Yank
Bulbous Also Tapered
Have you ever read this book?
"How to win friends and influence people."
From the evidence in this thread, I think he gets his tactics from this book:
MQA
- Thread starter Rosewind
- Start date
- Status
From the evidence in this thread, I think he gets his tactics from this book:
DimitryZ
pfm Member
This is exactly what I mean - a large group of MQA detractors viciously hounding one or two MQA supporters to force them out.From the evidence in this thread, I think he gets his tactics from this book:
In this case, what you posted is personally disgusting. I am a lifelong Democrat and a strong supporter of liberal values. You, of course, know this. And moderators think this is all good British fun.
It should make you ashamed that you are searching for ways to cause me personal pain over MQA. But apparently not - pretty much anything will do - anything goes in war and MQA arguments.
As an American, you should understand the values of co-existance and tolerance of values. However, your hatred of MQA makes this impossible.
I only wish you fight this much about real issues afflicting our society, like racism, but I doubt it.
Last edited:
I do not think he was referring to LDAC.
DimitryZ
pfm Member
I think that was the only Sony product mentioned on this thread. Maybe I am mistaken....
DimitryZ
pfm Member
This would be nothing to do with MQA then. Please start another thread.
DimitryZ
pfm Member
Not at all. Sony's LDAC was mentioned by me. The reply was disparaging of Sony.
My answer was clear and technically accurate
Your post confirmed a pattern of a large number of anti-MQA members attacking a few MQA supporters to force them out of discussion.
PFM position is well understood. The owner and moderators are interested parties. And I absolutely support private entities to have control of the individual access to their platforms.
I encourage PFM to announce their position vs. MQA publicly, so this is understood and recorded.
Rosewind
Lost in Translation
Another cracking read about MQA. In particular some of the articles linked to. One claims MQA to be lossy and lossless at the same time. A comment left below the fact-finding article calls MQA "Schrödinger's codec." That is article #12 in the "References" section.
From:
Wikipedia (retrieved 26 April 2021= the exact worded article posted below).
Master Quality Authenticated
Master Quality Authenticated (MQA) is an audio codec using lossy compression[1] and a form of file fingerprinting, intended for high fidelity digital audio internet streaming and file download.[2] Launched in 2014 by Meridian Audio, it is now owned and licensed by MQA Ltd, which was founded by Bob Stuart, co-founder of Meridian Audio.
MQA logo
History
MQA was launched on 4 December 2014 at The Shard in London,[3] although the concepts underpinning the development had previously been the subject of a presentation to the Audio Engineering Society British Section (10 June 2014)[4] and a paper (published 8 October 2014) presented at the Audio Engineering Society 137th Convention in Los Angeles, CA in October 2014.[5]
MQA was demonstrated to visitors to the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas in January 2015.[6] Several download/streaming services, playback system manufacturers and record labels have subsequently announced support for the technology, including Pioneer Corporation, Onkyo, Meridian Audio, 7digital, Norwegian label Lindberg Lyd (2L), Mytek and others,[7] with Warner Music Group announcing the signing of a "long-term licensing deal" with MQA at the Munich High End show in May 2016.[8]
In May 2016, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), in cooperation with the Recording Academy Producers & Engineers Wing, the American Association of Independent Music (A2IM), and DEG: The Digital Entertainment Group, announced that services providing music encoded in MQA are eligible to carry the industry's official logo mark for "Hi-Res MUSIC".[9]
In March 2018, MQA launched "Live", a virtual concert-going service designed to preserve the original sound quality of live performances.[10] While playback will be available on any device, only devices compatible with MQA's proprietary codec may access the stream's "full quality."[10]
Codec description
MQA encoding is lossy;[11] it hierarchically compresses the relatively little energy in the higher frequency bands into data streams that are embedded in the lower frequency bands using proprietary dithering techniques but after the decoding the result would be the lossless archive.[12]
After a series of such manipulations, the resulting 44.1 kHz data, the layered data streams, and a final "touchup" stream (compressed difference between the lossy signal from unpacking all layers and the original) are provided to the playback device. Given the low amount of energy expected in higher frequencies, and using only one extra frequency band layer (upper 44.1 kHz band of 96/24 packed into dither of 48/16) and one touchup stream (compressed difference between original 96/24 and 48/16) are together distributed as a 48/24 stream, of which 48/16 bit-decimated part can be played by normal 48/16 playback equipment.
