This MQA thing is going to be good IMO. But is does throw up another layer of chaos in the already complex paths to perfect (or better) digital audio. I was close to pulling the trigger on a DSD complaint DAC, but now think I will stay on NOS Redbook and stream 96K. Yes, DACs that can apply all 3 of the processes may well sound better, but if by applying only the first process it is an improvement on my already good Redbook sound, I may well stay on that.
IMO it will come down to really good DAC designs making the most of the full MQA process to stay at the top of what is possible and get us closer to the master tape. Darko has reviewed MQA and already, even though he liked it, said he preferred the sound from the Aqua La Scala on Redbook NOS. i.e. it still obviously needs a decent DAC design as well as the new process to extract the data and leverage the advantages. Pretty obvious I guess.
I am curious how an NOS DAC will sound with MQA at 96k. I may be in the minority here, but I seem to prefer NOS and non filtered DACs. I may be convinced by the full MQA processing after hearing it. Until then, I feel I may stay with MQA on old tech NOS and at 96k. But I am open being proved wrong, only a demo would do that.
In the big MQA interview on computer audiophiles website, it seems MQA boys are saying any up sampling is time smearing the data. It is buried in there, almost a footnote.
http://www.computeraudiophile.com/content/694-comprehensive-q-mqa-s-bob-stuart/#anchor20
IMO it will come down to really good DAC designs making the most of the full MQA process to stay at the top of what is possible and get us closer to the master tape. Darko has reviewed MQA and already, even though he liked it, said he preferred the sound from the Aqua La Scala on Redbook NOS. i.e. it still obviously needs a decent DAC design as well as the new process to extract the data and leverage the advantages. Pretty obvious I guess.
I am curious how an NOS DAC will sound with MQA at 96k. I may be in the minority here, but I seem to prefer NOS and non filtered DACs. I may be convinced by the full MQA processing after hearing it. Until then, I feel I may stay with MQA on old tech NOS and at 96k. But I am open being proved wrong, only a demo would do that.
In the big MQA interview on computer audiophiles website, it seems MQA boys are saying any up sampling is time smearing the data. It is buried in there, almost a footnote.
http://www.computeraudiophile.com/content/694-comprehensive-q-mqa-s-bob-stuart/#anchor20
