Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion MQA - Related technology, products and music Apple Interested in Purchasing Tidal?!

This aspect only came home to me sharply in the last couple of days. I've recently purchased an LP12 (which sounds great through the 818/6Ks) and with it a few new vinyls to augment my older ones.

Some of my older records, which are original pressings, sound simply wonderful, at least as good as my CD copies (a couple possibly better in some ways). But a couple of the new ones sounded pretty dreadful - one was flat and muddy with no soundstage, and the other was ear-bleeding glassy. I lifted the needle off the second one after two tracks and gave up.

After a little research, it turned out that both labels (who shall remain nameless) weren't the original recording company, but 3rd parties who press not from anywhere near the master tapes, but, in one case, very likely from CD copies.

Not only was sound quality clearly different from the genuine article (I have tracks off both on CD) but I'm actually surprised it's legal to do this. IMHO it's misleading at best to sell 180g "Audiophile" vinyl from what is, essentially, a bootleg.

Not only would I like MQA to gain widespread acceptance as the new standard, from a consumer point of view, but I would have thought the industry would be all over this, in terms of stamping out the kind of nonsense which has to be bad for everyone.

I know this is going OT, but I was shocked when watching a news article about 18 months ago about a fast growing vinyl company/label in Australia. Buoyed by the resurgence in vinyl, they are going from strength to strength, all of which was grand to hear. Until the owner described, without a trace of shame, the production process which incorporates "mastering" from CDs. My jaw dropped in horror at that moment. There is zero point in owning vinyl with such provenance, unless doing so for the sleeve art. To be honest, since studios moved wholesale over to digital mastering, I can't see the point of vinyl. Anything produced before the early 80s, well that's different!

Just my OT tuppence worth.

Cheers

George

I always smile when Radio shows have a vinyl section where they play some records like the old days. Then it's transmitted on DAB and the Internet as well as FM.
Chris 😎

George, I agree totally. The exception may be where the vinyl is cut from a very high quality true master at e.g., 24/192 and there is no hi-res digital release available, all other things being equal?

Chris, yes, I've still not heard DAB and found it preferable to the FM version in any case.

Agreed, that is why my 504 still has shelf space and shelf life.

Hector

I don't care. I will continue to buy my music and I have no interest in upgrading to MQA hardware.

Seems like the deal is off... Apple says it won't be buying Tidal anytime soon.