20-Jan-2016, 20:51
I tried one 2L file (Britten: Simple Symphony, Op. 4) and listened to it via Mac/Audirvana+. The 24/96 version sounded much better than the MQA. So at least for that piece not decoded MQA had a similar sound quality to MP3. On CA there are several threads including this one (with measurements): http://www.computeraudiophile.com/blogs/...-flac-674/
Apparently MQA files need some decoding to sound as good or better than redbook. MQA now stresses the end to end i.e. AD and then DA conversions must be maintained in MQA technology. The first version would be a conversion in a server/streamer with a MQA licensed/approved software (Roon?) including some compensation of the DAC performance or the second version is MQA decoding at the DAC level. I wonder if these 2 options are sonically similar. The first option would be possible through appropriate streamers or computer software semi-independed of Devialet (except some knowledge of DAC performance) the second option would require Devialet to fully license MQA and implement it. Devialet has not made any statement about MQA (ignoring it?).
One problem would be any DSP like for speakers (SAM), room or cross-over would influence time behavior and how that would be reflected in MQA decoding!
Apparently MQA files need some decoding to sound as good or better than redbook. MQA now stresses the end to end i.e. AD and then DA conversions must be maintained in MQA technology. The first version would be a conversion in a server/streamer with a MQA licensed/approved software (Roon?) including some compensation of the DAC performance or the second version is MQA decoding at the DAC level. I wonder if these 2 options are sonically similar. The first option would be possible through appropriate streamers or computer software semi-independed of Devialet (except some knowledge of DAC performance) the second option would require Devialet to fully license MQA and implement it. Devialet has not made any statement about MQA (ignoring it?).
One problem would be any DSP like for speakers (SAM), room or cross-over would influence time behavior and how that would be reflected in MQA decoding!
