MQA (again)...

Posted by: GeeJay on 22 December 2015

Anyone seen the video posted on YouTube (link) on 21st November from RMAF15 with PÅl BrÅtelund (TIDAL) and Bob Stuart (Meridian/MQA)?  About an hour long....

I found the discussion quite interesting, and whilst I know MQA has been discussed on these pages before, I thought the content was helpful to my basic understanding, not least about looking at the whole music chain (from microphone in the recording studio to speakers in the home) and removing the blur inherent in many A to Ds.  I'd certainly be keen to hear an MQA demo, especially as the guy from Tidal tells an anecdote about one recording engineer who was brought to tears by the sound that he'd failed to get for so many years of a Steinway piano that had subsequently been damaged after the recording.  I think the intent to gain financially from it is OK if it works - after all it isn't going to be compulsory or mandated.

It will be interesting to see where this goes commercially, and with CES2016 just round the corner, I'd expect that more information will emerge soon, including which commercial partners are signing up for this (including record labels, streaming companies, DAC manufacturers and HiFi companies).

Details;

Published on 21 Nov 2015; Moderator: Chris Connaker, Computer Audiophile
Panelists: PÅl BrÅtelund, TIDAL; Bob Stuart, MQA

Computer Audiophile’s Chris Connaker, talks to Bob Stuart, innovator behind MQA (Master Quality Authenticated), and Pal Bratelund, Strategic Partnership Manager at TIDAL, on how to achieve the highest quality audio in today’s streaming services. The discussions will touch on the history of streaming audio and examine how services have evolved to meet the increasing demands of today’s music fans. How can music streaming services thrive in the future?

Posted on: 22 December 2015 by jobseeker

I have high hopes for it. Most discussions on most forums I've seen basically end up with people who think they understand it but don't, together with people who definitely don't understand it commenting strongly about how it is doomed to fail / unnecessary / useless / expensive/ impractical / not needed (add a few more negatives and delete as appropriate). I don't understand it in the slightest and I can see how difficult it must be to understand at a technical level, so I simply remain positive and hopeful, along with some others. Time will tell.

Posted on: 22 December 2015 by GeeJay

Good comments - agree that it looks promising, and also that it's not going to be a mandatory standard.  Would like to hear a demo though to hear what audible difference it makes.  It's one thing hearing it explained and trying to get head around the process, and quite another to hear it.  As its not yet been widely adopted, I think a show like CES will be one of the few places to have an audition.

ATB. George.

Posted on: 23 December 2015 by GeeJay

Interesting Paul - thanks.  

Helps to give perspective - I know that Phil Harris had mentioned in a previous thread that you guys had had MQA demo'd to you.  

Maybe that's why Bob Stuart calls it a 'philosophy' (rather than a commercially ready product), although Tidal appear to be very excited and interested, even at this stage.

ATB. George.