MQA, should I be worried?

I don't know for sure, but I guess this will sit alongside a conventional CD track, much like CD/SACD discs. So it should work fine as a ripped CD.

best

David

Hi David

Someone has suggested that when played back on a conventional CD player without an MQA decoder you only get 13 bit information, when decoded it returns to 16bit. If this is the case then presumably ripping the "CD"layer/content will give you the 13 bit file.......perhaps?

Chris

I remember hearing that too. It depends whether you would be playing an MQA disc on a CD player or a CD/MQA dual layer disc as per SCD/CD. But someone who knows more needs to take over from me now!

best

David

Where is our resident MQA guru?

So it seems that there are CD disc that now contain MQA encoded material, as an alternative to download/streamed files.

It is my understanding that when played in a conventional CD player, with a an integral DAC that supports Redbook CD at 16/44.1, it will play the non-decoded material off the disc, as a standard Redbook CD would.

i would also image that played a CD transport connected to a stand-alone DAC that can decode MQA, you would get the 1st & 2nd unfold, depending on material (1st unfold is to 24/96, 2nd gives up to 32/384 & DAC profiling).

i have read on the dBpoweramp board of being able to rip the disc, and store as files, with the MQA encoded content. So can playback as a download file.

However until I am physically in possession of one of these discs, it all being read as 2nd hand experience.

Maybe this is what the recording industry wants, a return of physical media, that plays on the equipment the mass public has (or use to have), but can also serve those who want more and are willing to invest in different/additional equipment.

Simon

David/Simon

Thanks for your input.

Interesting, it looks like my first purchase will be The Doors "Waiting For The Sun" due I believe in Sept.

Call me cynical but it's difficult to believe that the record industry will allow us to access hires files from a ripped cd for no additional cash, what do they get out of it apart from a one off purchase of a DAC or player with MQA capability. Perhaps as you say a return to physical media, and prices for the "new" discs could be higher

My Oppo 205 already has MQA capability I believe.

Chris

It looks as though Waiting For The Sun is a 4 disk package - with the original album on disks 1, 3 and 4. With disk 1 being the full album, disk 3 being Side 1 of the album and disk 4 being Side 2.

Disk 2 contains  the "extra tracks" that seem to be so popular with the record companies - the tracks that weren't good enough to release 50 years ago

I'd guess, but have no positive information, that Disk 1 is a standard CD and Disks 3 and 4 contain high def material, but I can't guess what disk standard will be used. One thing is certain, they won't be "CD" if they're anything other than 16 bit/44.1kHz produced to red-book standard. I'd be returning the set as "not as described" if there was no "CD" in the package as it's listed as "Audio CD" on the site where I've seen it listed.

It would be so easy for the people who actually but the things if the hi-res files were simply on data disks stored as .flac or another lossless format such that  the material can be easily accessed and used (verses "hiding" them on a blu-ray where the data stream needs to be decrypted and extracted, then a cue file created to generate single tracks from one long one, etc., etc. Such a palaver...)... but [rant about record companies redacted]

ChrisG posted:

David/Simon

Thanks for your input.

Interesting, it looks like my first purchase will be The Doors "Waiting For The Sun" due I believe in Sept.

Call me cynical but it's difficult to believe that the record industry will allow us to access hires files from a ripped cd for no additional cash, what do they get out of it apart from a one off purchase of a DAC or player with MQA capability. Perhaps as you say a return to physical media, and prices for the "new" discs could be higher

My Oppo 205 already has MQA capability I believe.

Chris

Giving the extra for nothing could see an increase in sales to promote disc ownership again.  Tidals mqa cost no more to use than the normal service (at least for now) so maybe this will carry through. 

From the Doors web site:

When the Doors recorded Waiting For The Sun in 1968, they were among the first bands to use Dolby A301 noise reduction processors, which was cutting-edge recording tech at the time. Similarly, the most advanced sound recording innovations were used to make the anniversary edition of Waiting For The Sun. The new release has been encoded with the MQA (Master Quality Authenticated) process. An MQA disc plays back on all CD players as standard CD quality. But if a conventional CD player is connected to an MQA-enabled device, it can play the same disc back at its original sample rate.

Chris