2. digital
  3. 134597-477

MQA•Foolish New Algorithm? Vote!

Vote please. Simply yes or no. Let’s get a handle on our collective thinking.
The discussions are getting nauseating. Intelligent(?) People are claiming that they can remove part of the music (digits), encode the result for transport over the net, then decode (reassemble) the digits remaining after transportation (reduced bits-only the unnecessary ones removed) to provide “Better” sound than the original recording.
If you feel this is truly about “better sound” - vote Yes.
If you feel this is just another effort by those involved to make money by helping the music industry milk it’s collection of music - vote no.
Lets know what we ‘goners’ think.
P.S. imho The “bandwidth” problem this is supposed to ‘help’ with will soon be nonexistent. Then this “process” will be a ‘solution’ to a non existing problem. I think it is truly a tempest in a teacup which a desperate industry would like to milk for all its worth, and forget once they can find a new way to dress the Emporer. Just my .02

ptss
jon2020's avatar
jon2020
982 posts
 
"I can clearly discern the audible differences between MQA coded file at 96kHz and it’s 44.1kHz counterpart file by enabling and disabling MQA Core decoder. "

@lalitk,
So you are comparing MQA 96 to non-MQA 44.1?
A more valid comparison would be between MQA 96 and non-MQA 96 PCM.

It always makes me wonder why any hobbyist in audio would want to bury their ears in the sand with respect to valid comparisons. The lack of curiosity is hard to comprehend.

However, I would hazard a guess that maybe, after paying for the MQA download, one would prefer not to investigate further just in case the new findings invalidate the purchase.
uberwaltz's avatar
uberwaltz
13,381 posts
 
So far I have found MQA played via Tidal through my Vault 2 "sounds" more refined and solid than non mqa version.
I have read the technical blurb
I cannot explain why in my system it sounds better....no more so than why I can explain a change in a simple fuse sounds better either.
At this juncture I do NOT CARE!
I will continue to play what sounds better to my ears on my system
Thank you
jon2020's avatar
jon2020
982 posts
 
So far I have found MQA played via Tidal through my Vault 2 "sounds" more refined and solid than non mqa version.

It doesn't really matter when you have an MQA dac as you can't really compare unless you have another non-MQA dac side by side. 
Anyway, we should always enjoy music that is enjoyable.
It is never necessary to compare what you are enjoying with anything else :)
uberwaltz's avatar
uberwaltz
13,381 posts
 
I am not truly comparing
Just adding my 3 cents on what I like the sound of.......
In my system to my ears
Nuff said
lalitk's avatar
lalitk
5,055 posts
 
@jon2020,

I don’t feel the need to further investigate or loose my sleep over $54.99 MQA Core Decoder upgrade. To my ears, most MQA coded files easily yield audible improvements in my system over Tidal 16bit/44.1kHz files.

And to answer your earlier question about why not compare MQA 96 vs non-MQA 96 PCM coded files is pretty simple...why pay for 96 PCM files when I can enjoy just as good MQA 96 files at no additional charge.

As you said, “It is never necessary to compare what you are enjoying with anything else :)”
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