Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion MQA - Related technology, products and music Coldplay MQA

Is this the place to comment on new MQA music?
If so, the new Coldplay album on MQA is their most sophisticated to date. Worth checking out.
“Daddy” will likely become an icon, it brought me to tears...

The influence of DSOTM is unmistakable...

Hi Nstzya

Forums / HiFi and HT Chat / Recommended Music.

Hector

Have a look at the Bobtalks blog. Info about the MQA process for this album. (There we are... back on topic) 😀

As a Coldplay fan I have been listening to this album a fair bit ... in my opinion not their best, but more important concerning MQA the rendition on some tracks is quite muddled even on an 818v3. The “studio production” could (should) have been better.

Listened on 5K2SEs with 818v3 and 218 ... actually on this album the 818 shows a rare improvement over the 218 in overall SQ particularly at high volume eg Trouble in Town.

Best.
Huw

Curious as I thought the general consensus was that the 818 was superior to 218 in every way.

I also recall that M thought the 218 was very slightly below the MS600 in the CD quality reproduction hierarchy of things. MQA aside .
Or was this just my ownership bias.
Hector

Comments on 218....

Actually I was astonished at the lack of difference between the 818 and 218 - our listening tests (with Tidal MQA) here do not meet pre conceived expectations so far. The more complex the music the more that difference is apparent - but it is still very small... and one is at risk of trying to hear a difference because there should be one!

I also have an MS600, which I have used historically with various speaker combinations and not found it wanting. Of course it can’t deliver MQA, but that does not mean it’s a bad piece of kit by any means.

I have been using the 218 for over one year- always with the 5K2SEs - in two quite different room environments - one hard one soft - each has its ups and downs in SQ and enjoyment of the music.

I have not conducted the mentioned analogue speaker tests yet as that involves some more shifting about - but I will. In this ‘test room” which is also hard with wooden floor, I have been using direct feed from the MS 600 into recently recapped 18bit 5Ks and recapped 24/96 (Revivers deployed). The latter gives more detail but the 18bit is arguable more “musical” ... both are enjoyable in different ways.

I believe MQA on either device draws sharp attention to the quality of the original recording ... which can be quite variable, hence my original comment about lates Coldplay album.

I should just add, “ Beaty is in the eye of the beholder” so to speak. What I mean is that in my environment with my and other family ears we find the difference quite hard to appreciate. That does not mean the 818 is not a superb device , and others may certainly discern and enjoy the SQ more than our personal experience.
Best regards and best for New Year
Huw