Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion MQA - Related technology, products and music Re: MQA status?

A interesting post here from Paul McGowan of PS Audio.

Are MQA scuppering their chances of this being a success by not issuing great test equipment? I have only heard good things from people with the Explorer 2 or Prime, but this bit of kit that is being issued out to manufacturers may not be up to scratch. I wonder if this is what Naim had to play with as well and why they are not choosing to pursue it?

PS Audio are receiving rave reviews at the moment, so they clearly know what they are doing. Hearing stuff like this is worrying, I don't class them to be in the same camp as all the internet trolls who are talking it down with no experience. I hope Paul follows it up and a positive experience can be achieved.

Phew. A quick scan through the comments section suggests there are still huge misconceptions about what MQA actually is, and little understanding of the varieties of files delivered under the MQA banner.

Cheers

George

I was a tad surprised by the apparent issues that they had with a MQA test board. Seems to tell a story that suggests the integration of MQA hardware into existing DAC hardware isn't an easy process. Or one of guaranteed success. The psaudio people seem pretty knowledge and in some ways, similar in their design and manufacturing theories as M.
Wasn't what I wanted to hear.

I think we can’t underestimate the impact of the introduction of MQA to the market from a business point of view.

We tend to look at the merit of the technology from an audiophile point of view in what it can do for us, in vacuum and from an increased capability for us.

From a business perspective, the issue is slightly different. Yes, they ultimately have to please and meet market expectations but they also have to swim in the shark infested water of the competition. MQA has the potential to change the DAC landscape by levelling the plane field or market differentiator that company spend generation to create. I think this can be perceived as an opportunity by some but a threat by others.

The other aspect is how MQA is marketing their technology to manufacturer and trying to penetrate the market. Royalties, fees etc is not something that we are privy to but regardless, I am quite certain that it is nor very clean or fair. We have seen Auralic, now PSAudio fighting what seem to be a no brainer from our perspective....

I am not saying that the evaluation is or is not valid, but that regardless how objective we perceive to be, there is always an angle for someone.

What I sincerely hope is that MQA has the foresight, and the sensitivity to read the market from all aspect and consider all of its stakeholders.

I think PS Audio did not appreciate having no digital out on the test board. They wanted pure PCM out. To run through their current DAC with minimum hassle. Now they got analog out...

This is an interesting thought. How far does MQA take "correcting the final digital to analogue conversion"? Does it take into account all of the properties of a DAC that make up its "sound" and make it sound nearly identical to the original?

If that is true, then there is theoretically no such thing as a superior DAC if it is playing MQA. The explorer2 sounds exactly like the 818 if they are both playing MQA through the same system?

That would be a tough pill to swallow for any digitally focused audio company. Meridian included.

My guess is the better the DAC system, the closer it will get. Aside of adjusting for the original ADC, a better DAC will also output less noise, have greater accuracy and suffer less from jitter.

I think leveling the playing field in this instance does not mean completely removing all audio affecting parameters but that it could significantly narrow the sound gap between "superior" and "less superior" DACs. There will still be people willing to spend extra on the wooden blocks to support their cables which have been cryogenically treated!

Absolute Sound MQA review coming soon
Saw this over at the magazine site. Next issues has a full review, will be mailed to subscribers March 30. At the link, there's a lengthy editorial about the meaning of it all.

And just took a quick read of the letters to editor at the link; many strong opinions over there, to be sure.

Strong opinions indeed!

Some of the opinions appear to come from individuals who would have problems walking and breathing at the same time...

blatant astroturfing and paranoia displayed. Amused to read that CD audio is the pinnacle of digital audio according to some.

Interesting article and ‘discussion’. You’re always going to get dissenters when a new format comes along. These are the audiophile minority arguing passionately about their hobby. I fear, however, it’s the 99%+ of the population who don’t a give flying **** about sound quality who are the real problem for MQA.