, the demos I heard were proof of concept and compelling but things certainly need to develop in order for MQA to become something people will consider buying into or not.
We shall see.
Michael Lavorgna
Editor, AudioStream.com
A well reasoned post. Thanks Michael. A problem with the asylum is good manners seem to disappear in a lot of discussions. I am sorry if you took any of my posts as an attack on you. I did not mean to do so
Alan
Post a Followup:
FAQ |
Post a Message! |
Forgot Password? |
|
||||||||||||||
|
This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors: