#277374 - 2018-06-20 11:56
UHQCD/MQA Discs
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Registered: 2003-10-04
Posts: 2,199
spinaltap
Senior Shouting Officer
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Senior Shouting Officer

Registered: 2003-10-04
Posts: 2,199
Loc: Bournville, UK
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Has anyone bought/tried UHQCD/MQA discs on their MQA enabled Meridian system? For example, Supertramp’s ‘Breakfast in America’ is available in this format. Reissue in Hi-Res CD format (UHQCD format x MQA technology). Features the DSD master in 2013, using US original master tapes. The DSD master is available in 352.8kHz/24bit high resolution (perfect for MQA-enabled audio players).
Comes with lyrics and a description. Green color label coating. Comes in a slim case packaging.
*The disc can also be played on regular CD players in UHQCD 44.1kHz/16bit resolution. However, MQA-enabled hardware/software is necessary to harness the full potential of this Hi-Res CD. Imported from Japan to UK, the album costs £21.
My Mac can go all the way to XI - Mac user since 1988 - Meridian owner since 1993. M6, 218, 504, 506.2, AC12, SBT, Mac Mini Server, Amarra4, Loewe Bild7.55/Klang1 Sub/Sats, ATV4K. In storage: Meridian 551, 555, A500, Director. VDH Teatrack, Mission Elegante e82, e81, e8c, B&W PV-1, Yamaha 5.1 Receiver, Yamaha DVD Player.
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#277380 - 2018-06-20 16:33
Re: UHQCD/MQA Discs
[Re: spinaltap]
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Registered: 2011-01-25
Posts: 550
bxd
Paranoid android
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Paranoid android
Registered: 2011-01-25
Posts: 550
Loc: Southampton, UK
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Plus the shipping charges and any customs hit!
Main: G65, MD600, MS600, 218, HD621, DSP5200SE, DSP5200HCSE, M6 & D1500. System 2: G91A, MS200, DSP5000 (96/24v1), DSP3300.
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#277394 - 2018-06-20 22:51
Re: UHQCD/MQA Discs
[Re: bxd]
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Registered: 2009-08-29
Posts: 253
Jeremy A-H
Hitchhiker
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Hitchhiker
Registered: 2009-08-29
Posts: 253
Loc: Hampshire, UK
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I’ve just ordered two Dire Straits MQA CD’s. Should be here in a couple of days...
DSP7200SE's, 818v3, Antipodes CX, Shunyata Triton v3 & Typhon (original version), SoTM sNH-10G ethernet switch [Using a mix of Alpha NR's, Delta NR's, SotM and AudioQuest Diamond cables]
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#277561 - 2018-06-27 01:41
Re: UHQCD/MQA Discs
[Re: VirusKiller]
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Registered: 2009-08-29
Posts: 253
Jeremy A-H
Hitchhiker
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Hitchhiker
Registered: 2009-08-29
Posts: 253
Loc: Hampshire, UK
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Good point. I guess when they said MQA would offer maximum quality at CD bitrates, they meant greater quality than the original at the same bit depth and sampling speed.
Incidentally, I’m still waiting for the CD’s to arrive, although I’ve been sent a VAT bill for twice what I paid (and then a ‘collection’ fee on top)... buyer beware on both of the above!
DSP7200SE's, 818v3, Antipodes CX, Shunyata Triton v3 & Typhon (original version), SoTM sNH-10G ethernet switch [Using a mix of Alpha NR's, Delta NR's, SotM and AudioQuest Diamond cables]
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#277565 - 2018-06-27 09:30
Re: UHQCD/MQA Discs
[Re: Jeremy A-H]
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Registered: 2007-11-23
Posts: 529
Greg Wright
Paranoid android
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Paranoid android
Registered: 2007-11-23
Posts: 529
Loc: Surrey, UK
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Incidentally, I’m still waiting for the CD’s to arrive, although I’ve been sent a VAT bill for twice what I paid (and then a ‘collection’ fee on top)... buyer beware on both of the above! If you use amazon.jp, you can opt to prepay the duties. Best to use Google Chrome to translate the site for non japanese speakers. I have used cdjapan in the past and sometimes you get away with it sometimes not. Expensive when you dont!
M owner since '97
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#277586 - 2018-06-27 16:38
Re: UHQCD/MQA Discs
[Re: Greg Wright]
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Registered: 2009-08-29
Posts: 253
Jeremy A-H
Hitchhiker
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Hitchhiker
Registered: 2009-08-29
Posts: 253
Loc: Hampshire, UK
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I used CD Japan as they seemed the only place I could find the MQA version of Dire Straits CD's.
I'm now trying to sort out the issue of being charged VAT twice, but language is proving a slight barrier! Good to know you can prepay with Amazon, as DHL have just made £22 in fees for collecting the VAT (I think delivery companies charging these rates is ridiculous for what is a completely automated system).
DSP7200SE's, 818v3, Antipodes CX, Shunyata Triton v3 & Typhon (original version), SoTM sNH-10G ethernet switch [Using a mix of Alpha NR's, Delta NR's, SotM and AudioQuest Diamond cables]
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#277587 - 2018-06-27 16:52
Re: UHQCD/MQA Discs
[Re: Jeremy A-H]
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Registered: 2009-08-29
Posts: 253
Jeremy A-H
Hitchhiker
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Hitchhiker
Registered: 2009-08-29
Posts: 253
Loc: Hampshire, UK
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I think it's worth noting for anyone considering this path that CDJapan promise shipping in 1-2 days, but, in reality, it took them a week to ship items marked as 'in stock'. I also paid for 2/3 day delivery, but DHL say it's going to take another week for the CD's to get here.
Unfortunately, by that point I'll be overseas...
DSP7200SE's, 818v3, Antipodes CX, Shunyata Triton v3 & Typhon (original version), SoTM sNH-10G ethernet switch [Using a mix of Alpha NR's, Delta NR's, SotM and AudioQuest Diamond cables]
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#277594 - 2018-06-27 19:11
Re: UHQCD/MQA Discs
[Re: VirusKiller]
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Registered: 2011-02-02
Posts: 2,331
Hector
Senior Shouting Officer
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Senior Shouting Officer

Registered: 2011-02-02
Posts: 2,331
Loc: Midlands, UK
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Dire Straits indeed  Hector
AV: Thorens TD160B, SME, ShureV15MK2, 500, 598, 861v4, DSP7200.1LR, DSP3300HC Samsung UE55, SkyHD. DINING: MS600, AC200, DSP5200SLLR. STUDY 504, SB Touch, 2x MD600, C15, 808.6, 5200SE, Mac & PC, Prime+PS Grado GS1000i HORIZONTAL: M80, MS200, Red Rose Spirit + Sonus Faber Toys A capella to Zydeco
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#277617 - 2018-06-28 09:13
Re: UHQCD/MQA Discs
[Re: Jeremy A-H]
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Registered: 2007-11-23
Posts: 529
Greg Wright
Paranoid android
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Paranoid android
Registered: 2007-11-23
Posts: 529
Loc: Surrey, UK
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I always choose surface mail. It's a lot cheaper, and you are kidding yourself if you expect anything to arrive quickly from them. And you don't always get charged the import duties, although, as I said, it's a bit of a lottery.
But using DHL or the other bigger guys, you will definitely get charged import duties and 'collection' fees.
M owner since '97
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#277621 - 2018-06-28 09:35
Re: UHQCD/MQA Discs
[Re: Greg Wright]
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Registered: 2009-10-13
Posts: 165
Fitcaz
Hitchhiker
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Hitchhiker

Registered: 2009-10-13
Posts: 165
Loc: SE England
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Does this mean that the MQA authenticated light still comes on but with 8 bits less resolution? What is "true MQA"?
Edited by Fitcaz; 2018-06-29 08:21.
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#277630 - 2018-06-28 14:51
Re: UHQCD/MQA Discs
[Re: Fitcaz]
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Registered: 2003-10-04
Posts: 2,199
spinaltap
Senior Shouting Officer
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Senior Shouting Officer

Registered: 2003-10-04
Posts: 2,199
Loc: Bournville, UK
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I've discovered this video on one guy's recent experience on buying and playing these CD's.
My Mac can go all the way to XI - Mac user since 1988 - Meridian owner since 1993. M6, 218, 504, 506.2, AC12, SBT, Mac Mini Server, Amarra4, Loewe Bild7.55/Klang1 Sub/Sats, ATV4K. In storage: Meridian 551, 555, A500, Director. VDH Teatrack, Mission Elegante e82, e81, e8c, B&W PV-1, Yamaha 5.1 Receiver, Yamaha DVD Player.
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#277631 - 2018-06-28 15:18
Re: UHQCD/MQA Discs
[Re: spinaltap]
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Registered: 2002-08-28
Posts: 4,441
Mr Meridian
President of the Imperial Galactic Government
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President of the Imperial Galactic Government

Registered: 2002-08-28
Posts: 4,441
Loc: Perthshire, Scotland
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A couple of observations on that: *100% Dinosaur as described in Ratbert's recent thread...respect! *Total envy for his uncompromising wall of hi-fi *Didn't do his due diligence on MQA playback compatibility *No understanding of MQA, it's goals or where it's aimed *No apparent awareness of burning his discs and playing back via Roon for MQA at rather less cost than the kit he mentioned *Most importantly, a Tangerine Dream MQA disc was shown on the website page he reviewed, which has absolutely made my day! At last!  George
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#277632 - 2018-06-28 16:08
Re: UHQCD/MQA Discs
[Re: Mr Meridian]
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Registered: 2002-08-28
Posts: 4,441
Mr Meridian
President of the Imperial Galactic Government
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President of the Imperial Galactic Government

Registered: 2002-08-28
Posts: 4,441
Loc: Perthshire, Scotland
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*No apparent awareness of burning his discs and playing back via Roon for MQA at rather less cost than the kit he mentioned Possibly Dinosaur memory issues on this one! Comment based on the certainty that I'd bought the CD of Amy Duncan "Undercurrents", ripped it and have the resulting MQA via Roon, but since I can neither find said CD, not have it in iTunes (where I'd have burned it), I can only conclude that I bought it as a download!  George PS And Tangerine Dream's Phaedra, as shown in the video, isn't on Tidal as MQA yet.
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#277922 - 2018-07-13 10:25
Re: UHQCD/MQA Discs
[Re: Mr Meridian]
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Registered: 2017-09-04
Posts: 19
Tennant
Harmless
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Harmless
Registered: 2017-09-04
Posts: 19
Loc: Wiltshire, UK
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Has anyone tried ripping these MQA CDs yet? If I use my normal method of ripping to FLAC using dBpoweramp and then importing into Sooloos, my 218/DSP7200SE only seems to recognise them as standard 16-but 44.1 kHz files. However if I rip directly using the Meridian Control:PC app to Sooloos then they are correctly identified as MQA files.
Problem is I also want to be able to play the files on my MQA-capable portable music player. Any ideas why dBpoweramp is not retaining the necessary MQA data (I've disabled any 'DSP Effects' in dBpoweramp and using level 5 FLAC compression)? I'm using the latest (16.4) version of dBpoweramp.
861v8, 7200SE L+R, 5200SE C, DSP320 SL+SR, DSW. UHD722. 218.
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#277928 - 2018-07-13 11:08
Re: UHQCD/MQA Discs
[Re: Tennant]
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Registered: 2010-12-09
Posts: 3,590
Ratbert
Ravenous Bugblatter Beast of Traal
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Ravenous Bugblatter Beast of Traal
Registered: 2010-12-09
Posts: 3,590
Loc: Europe
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What happens if you do a native export of the MQA rip from Sooloos?
Never pass up a good chance to shut up!
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#277934 - 2018-07-13 16:59
Re: UHQCD/MQA Discs
[Re: Ratbert]
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Registered: 2017-09-04
Posts: 19
Tennant
Harmless
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Harmless
Registered: 2017-09-04
Posts: 19
Loc: Wiltshire, UK
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What happens if you do a native export of the MQA rip from Sooloos? Good thought, forgot that feature was there, as never used it. Mixed results though. I tried exporting three of the MQA CDs back out of Sooloos. Dire Straits 'Brothers in Arms' still only recognised as 44.1 kHz FLAC by my Pioneer XDP-300R; same for Free's 'Fire and Water'. However Queen's 'A Night At The Opera', tracks 1, 7, 8 and 10 are showing as 44.1kHz FLAC but the rest of the album's track are showing as MQA 88.2kHz!
861v8, 7200SE L+R, 5200SE C, DSP320 SL+SR, DSW. UHD722. 218.
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#277935 - 2018-07-13 17:25
Re: UHQCD/MQA Discs
[Re: Tennant]
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Registered: 2010-12-09
Posts: 3,590
Ratbert
Ravenous Bugblatter Beast of Traal
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Ravenous Bugblatter Beast of Traal
Registered: 2010-12-09
Posts: 3,590
Loc: Europe
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Maybe contact dBpoweramp they may need to update the app, you could ask MQA but I wouldn’t hold your breath!
Never pass up a good chance to shut up!
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#278933 - 2018-09-15 19:12
Re: UHQCD/MQA Discs
[Re: VirusKiller]
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Registered: 2011-02-02
Posts: 2,331
Hector
Senior Shouting Officer
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Senior Shouting Officer

