DizRotus Posted October 16, 2016 Share Posted October 16, 2016 What does anyone know about MQA audio? Searches of MQA and Master Quality Authenticated audio on this forum produce nothing. Google searches suggest a system to stream hi-rez files. I'm surprised there seems to be no discussion here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
derrickdj1 Posted October 16, 2016 Share Posted October 16, 2016 Do you have this or have streamed Hi rez audio over the internet. Satellite internet service may not be good enough for this and I would think you need the 5 gHz router. It's taken several years of testing but, I can take it or leave. I have found that good mp3 of the ACC and VBR are practically indistinguishable in SQ. I will collect HD audio but, I won't pay high prices for music files or streaming anymore. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris A Posted October 16, 2016 Share Posted October 16, 2016 Neil, It's pretty new (2014 patent application), and it's actually a "hi-resolution lossy format". Here is a very long-winded critique: http://www.audiomisc.co.uk/MQA/origami/ThereAndBack.html Since I'm not presently into streaming music, this subject really isn't very high on my priorities, but I could see where HDtracks or something similar might want to offer a "hi-rez streaming service", and this might be a marketing tool. But it seems to me like it's chasing ever-smaller bits of hi-fi that most listeners probably really can't distinguish in a test environment on real loudspeakers in real rooms, and...this is most important...on music that's been significantly altered in fidelity from the original recorded tracks during the mixing/mastering/distribution process. Witness the resurgence of vinyl: if you like the sound of vinyl, it's my conjecture that what you really want isn't "analog sound", or "hi-rez" but rather dynamic range and the near absence of mastering equalization. Especially the kind of mastering EQ meant for sales to relatively lo-fi hardware--like earbuds, MP3 players, and the type of music genres mastered on near-field Yamaha NS-10M monitors, or perhaps yet-again-remastered recordings from 30-45 years ago. The different aspects of this new version of "hi-fi" seem to be even more significantly out of balance with each other than ever before. YMMV. Chris 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Schu Posted October 16, 2016 Share Posted October 16, 2016 I read about Meridian some time ago but had been waiting for more proliferation... I had read good things about it initially. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thaddeus Smith Posted October 16, 2016 Share Posted October 16, 2016 54 minutes ago, Chris A said: if you like the sound of vinyl, it's my conjecture that what you really want isn't "analog sound", or "hi-rez" but rather dynamic range and the near absence of mastering equalization. Very much this. And it's precisely this detail that often gets lost in the whole vinyl vs. digital (CD, FLAC, etc) argument. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris A Posted October 17, 2016 Share Posted October 17, 2016 I've found that disc and digital media formats are a really small part of hi-fi, but how the music industry uses those media formats varies wildly. Unfortunately, for those that prefer the more popular music genres recorded within the last 25 years (since 1991), discussion of the current state is a pretty grim one. However, use of the DR database to help you find the best available recordings, i.e., highest crest factor, is a real blessing. As far as streaming music goes, I don't see any market forces pushing for hi-fi. However, the cost of producing hi-fi versions and providing it to consumers is almost zero. All you have to do is stop "mastering", and provide the mixdown version to the consumer...problem solved. Chris 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dawson's Ridge Posted October 17, 2016 Share Posted October 17, 2016 Some discussion on MQA at Real HD-Audio. www.realhd-audio.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marvel Posted October 17, 2016 Share Posted October 17, 2016 I have a few CDs we brought back from the Philippines (recorded and produced, mastered there). They sound really good, but I haven't had the time to run them through the DR software to see how they rate. I'll try to get a couple done this week. Bruce Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Schu Posted October 19, 2016 Share Posted October 19, 2016 I just discovered my astell kern will support MQA... I will have to get a file or three to see if it sounds any better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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