Meridian MQA

[TDA]

can we be sure that MQA files from tidal can be streamed on Streamers who has tidal Support?

is it only software or does the player somehow need a hardware update also? i am only asking because i think i read a article where it was written that the player needs the hardware capabilities . then maybe it isn't a good idea to buy a streamer right now

[Pim]

can we be sure that MQA files from tidal can be streamed on Streamers who has tidal Support?

is it only software or does the player somehow need a hardware update also? i am only asking because i think i read a article where it was written that the player needs the hardware capabilities . then maybe it isn't a good idea to buy a streamer right now

I think the hardware needs to be upgradable, which most streamers nowadays are. Meridian just put out a press release that some firmware upgrades are available for their hard wares. If I were in the market for a streamer right now, I would contact the manufacturer and ask about their plans.

[pvanosta]

I have been tracking the evolution of MQA for a while now, as well as reading all I can across the various forums in English and French.

In one of those posts, I came across a reference to the website of a Norwegian audiophile label, where they offer free downloads of half a dozen tracks in a variety of formats (including 16-44 flac, 24-192 flac, DSD64 / 128 / 256 and MQA).

For the curious among you (and I am one of them), it could be fun to listen to the same tracks in the various formats on YOUR system, to see whether:
1. you can hear differences
2. which file format you prefer in your environment
3. how you experience un-decoded MQA in your system


The link is here:

http://www.2l.no/hires/

I am in no way affiliated with this company. Just a curious audiophile.
I would be interested in your listening experiences with these files and am happy to share mine.

[alandbush]

I understand that MQA works best when decoded, but the good folks at MQA also say that MQA-encoded files will sound better than conventional files even when NOT decoded.

So for anyone wishing to test MQA in this fashion, you can go to the 2L site (link below -- you will see MQA files in the middle of the FREE download page) and give it a whirl.

I will try some of the MQA files when I return home on Thursday from a business trip.

http://www.2l.no/hires/index.html

I have been tracking the evolution of MQA for a while now, as well as reading all I can across the various forums in English and French.

In one of those posts, I came across a reference to the website of a Norwegian audiophile label, where they offer free downloads of half a dozen tracks in a variety of formats (including 16-44 flac, 24-192 flac, DSD64 / 128 / 256 and MQA).

For the curious among you (and I am one of them), it could be fun to listen to the same tracks in the various formats on YOUR system, to see whether:
1. you can hear differences
2. which file format you prefer in your environment
3. how you experience un-decoded MQA in your system


The link is here:

http://www.2l.no/hires/

I am in no way affiliated with this company. Just a curious audiophile.
I would be interested in your listening experiences with these files and am happy to share mine.

Refer back to entry #35 and the following, of this thread, for just such comments and observations.

[pvanosta]

Apologies for the double post.

[Murforce]

How do we lobby with Devialet to license MQA and add it to their internal DAC so we can at least begin to play with this?

[Hifi_swlon]

How do we lobby with Devialet to license MQA and add it to their internal DAC so we can at least begin to play with this?

Unless users here want to get into a more formal way of 'petitioning' Devialet for features etc, your only options really are:

• express your interest here (Devialet may or may not read it)
  
• email Devialet directly (to any contact details you can find)
  
• stick something on their Facebook page?
  
• voice the opinion to Devialet dealers (especially if you purchased via a dealer), and ask that they pass it on.
  

Follow-up on all of the above.

Beyond that I'm not really sure what else you can do.

My hunch is their Facebook page will have far more effect since its public facing.  In fact, I'm surprised more people don't voice their opinions there…..

For what its worth, MQA's low down on my list - not least since there's very little out there in the format (and until Tidal start streaming it) - but thats not to say it wouldn't be a nice feature to have.  Plus its one of those features that since you can't really attempt to hear the alleged benefit of full MQA-ness unless your DAC decodes it, its hard to say whether its a worthwhile feature or not until you've got it.

There's something thats very much in your favour here though - MQA is already a TLA, and in Devialet terms, thats practically a done deal surely!

[Flashman]

How do we lobby with Devialet to license MQA and add it to their internal DAC so we can at least begin to play with this?

I am not sure that Devialet necessarily needs to modify the DAC to decode the MQA files.  The MQA website says the decoding can occur in "hardware, software player or app."  Here's the link.

Okay, so hardware could be the DAC in the Devialet. 

As to software player, I know, for example, that Bluesound will have decoding but they have already said it won't be in their DAC, which is great news for me because I bypass their DAC, using the DAC in the Devialet.  So, at least for me, I will have end-to-end MQA with Tidal (MQA files) streaming to my Bluesound Node 2 (with MQA decoding) feeding the Devialet DAC.  Now, could Devialet implement the MQA decoding somewhere in their software outside of the DAC?  Don't know...

Finally, MQA indicates that an "app" can decode MQA.  Not sure what they mean by that or how it would happen.

[Hifi_swlon]

From the hundreds of posts I've seen about MQA elsewhere, the best I can gather is that MQA themselves haven't been clear on exactly how software decoding would work. So far it seems the only DACs that are able to fully decode MQA do it in hardware enabled via firmware updates.

[ogs]

In Devialet MQA would probably have to be decoded in the DSP before any of the other PCM functions such as SAM etc. About the same position in the signal path as DSD conversion takes place. My understanding is this would be 'in hardware' even if the code is not running in the DAC itself. As for software decoding I think Auralic actually had MQA decoding in their Aries streamer at CES, but Meridian/MQA intervened before Auralic could do demonstrations. The question here is how Auralic would go about using the correct dac "signature" as this is an important part of MQA playback.
I also believe MQA "integrity" would be broken if an MQA encoded file is run through a convolver or similar DSP processing. I have sent an email to MQA asking about this. I'll post the response here (if they bother to answer)..