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In Reply to: RE: Not to me posted by Dave_K on July 17, 2017 at 11:42:50
Trying, but that's about it.
I understand why MQA wants us to compare it to Hi Rez, I just don't agree that it's is a candidate to be a 'preferred format for hi rez' because it's NOT hi rez, it's a compression of hi rez and a lossy one at that.
Yes, it's better than 16/44.1 Lossless FLAC (or TIDAL thinks so) as long as the master it is taken from is better sounding that Redbook CD. I don't disagree.
But given the choice of a paid download of a 24/96, 24/192, or even a 24/48 file and an MQA file, guess which one I'm taking?
Hint: Not the one that requires a special DAC and/or a computer algorithm to play it.
So it really doesn't matter to me if the MQA file sounds a lot like a real, no kidding hi rez file because in any and all cases, I'll take the real thing.
The ONLY use-case for MQA that I can see is when the choice is MQA or Redbook CD, which is the current TIDAL use-case.
As far as 'different masters', yes, the Redbook CD you bought in the 80's is likely from a different master than the remastered one being sold as a download in any format from 16/44.1 - 24/96 - 24/192 and/or DSD. A surprising amount of stuff recorded long ago and sold on vinyl or sold in the 80's on CD has been recently remastered and sold as a re-issue on CD and streams on TIDAL, DEEZER Elite and QOBUZ in 16/44.1 Lossless FLAC, so these comparisons with MQA are valid.
For example, most of the early catalog of the group "Dead Can Dance" (Neoclassical dark wave, world music, ethereal wave, art rock, gothic rock, pagan rock, post-punk, you-pick-the-genre) was remastered 2008 and issued on SACD (now out of print). The SACDs currently sell for outrageous prices. TIDAL will stream the re-mastered albums in lossless FLAC 16/44.1 and it sounds SO much better than the original CD of the 80's. Would MQA sound better? Sadly we don't know because TIDAL's MQA catalog is still pretty thin. :-(
ONE POSSIBLE EXCEPTION: Hi Rez Download @ $12.50 vs. MQA Download FREE!
But that's ONLY because I currently have a Meridian Explorer 2 MQA enabled DAC. ;-)
Follow Ups:
"But given the choice of a paid download of a 24/96, 24/192, or even a 24/48 file and an MQA file, guess which one I'm taking?"
Yup. MQA is mainly a play for licensing revenue on a proprietary technology that no one needs.
For those of us that only stream and can hear some improvement in sound from MQA then I want it. If you don't need it fine. So why talk about it?
Alan
My comments were regarding MQA making little sense is in reference to paid downloads, MQA vs Hi Rez files. Abe was just agreeing
Streaming, where the choices are 16/44.1 Lossless FLAC vs. MQA is a valid use-case for MQA in my opinion.
That's why my original post above stated that a better comparison might be 16/44.1 Lossless FLAC vs. MQA.
The only case I can see for MQA is streaming, and it's a bit of a weak case at that. Downloads? No need for MQA at all IMHO.
"it's a bit of a weak case at that."
Only if you don't think it sounds better
Alan
Especially in the case of streaming, where MQA costs no more than 16/44.1 Lossless FLAC and to my ears sounds better.
you don't truly know what's being compared. Or do you?
Are there solid examples of MQA streams that are also available as non-MQA in hi-rez, both from the same master?
I'm already convinced that there's no need for MQA downloads so the only place for comparison might be streaming.
Whether an newer release (2015) like the above, or a re-mastering of an older release (DOORS 50th Anniversary edition for example).
Tidal and QOBUZ both include release dates so if the album cover is identical and the release date is exactly the same and I stream the Lossless FLAC then the MQA Master I am pretty sure both came from the same master.
Most of the recent MQA stuff that I see in the classical catalog on TIDAL (and there isn't much) is stuff Warners is also re-releasing in CD(and paid downloads). A quick glance over at AMAZON usually confirms this.
Warners seems to be releasing a lot of old Erato stuff that they own. If it's recent and ends up on TIDAL a lot of it is also available in MQA. Again, release dates match for Lossless FLAC, MQA and the same album sold on AMAZON so I'm again guessing it was all taken from the same master, old tapes or re-mastered, who knows?
For example, most of the early catalog of the group "Dead Can Dance" (Neoclassical dark wave, world music, ethereal wave, art rock, gothic rock, pagan rock, post-punk, you-pick-the-genre) was remastered 2008...
I wasn't aware of that. Indeed, the original masters were thin sounding and devoid of any depth - especially when played back at Sea Cliff!
It appears HDTracks has 44/16 downloads from the remasters. :)
Into the Labyrinth, above.
At least IMNSHO.
Have heard both the Redbook layer ripped off of the SACD of the above compared to the SACD on a VERY good system and can say that the Redbook of this re-mastering is worth the money.
Warped minds think alike! ;)
Really like Yulinga . I'll try one of the other albums out - have all of them already.
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