Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Streaming What HiFi announces Tidal available on Sooloos in 'early 2015'

I interpret that they are going to have "Hi-Res" streaming, of which MQA will be a sub-component, whose percentage should increase as files become available. I also understand the band width issue with hi-res is reduced/eliminated by the new compression technology, so it is technically possible to stream in less robust wireless environments. Thank god for nerds! Should one need to clarify or correct what I said, please do.

On another note, I found it interesting the comment in another thread that conductors are the ultimate in trained listeners as relates to timing information. As an inexperienced, ungifted bass drummer in a high school band, in order not to be caught off beat, you had to learn to follow the melody from instrument to instrument as it was "handed off" in orchestra concert pieces.

It's a nice idea, but it would not allow the vendors and streaming providers to differentiate in $ terms between the different qualities.

In the short term, Tidal cannot only stream MQA if it wants to add a tier on top of its existing "CD quality" offering, because customers with MQA decoders get analogue lossless!

Edit: I wonder if they could "nobble" the MQA stream for non-premium subscribers to prevent it being decoded?

It is more than likely that one or more are beta testing MQA via Tidal but it is very unlikely anyone is at liberty to confirm until the official announcement.

I found this quote in a CES report from Computer AudiophileI imagine he saw Sooloos 3.0, not 2.2? The same author wasn't impressed with MQA, but he didn't comment on the SQ per se. FWIW.

Soundserge

"The next generation" could only be a description of 3.0

2.2 adds only Tidal and MQA support, I believe.

Ludwig,

I agree with your assessment, as Enno posted last year about a "ground-up rewrite" of Sooloos, which will likely not be versioned 2.2. It's the first time I've heard anyone outside of Meridian seeing next gen Sooloos though. Nice to know that M was confident enough to demo it and that at least one person found it "awesome".

Soundserge

I assume the 7200SE must do a lot of upsampling / apodizing on the 128k MP3, to make it so close to the MQA.

I love the notion that the CA reviewer remains "unconvinced" about MQA because it's not "lossless in the traditional sense of the word."

This is exactly the sort of issue that Meridian should be addressing by unequivocally proving the benefits of MQA especially to those with vested interests or are otherwise blinkered by other experiences. And it is clear that they are not addressing that and damage is already being done.

Also in the article I noticed Though it could theoretically be accurate, it's unlikely that Linn had this person working for them.
Looks like he has lossless proof-reading...

Sir Ron,

Even better, the reviewer did an A-B-A test on the "Lynn" (sic) system and seems to have preferred the first "A" to the second "A"...

But he also writes,
Emphasis mine.

I can understand his skepticism, as that comparison is no comparison at all. Everything out there is going to sound better than 128kbs MP3s. If M don't want to compare it to other lossless solutions or CD, then yank the bit-starved files and demo MQA on its own; being as good as others have claimed it to be, it should sell itself. Once you feel that the other party is being disingenuous, your willingness to be persuaded shuts down somewhat.