What does this have to do in any way what so ever with MQA?
Nada. Full 24/192 and DSD streaming is possible with no issues. No lossy pseudo formats, no speical
DACs needed, no special software needed.
MQA discussion
- Thread starter asiufy
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What does this have to do in any way what so ever with MQA?
Nada. Full 24/192 and DSD streaming is possible with no issues. No lossy pseudo formats, no speical
DACs needed, no special software needed.
Peter, you just mentioned MQA in the multichannel world. There is an audience for multichannel music, but it is an audio niche. It is similar to what multichannel music is for stereo fans as 3D movies are for 2D fans.
Those interested in peaceful first hand information on MQA can freely download the issue 11 of the german Stereo magazine, that includes interviews with several individuals pro and against MQA. An interesting article https://stereo-magazine.com/index.php?eID=dumpFile&t=f&f=5019&token=5c0b0c391c082b189b3d9722e41a851155b358da&download=
As expected, the critical part of the debate is moving to the subjective - how do we really want our systems to play?
As expected, the critical part of the debate is moving to the subjective - how do we really want our systems to play?
Is the recording industry really interested in 24/192 streaming, giving consumers access to all the bits exactly as in their masters?
Qobuz in Europe already is doing it. There are several services about to launch in Japan, and Europe.
Spofity is in the process of tooling up for it.
So, uh, yes.
As far as I could see Qobuz hi-rez is mainly 24/96 - the 24/192 is less than 2%. And they charge usd 420 per year.
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No, you don't get it. since most want to stream using a phone, please talk about bandwidth limitations on the go. also, streaming DSD over wifi at home is hardly without incident.
and you absolutely need special equipment to stream DSD at home lol.
I for one don't see the appeal of hi-res on the go? As small as the market is for hi-res at all, streaming through a cellular connection would seem to be minuscule?
From www.audiostream.com:
HDtracks, the grandfather of hi-res download sites, will be launching their own streaming service, HDmusicStream, which will feature all MQA-encoded music all the time, later this year. HDtracks have chosen 7digital to provide app development, host the music catalogue on its platform, and deliver tracks to consumers. Here's Pete Downton, Deputy CEO of 7digital (as reported in StockMarketWire.com):
"We are excited today to be able to confirm our relationship with HDtracks. The Grammy Award-winning label Chesky Records—from HDtracks founders David and Norman Chesky—has, for many years, set the highest standards in high resolution audio. Their pursuit of excellence will soon be available to audiophile music fans in a streaming service for the first time".
HDtracks, the grandfather of hi-res download sites, will be launching their own streaming service, HDmusicStream, which will feature all MQA-encoded music all the time, later this year. HDtracks have chosen 7digital to provide app development, host the music catalogue on its platform, and deliver tracks to consumers. Here's Pete Downton, Deputy CEO of 7digital (as reported in StockMarketWire.com):
"We are excited today to be able to confirm our relationship with HDtracks. The Grammy Award-winning label Chesky Records—from HDtracks founders David and Norman Chesky—has, for many years, set the highest standards in high resolution audio. Their pursuit of excellence will soon be available to audiophile music fans in a streaming service for the first time".
I played the hell out of a cassette of Rush "Hold your fire" in my car back when came out in 1987...I was 16 and life was Goooood.
Finally MQA is explained and we can all rest easy
http://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/the-politics-of-mqa/
http://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/the-politics-of-mqa/
Brad, I've had some "fly by night" systems in my house, but "in the end", my final system is "making memories".
Btw, only the truly musically enlightened understand what we're wittering on about
Btw, only the truly musically enlightened understand what we're wittering on about
As I have posted elsewhere, some of the comments are better reading (and more accurate) than the editorial itself
To be honest the best comments I have read are by Ken Newton on the non subjective aspects of MQA processing.
If we are to summarise the issues
MQA has joined with the major record labels to convert files to MQA
Many streaming sites have begun streaming MQA
MQA Involves reprocessing and filtering both in software, and hardware domain which attempts to preserve time domain information. It gives this precedence over antialiasing and ultimate frequency extension, and enfolds the high frequency data into the LSB of the 24 bits. This is believed to be subjectively below the noise floor, but unproven at this stage.
This system involves some elements of compression. To package it down to lower freq download.
Although this in theory may involve some technical loss of information especially in high frequency dowmain, and precision, and ultimate noise floor, in absolute terms, this as stated above, is sacrificed in return for great time domain accuracy.
The reasons for this engineering decision making appears somewhat unclear, but appears to relate to four competing engineering concerns
1. To be able to easily stream
2. A standard for downloads sites, which eliminates the need for multiple formats
3. A closed system
4. Priority of sound quality as perceived, over ultimate technical specifications in digital domain.
This system, is closed, in that it requires licensing and hardware/ firmware solutions for ultimate performance
A software only un-enfolding appears to give a more limited alleged benefit, over full un-enfolding which currently requires some hardware/firmware modifications.
There are many reports at demonstrations and home listening of improved quality.
There are also reports of more patchy benefit
I am unaware of any direct comparison of hires formats against MQA and would be enlightened of any reports.
Here a listening test suggested by Gordon Rankin:
"Go to Amazon and buy Rebecca Pigeon's MQA cd. Rip it play it back with something that does not support MQA like iTunes or whatever. Then play it back with Audirvana or something else that supports MQA and the result is 24/176.4 from a 16/44.1 track. Then compare that to maybe the HD Tracks downloads at 24/96, 24/88.2 (I think the closest sounding to the MQA), or Bob Katz version at 24/176.4."
Of course you'll need to borrow a MQA DAC.
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