Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion MQA - Related technology, products and music MQA listening impressions (with a MQA decoder)

Listening report from the Absolute Sound.

Great report. I see he is planning to give a full review of MQA in May/ June using the 808v6, which suggests that the 808v6 will be up and running by then.

Kevin,

He may be getting a preproduction version.

Another report via Audiostream. Peter McGrath's comments are interesting.

From that article:

Thanks for posting. It is certainly an enthusiastic response to MQA.

But the postings below the article are also of interest. I had no idea that MQA had been tested and found wanting. No doubt these tests are also open to challenge.

Nor did I realise that Linn are so openly hostile.

Good to see Wilson Audio so firmly behind MQA though.

Ivor Tiefenbraun was always an opinionated, outspoken character to the say the least IMO, and I always got the vibe from Linn that anything they didn't invent was worthless. I expect that his son, who was quoted, is a chip off the old block.

Cheers

George

Amen. They have been presenting their new Exakt system as if they invented active crossovers and room correction (done without microphone).

For the likes of Linn you also have the problem that should MQA become the great success that some have suggested, they can't tinker with it and put there own spin on it. The prospect of having to come on board with MQA and pay royalties to a major competitor without the realistic opportunity of saying "we do MQA better" would be quite galling.

Just thoughts, maybe I'm being cynical.

From what I read on forums there are a good number of people who just seem opposed to MQA. Perhaps they come from the Linn fold?

Personally I don't understand the hostility, if you don't want it, don't buy into it is my thought.

So I ask, what motivates this hostility?
I will trust the track records of the proposers for and against and trust my ears.

Thoughts, Chris 😎

I was debating the merits of MQA on an Apple audio related forum. The vitriol expressed there by many towards MQA was breathtaking (including professed audio engineers).

One of them complained bitterly that Meridian were only concerned with charging $11k for an MQA player. When I pointed out that an Explorer2 costs less than $400, this only served to enrage him even more.

The objection appears to be that many perceive MQA to be some form of propriety stranglehold on their audio files.

It will be interesting to see who follows the science and who just has an agenda. Chris 🙂