Hi Jim,
That raises the question of using a computer that has an spdif output. Does *that* get MQA decoded? - either 'partially' or 'fully'?
I'm pretty sure that that isn't the case for reasons of protecting MQA's IP, because it would presumably allow to reverse engineer the filter. It's what tripped up Auralic when they first started to look into MQA, and MQA very quickly pulled to plug when they realised what kind of product the Aries is (no analog outputs):
http://support.auralic.com/hc/en-us/articles/222512427-Will-MQA-support-comes-to-AURALiC-device-
(the Auralic Aries can be considered a computer with an SPDIF output)
Auralic has confirmed to me that the Aries puts out the digital signal as is (as long as its 64bit software volume control is disabled), with the MQA part still encoded, ready to be decoded by an MQA capable DAC, so I'm also sure it doesn't interfere with the folding/origami & bitstacking aspects.
3) Trying to fiddle with the data / system to 'correct' in some way for your DAC. (But not, for some odd reason, your loudspeakers IIUC. Which would probably have far more effect on the wideband timing group delays, etc.)
I agree - but it's a separate problem, and it would involve measuring all the speakers people use. Granted, Devialet are already measuring speakers for their SAM program, and they have already processed an impressive number of speakers out there, so it's not impossible from an organizational POV. However in a perfect world, you would have your speakers *and* your ADC/DAC process compensated for.
And my guess is that the end-listener's speakers and listening room setup will usually have *much* more effect on ultrasonic range temporal coherence than any decent modern ADC or DAC.
I agree - though Bob Stuart has at some point said that digital room correction is not mutually exclusive to MQA, but I assume it needs to be realised on MQA's terms. Not sure how many manufacturers will agree to that. Also, as soon as a digital room correction algorithm (with MQA's blessing) is manipulating the MQA signal in order to adapt it to the specifics of a user's room, can it then still be called "authenticated"?
I'm still reserving judgement until I receive my Mytek in a couple of days, but yes, something is definitely happening here.