Tidal/MQA

Posted by: jsaudio on 25 January 2017

I have Tidal HiFi and hence access to to Masters/MQA. Is there any way at present to listen to MQA through my NAC 272 and Naim app. ?

Posted on: 04 February 2017 by jmtennapel
Crofta posted:

If you play back a 24-bit/192kHz MQA-encoded file using iTunes through a regular DAC (i.e. a non-MQA DAC), you will get a 24/48 file.

If you play back a 24-bit/192kHz MQA-encoded file through an MQA software decoder like Tidal HiFi, Audirvana, or (soon) Roon, and you are using a regular DAC (i.e. a non-MQA DAC), you will get a 24/96 file.If you play back a 24-bit/192kHz MQA-encoded file through an MQA-enabled DAC, you will get a 24-bit/192kHz file.

If you are also using a software decoder like Tidal HiFi, Audirvana, or (soon) Roon, you can have the software decoder perform the first 'unfold'.

 

Thanks for that extra piece of information and the clear image.

However, if I play back a 'Master' file through Tidal and I stream it to my Naim, the Naim display said '44.1Khz FLAC' and not 48Khz.

Does this mean that the Tidal Masters files are not 24-bit/192kHz encoded MQA files? There are 88.2kHz files? or..?

Posted on: 04 February 2017 by Crofta
jmtennapel posted:
Crofta posted:

If you play back a 24-bit/192kHz MQA-encoded file using iTunes through a regular DAC (i.e. a non-MQA DAC), you will get a 24/48 file.

If you play back a 24-bit/192kHz MQA-encoded file through an MQA software decoder like Tidal HiFi, Audirvana, or (soon) Roon, and you are using a regular DAC (i.e. a non-MQA DAC), you will get a 24/96 file.If you play back a 24-bit/192kHz MQA-encoded file through an MQA-enabled DAC, you will get a 24-bit/192kHz file.

If you are also using a software decoder like Tidal HiFi, Audirvana, or (soon) Roon, you can have the software decoder perform the first 'unfold'.

 

Thanks for that extra piece of information and the clear image.

However, if I play back a 'Master' file through Tidal and I stream it to my Naim, the Naim display said '44.1Khz FLAC' and not 48Khz.

Does this mean that the Tidal Masters files are not 24-bit/192kHz encoded MQA files? There are 88.2kHz files? or..?

Tidal streams any available files probably. MQA files  24/192 scenario is an example, so different scenarios are possible, based on original MQA files sampling, but the principle is the same. So Tidal/any other MQA streaming have no affect without at least portable AQ DragonFly/other Renderer/MQA enabled DAC. Anyway there is a little "new issue fog" over MQA streaming so far. 

other scenario: