MQA Discussion

[Still-One]

Originally Posted by Family Progtitioner

Honestly I was just asking. I don't know either way. It doesn't make business sense to me to charge for mqa license for Dacs if they don't make a difference.

Here's another typical problem with these new formats, nobody knows any specifics and the sound improvements are going to be null for the general public

As with vinyl, DSD and Hi Rez PCM. The general public could care less.

[audio bill]

Originally Posted by Avid

I guess the second question is when you play these files do they display the master emblem or the hifi emblem, as I believe if it says hifi it's not doing the MQA but yet down grading it to cd quality.

On Bluesound streaming products the MQA logo is displayed when playing these designated 'Master' files, but the Bluesound line has MQA certification which was provided via a firmware update a couple of months ago.

[edward3132]

I saved some MQA albums to my favorites using Tidal desktop app

Then using Tidal streaming from an Auralic Aries connected to my McIntosh D100 I was able to play these files from My Favorites and they showed as 24bit 48Khz on the D100 display. If I played a normal file the display was 16, 44

[Soundserge]

Originally Posted by Family Progtitioner

Honestly I was just asking. I don't know either way. It doesn't make business sense to me to charge for mqa license for Dacs if they don't make a difference.

The MQA philosophy is that the best possible reproduction of the analog capture in the studio via an analog speaker in your home requires that the whole chain from ADC to DAC is done right. This means optimal sound happens when all the digital components between studio microphone and your speakers are known and are working together to achieve this reproduction.

If the MQA decoder knows the specifics of your DAC's modulator, in theory your audio system will be better able to reproduce the original recording than, say when the chain ends at a piece of software on your computer which hands off a PCM stream to a DAC that's for all intents and purposes a black box.

[doggiehowser]

Originally Posted by Family Progtitioner

Why? Isn't the mqa being decoded in the software and then a simple pcm stream sent to one's dac? I don't understand the role of the mqa dac besides decoding the stream further down the chain than the software.

In the original MQA spec, there is a reconstructing filter in the DAC process that is optimised for that specific MQA encoding. If I recall correctly they are variations of Meridian's apodising filter optimized for hires filed.

An MQA DAC will read the filter and apply it during the decoding process.

A software MQA decode will not use that information.

[Soundserge]

Originally Posted by doggiehowser

In the original MQA spec, there is a reconstructing filter in the DAC process that is optimised for that specific MQA encoding. If I recall correctly they are variations of Meridian's apodising filter optimized for hires filed.

An MQA DAC will read the filter and apply it during the decoding process.

A software MQA decode will not use that information.

According to the Q&A with Bob Stuart on computeraudiophile, MQA does not use apodizing filters.

[Still-One]

Originally Posted by doggiehowser

In the original MQA spec, there is a reconstructing filter in the DAC process that is optimised for that specific MQA encoding. If I recall correctly they are variations of Meridian's apodising filter optimized for hires filed.

An MQA DAC will read the filter and apply it during the decoding process.

A software MQA decode will not use that information.

Yep. From what I have read the decoding used in the Tidal ap assumes a generic DAC.

[bodiezaffa]

Originally Posted by Still-One

On my system Idina shows up as MQA 96k.

Is there a dedicated light on your unit to show MQA signal is being received?

[bodiezaffa]

Originally Posted by 1KW

The new music server/streamer from NAD that was just announced looks very interesting, roon ready, MQA and a lot of other nice features but it requires you to use your own DAC which many prefer here anyway. Price looks reasonable for what your getting

NAD Master Series M50.2
Digital music player with 2TB storage, CD ripper, Wi-Fi[emoji768], and Bluetooth[emoji768]


NAD Master Series M50.2 - Control music playback via Bluesound app, included remote, or touch-panel display
NAD Master Series M50.2 - Back



* * * * *



$3,999.99

Product Highlights:
* music storage device with slot-loading CD drive and 2TB internal hard drive
* 2TB of mirrored backup storage
* rip CDs into 24-bit/192kHz storage
* plays high-resolution music from CDs, internal storage, network storage devices, connected USB drive, or streaming services
* built-in dual-band Wi-Fi[emoji768] for solid wireless connection to your home network
* high-fidelity Bluetooth aptX[emoji768] audio coding for greater sonic detail with compatible devices
* supported sample rates: 32kHz to 192kHz
* supported bit depths: 16-24
* solid cabinet and heavy-duty front-panel keep discs stable and reduces distortion or jitter
* efficient internal processing for seamless, high-performance playback
Bluesound Wireless Whole Home Music System:
* control the system with a free BluOS app for your smartphone, tablet, or computer (Android[emoji769], iOS[emoji768], Kindle Fire, Windows[emoji768], and Mac[emoji768])
* also controls other Bluesound players on your home network
* plays MP3, AAC, WMA, OGG, WMA-L, FLAC, ALAC, MQA, WAV, and AIFF files
* plays Internet radio stations from TuneIn Radio and iHeart Radio
* Spotify[emoji768] Connect support (Spotify app and premium account required)
* plays streaming music from TIDAL, Rdio[emoji769], HighResAudio, Deezer, JUKE, Slacker Radio, Qobuz, and Murfie
* play and send music to multiple rooms when you add other Bluesound players
Connections and General Information:
* touch-panel display for play/pause/skip and other music playback controls
* front- and back-panel USB type A ports for connecting a thumb drive with music files
* USB 2.0 type B input
* digital audio inputs: 1 optical, 1 coaxial
* stereo RCA inputs
* audio outputs:
* 1 HDMI 1.4 audio
* 1 coaxial digital audio
* 1 optical digital audio
* 1 balanced AES/EBU
* USB output for mass storage mode
* Ethernet port for a wired connection to a home network (Ethernet cable included)
* requires AC power (AC adapter included)
* remote control
* 17-1/8"W x 4-9/16"H x 12-1/16"D
* weight: 17.9 lbs.

With my NAD M51 DAC, master files show up as either 88.1 or 96.

I wonder how this streamer would work with the DAC. I assume the higher Rez files like 192kh would show up on my display.

As of now, master files do sound better, no question.

[Still-One]

Originally Posted by bodiezaffa

Is there a dedicated light on your unit to show MQA signal is being received?

Actually my 808v6 display reads out MQA and the original rate ( MQA. 192k) when it receives a MQA file.