Registered: 2011-02-02
Posts: 2,331
Loc: Midlands, UK
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All the salient music-related information exists inside the Orange triangle, which MQA protects very strictly. Very happy to live in the ORANGE TRIANGLE Many thanks to Meridian, McLaren and Gerry Heeley of Phase 3 Hector
AV: Thorens TD160B, SME, ShureV15MK2, 500, 598, 861v4, DSP7200.1LR, DSP3300HC Samsung UE55, SkyHD. DINING: MS600, AC200, DSP5200SLLR. STUDY 504, SB Touch, 2x MD600, C15, 808.6, 5200SE, Mac & PC, Prime+PS Grado GS1000i HORIZONTAL: M80, MS200, Red Rose Spirit + Sonus Faber Toys A capella to Zydeco
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#278934 - 2018-09-15 19:30
Re: UHQCD/MQA Discs
[Re: Hector]
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Registered: 2004-12-09
Posts: 6,413
ChrisLayerUK
President of the Imperial Galactic Government
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President of the Imperial Galactic Government

Registered: 2004-12-09
Posts: 6,413
Loc: Colchester, Essex, UK
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It’s too orangie for crows 😂
No 18 in the Hall of fame  I have simple tastes; I am content to settle for the best: GIK monster bass panels, rear wall. QNAP TVS 471i3. Roon into DSP5200SE via 218 zone... (Thanks Russ) Explorer 2. Bluesound Pulse 2 and Mini. 596v1, 518, Foxsat HD, Sony BDP, Pioneer 5090, 2 Chromecast's for LRB videos. My F80 is in repair...
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#278935 - 2018-09-15 21:10
Re: UHQCD/MQA Discs
[Re: ChrisLayerUK]
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Registered: 2011-02-02
Posts: 2,331
Hector
Senior Shouting Officer
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Senior Shouting Officer

Registered: 2011-02-02
Posts: 2,331
Loc: Midlands, UK
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Who's Counting Crows? Never seen an Orange Crow but "Orange is the new Black" is not disputed here. RAL 2009 Gerry Heeley Phase 3 and McLaren (7200.1) RAL 2005 Luminous Orange Meridian and McLaren (5200SL) Volcanic Orange Meridian and McLaren (5200SE)  but  My Orange Triangle Zones Hector
AV: Thorens TD160B, SME, ShureV15MK2, 500, 598, 861v4, DSP7200.1LR, DSP3300HC Samsung UE55, SkyHD. DINING: MS600, AC200, DSP5200SLLR. STUDY 504, SB Touch, 2x MD600, C15, 808.6, 5200SE, Mac & PC, Prime+PS Grado GS1000i HORIZONTAL: M80, MS200, Red Rose Spirit + Sonus Faber Toys A capella to Zydeco
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#278970 - 2018-09-17 16:54
Re: UHQCD/MQA Discs
[Re: Hector]
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Registered: 2011-01-25
Posts: 550
bxd
Paranoid android
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Paranoid android
Registered: 2011-01-25
Posts: 550
Loc: Southampton, UK
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Hi,
I’ve just received my 50th Anniversary Deluxe Edition (LP+ 2CD) of the Doors “Waiting for the Sun” album. The CD remastered version is MQA encoded and I’ve sucessfully imported it into Sooloos.
The import plays back as MQA.176k on my SE speakers via my 218.
I’ve also played the CD directly from my DVD player (Pioneer DV79) to the optical input on the 218 with the same results.
Brian
Main: G65, MD600, MS600, 218, HD621, DSP5200SE, DSP5200HCSE, M6 & D1500. System 2: G91A, MS200, DSP5000 (96/24v1), DSP3300.
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#278971 - 2018-09-17 18:02
Re: UHQCD/MQA Discs
[Re: ChrisLayerUK]
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Registered: 2009-11-29
Posts: 1,153
Shaun
Pan-dimensional being
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Pan-dimensional being
Registered: 2009-11-29
Posts: 1,153
Loc: Isle of Man
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It’s too orangie for crows 😂 I remember that!!!! It's just for me and my dog!
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#278977 - 2018-09-17 21:53
Re: UHQCD/MQA Discs
[Re: VirusKiller]
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Registered: 2000-12-26
Posts: 859
Evdberg
Pan-dimensional being
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Pan-dimensional being
Registered: 2000-12-26
Posts: 859
Loc: The Netherlands
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Probably down to FLAC tagging (or lack of it). Actually the MQA metadata is in the LSB of the 16 bits signal (at bit 0). In a 24 bits signal it is in bit 8 (so the same bit). Every sample pair gives 1 bit of metadata.
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