I was "introduced" to MQA by the May/June 2016 issue of The Absolute Sound (TAS 263) and it really peaked my interest...so I browsed the web and read everything I could on the format, very interesting approach to digital audio. I was somewhat concerned that it might go the way of SACD/DSD or some of the other hi-res formats, which never gained wide acceptance in the marketplace. When I read that Warner & Tidal had signed up to create/distribute MQA content, I was really excited, but not excited enough to ditch my really excellent DAC.
MQA is delivered in a FLAC (PCM) "wrapper". The source files of the music we’ve enjoyed in the past are remastered, with MQA being applied in the process. The MQA digital files contain the standard 48kHz/16bit FLAC format (so your non-MQA-compatible DAC can decode that portion of the digital content), and it also has content above 48kHz and "folds" it under the noise floor of the file that most any DAC can decode, as much of the music only uses about 10 bits of the 16-24 bits in the file format. If you have a non-MQA-compatible DAC, it will play that standard FLAC format, but not be able to decode the content "folded" under the noise floor, so you should be able to listen to an MQA file, but would not enjoy the additional benefits MQA offers (higher sample rate and reduction in digital "blur").
I spent a little time last night doing some comparisons on Tidal, the regular FLAC files vs. one’s on the "master" list, using my non-MQA-compatible DAC, and I don’t think I heard a difference, except that the volume level of the MQA files seemed to be a little lower and I’m not sure, but I also thought the extreme highs were not as bright with the MQA version (but that may actually have been the volume difference).
Just for grins I ordered a Meridian Explorer2 DAC (only $199 on Amazon), when it arrives (tomorrow), I hope to hear what all the excitement is with MQA!
I’ll post an update!
BTW, there are a few Youtubes on MQA:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_wxRGiBoJghttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5o6XHVK2HAhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xLq4LpdzWsIand excellent video from the creator of MQA, on the "origami" process:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BrgjycGhoSM