Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion MQA - Related technology, products and music Tidal MQA albums found so far

MQA may have its critics, but I can't think of anything more sabotaging than the weirdness of new releases. Every week is like a detective story.

Anyway, if you haven't seen them, Donald Fagen's 'Nightfly' is there, plus the later Steely Dan 'Two Against Nature', and a Black Sabbath compilation.

Interested to know how others trawl for the new stuff.

Richard

I wrote to Tidal support to ask what happened to the Neil Young MQA albums and were told:
So who owns the rights to those albums?

John

Thanks for pointing to Presto and other music sites that list new releases. I found Archiv Music a clear site for classical releases by label, and found two important MQA releases that were very hush hush. One is Karl Bohm the Early Years from their Icon Series. This in MQA offers wartime recordings from 35-47. A Mozart Serenata from 1947 is mastered from a fresh pressing of the original 78. Further, a whole Act 3 of Die Meistersinger from 38 restored from 78s is sounding amazing. The set covers all the major orchestras then BPO, Dresden, VPO etc.

The second album just released is the Hungarian Quartet's Beethoven cycle from the 50s, sounding open and fresh. Some rawness here and there, but still much better than say the Busch quartet recordings of similar era.

And Tidal Masters listed Rattle's the Planets in their line up so I found that one just by looking at Tidal. Somehow all of Rattles EMI recordings need to be on high volume before they have presence at all (69-70).

Best /bt

Thanks BT.

No way would I have found the Beethoven Cycle!

A good update on Rattle too, with more Bruckner, Mahler and the excellent 'Heldenleben'.

Perhaps the Jay Z release is dominating? Otherwise, hard to understand why a simple release sheet can't be shared.

Richard

Beng-Ti,

I looked on the Arkiv site for two items mentioned above but could find no mention of MQA, although they do mention 24 bit re-mastering in the 'Hungarian' but not in the 'Bohm'. This may be ineptitude on my part, or are you referring to the 'Tidal' streaming versions?

Locus.

ArchivMusic does seem to be a good clue-finder.

So we now have Jean Rondeau, Philippe Jaroussky, Marianne Crebassa, Joyce DiDonato all have new stuff in MQA, all well-received.

For that 'Telarc' system test, I imagine the Olivier Latry organ recital should be fun.

The cherry on top, the very well reviewed 'Goldbergs' from Beatrice Rana.

Seems to be a 3 month-ish gap between release in HiRes and the MQA version on Tidal.

Richard

Hi Guys,

As Bruce has mentioned, Archiv Musik only lists the new releases, but does not indicate if it is MQA. One has to go back to Tidal and search the same artist or album to confirm if an MQA is available. This is only possible in the PC or Mac Tidal Desktop app by looking for the M icon indicating Master release. For Warner Classics, it seems pretty much anything that is released has a good chance of MQA. Their sister label Erato is more erratic pardon the pun, I saw a new album by Galinca that is not MQA on Tidal for now.

Thanks for pointing out the Heldenleben. I sampled Rattle's debut album Mahler 5 with the BPO, low volume level aside, the large orchestral tuttis have great weight and presence, yet precise instrument placements. A definite improvement over the CD I had more than 10 years ago. He inherited an Abbado sound that shows v clearly on this album in MQA.

Bruce, did you get the Chesky MQA CDs ? Keen to hear impressions of them.

Best /bt

Hi Locus,

Having described the very finnicky process of checking Archiv then checking back to Tidal etc. etc. that should solve the issue you are facing to find the MQA version. Bohm in Tidal MQA is showing 96k.

In terms of record information and specs, I then have to open up Amazon and go there to read about these. For Bohm, this review from someone who bought the discs says 24/96 here.

For the Hungarians, here is the link to a detailed review, giving performers names, location of recording etc. Hope that is helpful.

Do give the Bohm Meistersinger a listen, the SQ is amazing.

Best /bt

Beng Ti

Thank you for the details. It seems, then, that Tidal are doing the MQA encoding so that they can stream higher resolution re-masters, and that means one needs Tidal, and MQA may well not be otherwise available for the re-masters, now or in the future.

And that means Tidal is the way to go?

Locus

The only way to go for MQA streaming at least for now, but also available by download and CD. Each potential distribution channel is at a different stage between carnal thought and the stages of infancy.Tidal is doing the first stage de-code versus MQA encode.

Wow this Heldenleben is really good. It's like they found the old BPO sound after years making sounds that were more stripped down. Sumptuous seductiveness languid and also generally higher volume levels. MQA instrument placement super precise (solo violin percussion). Thanks for letting me know about it.

The Hungarians are amazing indeed - I've fallen for No 11 and No 12. 12 is always a favourite of mine but their ensemble work on these tracks, from the 50s no less, is stunning. Only the Endellions i heard last year possess similar unity.

I did not know the Rana Goldberg was significant. Will check that out next.

Best /bt

Hi Locus

I guess it depends how absorbed you are by the idea of listening to MQA. For me it has been a revelation in classical recordings particularly before the 2000s, and there are now a good number of tracks and albums to listen to in stunning unfolded glory. Rostropovich doing Don Quixote is one of the clinchers for me. Streaming this and others from tidal is the only way to go for now.

However if you just want to listen occasionally there are many tracks available for download from HighResAudio and from 2L that would more than satisfy a classical palette. 2L stuff unfolds to 352k which has to be heard to be believed.

Happy listening /bt