Aurender MQA Update
 

Aurender has released an update for the app and for the Aurender it’s self. You can now purchase MQA Core Decoder. Thought you would like to know.

Jim

Thanks for the info Jim. I have been waiting for the MQA update.

Playing TIDAL Masters. The Aurender app says 32 bit 96khz. The front of the Esoteric K-03x says 96kHz. Sounds good.

Glad to hear it. How much of a difference does 1st unfold make.

Jim

This applies to N100H too??

Yes it applies to the N100h.

Awesome

https://www.audioaficionado.org/atta...6&d=1520285893






It’s beautiful [emoji7]
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How much is MQA core decoder?

$54.99usd
$69.99 cad

akitared.......How does the software get loaded on the Aurender music server?

After updating the App, you navigate the new Purchase MQA option, it then performs a software upgrade on the device, about 5 mins. You can then purchase thru the app store on Itunes.

Forgot to add;

This update also adds SMB v2 functionality to the device for secure connectivity between PC and Aurender when copying music files across

Some details from Aurender:

http://www.aurender.com/blog/new-sof...p-2-9-3-93-189

My cost was $49.99. I must be special. Sounds much better with full unfolding with my Berkeley MQA DAC so far. My IPhone camera skills are not very good though.

Have not had a chance to determine but will give it a listen over the next few days. For now just making sure the update is working. Initial impression is positive.

I have two Aurender music servers, N10 and N100H. Will I have to purchase two MQA Core Decoder licenses, one for each server?

Dan

I’m just wondering that since it seams like you will have the option to disable the unfold if you don’t like it, have you changed your mind?

I hope so, just because I like so many of us value your opinion and would love to see what you think


R

Richard.......I appreciate the vote of confidence, but I may hang back for awhile to be certain no bugs appear. I feel confident that Aurender has done their homework and that MQA has been all over their software package for licensing purposes, but I still remain completely satisfied with the way my two Aurender's are performing right now. I realize there is substantial interest in MQA decoding, but frankly I am barely lukewarm about MQA. It is quite probable I will follow suit and download the MQA Core Decoder on at least one of my music servers to see what all the hoopla is about, but I won't jump on the bandwagon right out of the chute.

Dan, I think cost is per unit. My charge was $49.99 (plus tax?). Hard to say so soon if beneficial but first impression is positive. Depending on the master the MQA is from should depend on the improvement. Should we perceive improvement with the higher kHz on the display? Most will. :) I am optimistic by nature so I was fine to pay the price for the upgrade for about the cost of a few cds and be open to the Masters library with a higher resolution potential. Also I like to stay current and appreciate Aurender providing no or, in this case, low cost software upgrades.

I'm definitely in, $50 no brainer. I have not yet made up my mind about MQA . It may be that MQA is just a fad until streaming DSD and other hi resolution formats happens as network speeds improve over time but if Tidal Masters sound better then they do now with this software app. upgrade which is already good I am happy. As for Dan, I hope his curiosity will force him to check it out sooner rather than later :D I also await your opinion Dan

David.......Yes, my audio neurosis is always in play. How well I am able to control it with logic is another question all together. . :rolleyes:

Well Aurender is on schedule from what they told me on a first quarter release.

I get the wait approach, but could not help myself.

In the menu, I first went to “Software Upgrade” and updated to the latest version, this took maybe 5 minutes. Also within the menu, 4th up from the bottom is the option “Purchase MQA License”. Select purchase and the popup asks you for your iTunes password, and it installs from there.

I slid the radio control option to MQA, and now getting ready to hear how this performs. Very simple process. It does say the license is per unit at a cost of $49.99

Update - Well now I am playing it, and I think I just discovered that the first fold is all I will get with going into the PS Audio Direct Stream. On the iPad I see it is showing 32bit, 176.4Khz, and on the N10 screen it shows 88.2Khz as 24 bit, so now need to figure whats what...unless anyone knows. The PS has the bridge and MQA has been installed last year.

UPDATE II: - For those of you that have the Aurender N10, going into a PS Audio Direct Stream you will not get the full MQA unfold since PS will only obtain this through their Bridge via ethernet connection. Is it better with the higher first fold sample and worth the $50, sure, disappointing to not have full unfold, yes.

I just purchased the MQA license for my aurender X100L and I can tell you it's awesome!:music:

Way to go Aurender!!! :tresbon:

:banana::banana::banana:

I did the upgrade, all I can say is no disappointment here. Even though I am limited to 96 k I like what I’m hearing

Interesting read as always with the MQA topic. :D

http://archimago.blogspot.ro/2017/10...t-why.html?m=1

I updated my W20 last night and it is intended for one device. I believe Dan will have to pay twice if chooses to do so. I updated, but like Dan, am not completely sold on MQA. I think its a giclee.

Dave

Hi Dave,

Does your above comment mean you hear no difference with the "further" unpacked MQA files ?

I have not yet purchased the MQA license, but I do have a slight preference for some of the 24/48 MQA Files that I tried on Tidal. Just wondering if this next step (without a full MQA DAC) makes sense or not.

Olaf

Do it you won't be disappointed :thumbsup:

I read the article but all I can say is the MQA unfold to 24/96 on the aurender to my D1100 via USB silver eclipse WW7 sounds fantastic :banana: . I will have to try and compare turning the MQA feature on and off in the conductor app. but I am happy :yes:

Or you could simply enjoy the MQA without worrying about all the technical chit chat and constant debates on the topic. If it sounds good to your ears, IT IS GOOD. :D

I do hear a difference and a lot of time it is really good but I feel like the music is enhanced but maybe not what the artist intended. How can you get more from less? Peter McGrath played a recording he did in person and played black an MQA version that sounded better than his original recording? I'm not techie, but I'll follow my ears. I did the update and am happy thus far but I'm not rushing out to replace my Dac just yet. Ask me next week lol:D

Dave

:)

Peter McGrath may be a brilliant recording engineer and he is certainly a speaker whisperer when it comes to fine tuning a pair in any given room but... Considering everything affects the sound, from the choice and type of microphones to A/D converters to cables, well, those things are out of his hands. So if something is lost or let's say is not properly "retrieved" from a typical recording done in digital and then digital back to analog playback and along comes technology that does retrieve it better... Well, in that case, it may not be "better" than the original recording as there is no such thing but it can certainly be better than every other attempt at retrieving that recording before... Not that I am for or necessarily against MQA.

When my wife and I were listening to Tidal MQA going through the N10 last night and comparing songs with just the first unfold to the full unfold she commented to me that she was missing music on the first unfold that she and I heard on the full unfold. It may be enhanced but we prefer the sound that way. For reference we also preferred the way the N10 played MQA files, over CD quality, before the new Aurender update.

That is interesting and I am not surprised. I think I hear a significant difference between MQA first unfold and redbook . If I did not already have the D1100 I would be shopping for a DAC that unfolds MQA, fingers crossed but not likely that Mcintosh will offer a MQA upgrade via firmware. I know I know don't hold my breath :D

Aurender Update
 

Are you saying the N10 sounds worse after the new upgrade? Or you already preferred MQA files served up via N10 unfolded to your Berkeley DAC over Cd quality files served up via N10 to Berkeley.

Files sound better with the upgrade

Sorry I wasn't clear. I prefer the new MQA upgrade on the N10 which gives me the full MQA unfold into my Berkeley MQA DAC. Before yesterday the N10 could do just the first MQA unfold and I preferred that to the standard CD quality from Tidal.

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As long as MQA ability doesn’t degrade the sound of PCM file playback then I will be on board with spending the $50 for the update. Will likely do so tonight if I find the time.