Whither MQA

[davidavdavid]

It would appear that MQA has gone into administration:
MQA LIMITED | Appointment of Administrators | The Gazette
and for more historical insights
MQA LIMITED overview - Find and update company information - GOV.UK (company-information.service.gov.uk)

What does this mean:

1. TIDAL streaming service can drop MQA
2. ESS, AKM and other sundry DAC chip manufacturers can drop MQA from future chip designs
3, DAC manufacturers can drop MQA as a feature in their brochures, marketing materials, messaging, etc. —— much like 3rd period French

 

[Kingsrule]

MQA sucked from the start A total scam.... A bunch of industry "experts" touted it as the best...LMAO

And actually Who cares??

Kiss this chapter goodbye

 

[Rexp]

Tidal's server capacity will have to multiply somewhat, I expect they will increase prices for hi-rez.

 

[Al M.]

MQA sucked from the start A total scam.... A bunch of industry "experts" touted it as the best...LMAO

And actually Who cares??

Kiss this chapter goodbye

Yes, goodbye.

Finally! Great news. Couldn't wait for the demise. Hopefully this is it.

 

[Audire]

This in all probability will affect Tidal. In our experience, Tidal has sounded better than Qobuz in the last year or so .…. While we have both Tidal and Qobuz, I’m not sure if Tidal will survive w/o MQA… We normally don’t access MQA (don’t need it) but it seems to be Tidal’s claim to fame …

MQA Limited

 

[tima]

A bunch of industry "experts" touted it as the best...

Not intended as a dig -- from an editorial perspective I wonder how Robert Harley will respond to this news.

 

[Gregadd]

This in all probability will affect Tidal. In our experience, Tidal has sounded better than Qobuz in the last year or so .…. While we have both Tidal and Qobuz, I’m not sure if Tidal will survive w/o MQA… We normally don’t access MQA (don’t need it) but it seems to be Tidal’s claim to fame …

MQA Limited

Tidal will be fine without that albatross around its' neck.
As for MQA " The wages of sin is death." Figuratively speaking.
Did you hear that Mobile Fidelity.
Hopefully we are. seeing a Renaissance from the era of "alternative facts."

 

[Lee]

I have been a fan of MQA since hearing Peter McGrath’s recordings. The MQA encoded tracks sound significantly better than the unencoded versions. What Stuart and Craven created was innovative.

The real question is who will buy the company, if any? If acquired, it is possible investors will get a nice return and the format may continue.

 

[davidavdavid]

MQA LIMITED​

The Broadgate Tower Third Floor, 20 Primrose Street, London, EC2A 2RS

---

Age 8 Year(s), Directors 5, Company No. 09123512

The information in the table below is taken from Companies House in the UK. It is the official repository for the registration and filings of companies over there. I linked to the site in my original post at the top of this thread.

Key Financials: Note the steady decline of the Net Worth of MQA Limited from 2019 thru 2021. This doesn't make for the most inviting acquisition unless MQA is sold for a song; and whether or not that "track" is encoded and/or unfolded, is above my paygrade.

Thank you very much indeed.

 

[Gregadd]

I have been a fan of MQA since hearing Peter McGrath’s recordings. The MQA encoded tracks sound significantly better than the unencoded versions. What Stuart and Craven created was innovative.

The real question is who will buy the company, if any? If acquired, it is possible investors will get a nice return and the format may continue.

If MQA is indeed superior, why did they not tell the truth? Their superiority should have been self evident without the assistance embellishment. It I s a sign of the times. People don't mind being lied to as long as it serves their interests.

 

[Joe Whip]

I can’t really comment on Peter McGrath’s recordings as I haven’t heard them. I will say that the MQA files I have heard were very unimpressive.

 

[Gregm]

MQA is a lossy codec that wasn't bad (comment based on my limited exposure!) -- but I couldn't justify paying a premium when I can have MP3 etc for free.
However, I much prefer to put the premium towards acquiring additional storage space to accommodate lossless files -- simpler, no?.

 

[Gregadd]

I never bought into the whole lossy vs lossless nonsense anyway.

 

[bryans]

I never understood why the big fuss with MQA. If you don't like it don't use it, simple as that. Maybe I'm one of the few who don't really care what others think. I simply listen to something and if I like it great, if not no big deal. I don't use it.

 

[Gregadd]

I never understood why the big fuss with MQA. If you don't like it don't use it, simple as that. Maybe I'm one of the few who don't really care what others think. I simply listen to something and if I like it great, if not no big deal. I don't use it.

True. I think ther got my money anyway. Tidal and iFivAudi charged me for it anyway.

 

[Elliot G.]

I never understood why the big fuss with MQA. If you don't like it don't use it, simple as that. Maybe I'm one of the few who don't really care what others think. I simply listen to something and if I like it great, if not no big deal. I don't use it.

I have both Qobuz and Tidal. Tidal has a lot of MQA and you can easily play the same music on one service and the other and hear the differences. I agree pick what you like the rest in my mind doesn't matter either.

 

[bryans]

True. I think ther got my money anyway. Tidal and iFivAudi charged me for it anyway.

My current setup plays MQA and I use Tidal and Qobuz. When I find something I want to favorite and it has multiple formats, I tend to listen to all of them and use the one I like best. I have found music on Tidal, Qobuz, MQA, and everything in between that I like. I personally don't really care what format it is. Whatever sounds best to me is what I like and use.

 

[Rt66indierock]

This in all probability will affect Tidal. In our experience, Tidal has sounded better than Qobuz in the last year or so .…. While we have both Tidal and Qobuz, I’m not sure if Tidal will survive w/o MQA… We normally don’t access MQA (don’t need it) but it seems to be Tidal’s claim to fame …

MQA Limited

Tidal Music's revenues declined in the fourth quarter of 2022.

 

[Rt66indierock]

Not intended as a dig -- from an editorial perspective I wonder how Robert Harley will respond to this news.

You can safely assume Robert and many others are not looking forward to seeing me at shows. MQA was always a thought examination in high-end audio. You like it you failed.

The investors were gullible to have invested the amount of money they did.

 

[Al M.]

You can safely assume Robert and many others are not looking forward to seeing me at shows. MQA was always a thought examination in high-end audio. You like it you failed.

The investors were gullible to have invested the amount of money they did.

Yes, MQA is the Walk of Shame for many audio reviewers.

I still think Robert Harley is generally a good reviewer, but with MQA he has lots of egg on his face. So do John Atkinson, Peter McGrath and others.