Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion MQA - Related technology, products and music MQA listening impressions (without a MQA decoder)

Asa

I personally think the "better than CD quality" claim is valid on those albums I have listened to but I am quite prepared to accept that this is not the case with all material and on all systems. In a way, I think it is probably better for the moderators to remain impartial in the interests of discussion rather than to heavily endorse something such as this. Anyone can download the free material and try it for themselves (and please post your impressions) and those that are really interested can buy the 16/44 versions and make a direct comparison. It's a pity that the test albums are all classical - and therefore probably unfamiliar to many on this forum - but nevertheless they are still informative.

The more interesting test, in my view, is how full fat MQA sounds against the equivalent hi res recording. In four hours of listening to MQA versus standard hi res (on two separate occasions) I found it harder to tell the difference between the two versions and on some material could not reliably tell which was which, or indeed, which I preferred. It was certainly harder to determine than the difference between undecoded MQA and 16/44. Which leads me to the tentative conclusion that most of the benefits are in the first stage de-blurring process - and are therefore available to all on current systems. Of course, this view may change with more extended listening.

The fact that it's hard to differentiate between un decoded MQA 44/24 and hi res 192/24 file (Which has been my limited experience) is a big plus for the streaming world.

It would appear MQA will benefit everyone even without decoding? It certainly won't hurt CD quality listeners but I can see why purveyors of traditional high res music are nervous. Real Competition has arrived in a market where there was little.

Just thoughts, Chris 😊

So what is Meridians take on how do we play MQA files efficiently on non MQA hardware card system. Do we turn upsampling off? Is there an MQA aware FW coming that correctly configures output when playing an MQA file to the best of the systems capability?

Specifically how, do we configure an 861v8 system upsampling in an optimal way to handle the MQA signal?

Hi,

They could have a 'MQA' setting that was similar to 'Direct' mode which allowed the audio stream to pass through the processor untouched without engaging the up sampling.

Brian

I just played the 44/24 MQA files as is for my comparisons, I left up sample on. It is supposed to be backwards compatible after all.
The 192/24 files would have been down sampled as well.
Just for clarity. Chris

I managed to have a comparative listen last night....not for long though.

I have some 24/96 files and now MQA files of the same tracks, downloaded from 2L.

(looking for comparable 24/192 tracks to test against)

The MQA file was upsampled....818 displayed 44k, and 8000SE's displayed 88k.....is this helping or hindering??

To me on some tracks, there was little to no difference.....pretty impressive considering the file size difference.

On Track 2 (the violin concerto), after repeat listening....not expecting any difference, i felt the MQA track definitely had more space between the instruments.

Not necessarily more/bigger soundstage, just more 'air' around each instrument/note.

This is probably down to the temporal de-blurring....i imagine.

Overall i was impressed with what i heard.

Now Looking forward to hear some more familiar tracks to compare HI-Res vs MQA.

I think Bob has delivered on his promise of MQA being better than CD.....maybe being a touch conservative.

How much better can the full fat MQA sound?

Interesting comments. IMHO the "Violin Concerto" offers the best un-decoded improvement that I have heard to date re soundstage definition. Reminded me of the EMM Labs DAC. How much is down to the DAC or MQA is the question.

Full MQA Fat Aged Stilton is another matter.

Hector

I had a friend over today and I did some blind testing on him. He was convinced the MQA Alegro track was the highest resolution. The final reveal was a surprise to him.
Chris.

Initial results of listening to some of the 2L tracks was that I couldn't really place the very slight differences I thought I was hearing. My brain had a slight preference for the MQA version over CD but I was really unsure what the higher resolution files were offering... (Pretty much my same conclusion as with my Linn Records high res material with some exceptions).

Repeatedly playing the CD quality version so that I became familiar with it and then switching to the MQA version at worst confirms that MQA folding hasn't had any detrimental impact and at best adds more precision to complex sounds such as chords or fast piano / string pieces.

With the Dog Days Are Over and the Haydn String pieces I had a very slight preference for the undecoded MQA version, but it is very slight. On the others I'm struggling to find a preference.

Certainly I couldn't report the same differences as others have, possibly down to my system being inferior or my ears...

Keen to hear fully unfolded and decoded MQA though.

Tested with MC200, MS200, AC200 DSP5200SE

Tomorrow I'll bypass the AC200.

Whilst far from ideal, a quick comparison of the Carl Nielsen Piano Music files on my work computer, from the computer sound card via VLC suggests that the MQA version manages to transmit more emotion. I think it is quite clear in the first 40 seconds or so. Will try tonight via toslink out of my mac into musical fidelity DAC tonight into my big rig to try and confirm.

Just listened again on the big rig and the difference is night and day. It sounds like a totally different pianist. I don't listen to classical but it was easy to feel the extra emotion. It just flows better and is more pleasant. The full treatment must be remarkable.

I really hope my catalogue can receive this treatment but with its bias to electronica and pop music I am not too confident.

As I said earlier, I think this was easily distinguishable through a laptop sound card and £40 earbuds, so maybe if we can get these demos in front of regular folk, there might be more of a chance of it really taking off.

Listening session 2
Undecoded MQA v CD
MC200 MS200 direct into 5200SE

Removed the AC200 from the chain, played this a little louder tonight and sat in the optimum listening position.

Only had time for a quick listen to the Carl Nielsen piano piece but I'm really hearing an improvement in the MQA files over CD quality ones. The decay between phrases has more ambience and the tonal quality is better. Loud, busy passages sound less blurred. I had to switch back and forth to be sure. Not sure what was wrong the other day. Will back track at the weekend.

If only the decoder firmware was coming to the MS200... I can't justify 8 grand for an 818v3... Hoping there will be some middle ground.

But it's all arbitrary until there's more MQA material, although I have enjoyed listening to the 2L tracks. At least there's an improvement to be had until such a time as I can get an affordable MQA decoder to feed the SEs.

p.s. did anyone else find that the metadata got messed up upon importing into Sooloos? I realised the track names for the Nielsen pieces are completely wrong.
I obviously need to enter them manually!