MQA: A Review of controversies, concerns, and cautions

[imprezap2]

Tidal works great with the Aurender conductor app, IMHO one of the best control apps out there.

[cleeds]

Originally Posted by godwinaj

I guess even after reading all this I'm still not sure what the fear is ...

I haven't detected any fear here. Skepticism and caution aren't necessarily indicators of fear.

[bart]

Originally Posted by Antonmb

You may be right that it’s a fool’s errand to spit in the face of MQA, and I don’t think that’s anyone’s intent. For Tidal, streaming MQA may be the best solution, especially if you have limited bandwidth. However in Europe you can already get the high res from Qobuz without the need for MQA, and this will probably be available in the US this year or next.

My caution flag (not panic, or spitting) is that the ultimate stated goal for both MQA and the majors who have signed on is not just for streaming, but for all downloads and CDs to be MQA-encoded. If we’re gaining access to the master files, we’re only gaining access to what a single company, MQA, has “certified” as a master, and only if we use their proprietary key to unlock it. An MQA “master” means that the studio or label has paid MQA a fee to encode their master, so that you can pay a fee through your equipment purchase to decode it. Some labels, including many classical labels, are already providing “master” files for download without any MQA certification required or licensing fees, or any encoding or decoding other than the open-source flac. It seems to be primarily the major labels who are concerned about piracy and are signing on to this technology, not for sound quality reasons, but to protect their masters.

Very well described Tony.
My concern is that we loose freedom of choice if all majors would only be offering MQA in the future.

[1KW]

We really have no say.... the record companies will decide for us as it is there property. If MQA catches on the Hi Fi industry will have to offer MQA decoding there digital players and DAC's if they want to sell more systems which they will. For those not interested in MQA and want to take a wait and see stance that is fine but as I have said, MQA on Tidal streaming via the Aurender is magic.

[Formerly YB-2]

Originally Posted by 1KW

Have you ever heard MQA ?

It doesn't really matter what it sounds like if we are locked in only MQA for the foreseeable future on both the music format and equipment end of things. As mentioned, there will be something (several somethings?) better shortly and if we are locked into MQA we won't have access to it. Sorry, but I plan to live long enough that choice remains an important point for me and everyone defaulting to MQA creates a monopoly.

[1KW]

Originally Posted by Formerly YB-2

It doesn't really matter what it sounds like if we are locked in only MQA for the foreseeable future on both the music format and equipment end of things. As mentioned, there will be something (several somethings?) better shortly and if we are locked into MQA we won't have access to it. Sorry, but I plan to live long enough that choice remains an important point for me and everyone defaulting to MQA creates a monopoly.

I don't think choice is gone, you will still have choice ie rebook, PCM and DSD for purchase . We will not be locked into one format, MQA is presently a way to enjoy hi resolution streaming.

[Formerly YB-2]

Originally Posted by 1KW

....................MQA is presently a way to enjoy hi resolution streaming.

The key word in your statement is "presently". MQA is up-front about wanting to require licensing of all music and decoding equipment. Like any monopoly, not a good thing.

[Antonmb]

Originally Posted by 1KW

I don't think choice is gone, you will still have choice ie rebook, PCM and DSD for purchase . We will not be locked into one format, MQA is presently a way to enjoy hi resolution streaming.

MQA wants to be on all formats. If they succeed, in a few years you may not even be able to buy a cd that isn’t MQA encoded. This isn’t paranoia, this is what they’ve said.

[krustycat]

Good thing they have not been able to encode MQA LP's yet.

[godwinaj]

Originally Posted by krustycat

Good thing they have not been able to encode MQA LP's yet.

This made me giggle.