Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion MQA - Related technology, products and music MQA question

Can someone explain following case:

- Tidal on PC sending MQA to 818v3 USB input.
- 818 is connected to DSP5200.2 SpeakerLink input.
- Let's say MQA file is decoded by 818 is 24/352 or 24/192.

What is purpose of sending that file to the speakers that have 24/96 input?

I believe what is sent is MQA partially unfolded to 96/24, with info for further unfolding, in and by SE speakers, to 192 or 384, as applicable. In non SE speakers the partial decode or MQA lite is played.

If you're right then there is no point buying 818 with non SE speakers. To use full MQA potential of 818 the one need SE speakers or connect 818 to analog output.

Is that correct?

Grole

Yes you are correct, an 818v3 or 808v6 can provide full MQA to an analog system but only to SE DSP speakers, I understand this is because for SE DSP's the 818 does the initial decode and unfold on the digital input card the final unfolds are handled in the DSP's, for analog the first unfold is the same but the the final unfolds are done on the analog output card.

Russ

Well no point if you want MQA, but the 818 is still an amazing sounding front end.

Thank you guys.

That would be missing the point about just how good the 808.6/818.3 is as a playback device. The advances that M have made presumably to enable MQA playback, has also benefited all sound sources.

My red book CD has never sounded better.

I do have SE speakers, but beyond the Tidal trial (which I didn't renew) I haven't really spent that much time with MQA to be honest.

Cheers
Greg

I agree Greg.

818v3 or 808v6 are amazing with non SE M DSP speakers.

However Analogue out from 818/808 to Power amp to Analogue speakers is also an attractive option to achieve great result.

I am persisting with Tidal for MQA and am happy to do so with the acknowledged future availability of Universal material. Of course the icing on the cake would be full commitment of Sony to MQA format.

Hector

Gavin and Hector,

At 96k already the ear detects a lot of improvement, smoother more natural sound, great presence and detail in MQA. With the SEs, you can go for what they call the white glove experience, and playback at 352k, 192k. The 2L albums at 352k, including Magnificat, Souvenir, Eggen's Grieg Piano Works etc, just incredible life-like presence and emotive thrust to the reproduction.

Conversely, MQA 44k has been disappointing for me. I've found the sound improved marginally but still subject to boxiness in loud passages. Can't escape the math that at 44k, the sampling lives with some obvious gaps vs the pure signal. I really hope there isn't going to be anywhere near 50-60% of MQA re-releases at 44k, coz then I have to acknowledge what Linn and the others are saying - it's a proprietary approach to achieving what can be achieved using extant technology.

Best /bt

Sadly, ignorance has meant that the "44k is good enough" dogma has prevailed and many major artists are still recording at this sample rate. I hope that MQA is something for the long term, but for now, and with much irony, many older analogue masters, given the MQA treatment, will sound better. However, there is some very good 44k MQA out there.

+1 on the 44.1

I have listened to several hundred MQA 44.1 and have not been disappointed.

These don't sound the same as the CD versions I have. Better master? de-blurring ?

Don't care....it sounds good.

Thanks Ncpl, can you suggest some A/B comparisons we can do on Tidal?

Best /bt