One more difference to standard formats is the sampling process. The audio stream is sampled and convolved with a triangle function, and interpolated later during playback. The techniques employed, including the sampling of signals with a finite rate of innovation, were developed by a number of researchers over the preceding decade, including Pier Luigi Dragotti and others.[13][14]
MQA-encoded content can be carried via any lossless file format such as FLAC or ALAC; hence, it can be played back on systems either with or without an MQA decoder. In the latter case, the resulting audio has easily identifiable high-frequency noise occupying 3 LSB bits, thus limiting playback on non-MQA devices effectively to 13 bit. MQA claims that nevertheless the quality is higher than "normal" 48/16, because of the novel sampling and convolution processes.[15]
Other than the sampling and convolution methods, which were not explained by MQA in detail, the encoding process is similar to that used in XRCD and HDCD.
However, unlike other lossy compression formats like MP3 and WMA, the lossy encoding method of MQA is similar to aptX, LDAC and WavPack Hybrid Lossy, which uses time-domain ADPCM and bitrate reduction instead of perceptual encoding based on psychoacoustic models.
Reception
While the technology has received little comment in the general and mainstream press, it has been exalted by the audiophile and hi-fi press. Robert Harley, editor of The Absolute Sound has referred to it as "The most significant audio technology of my lifetime".[16] Editor John Atkinson writing in Stereophile magazine following the UK launch in December 2014 wrote "In almost 40 years of attending audio press events, only rarely have I come away feeling that I was present at the birth of a new world."[17]
Criticism
MQA has received criticism from various sources within the music industry.
Audio product manufacturer Schiit Audio announced that it will not be supporting MQA due to, amongst other reasons, the understanding that "…supporting MQA means handing over the entire recording industry to an external standards organization."[18]
In a blog post title "MQA is Bad for Music. Here's why"[19] Hi-fi Manufacturer Linn Products criticises MQA's licensing requirements, asserting that MQA is "...an attempt to control and extract revenue from every part of the supply chain, and not just over content that they hold the rights for."[19] After having discussed several disadvantages for both the artist and the consumer Linn concludes that as a consumer you will "…pay a higher price for the same music, and you'll pay more for your hi-fi system too. And even if you don't buy into MQA, everyone will get less innovation, creativity and poorer music as a result."[19]
In an interview for online publication Positive Feedback, engineer Andreas Koch is critical of MQA due to its lossy algorithms and compression, along with its licensing requirements; also saying that a format such as this "does not solve any problem that the world currently has."[20] Koch was involved in the creation of the Super Audio CD, the development of the Direct Stream Digital codec, and is co-founder of audio product manufacturer Playback Designs.
An article titled Digital Done Wrong[21] on the International Audio/Video Review web site, concluded that MQA is founded on a fundamentally unsound understanding of correct digital audio processing and found that playback of a sample MQA encoding demonstrated gross distortion and reconstruction failure. It did however comment that some listeners may find the technical defects of MQA encoding subjectively pleasing.
Some critical comments have been made in online forums such as the Audiophile Style forum[22] and in audio magazine website comments, and a few writers have expressed concern in some areas. Over 80 detailed questions, some of which voiced these concerns, were submitted to the editors of the Audiophile Style forum and subsequently addressed in detail by the creator of MQA, Bob Stuart, in an extended question-and-answer article.[23] The editors of Audiophile Style forum subsequently updated the article with a disclaimer that "Most of Bob Stuart's answers have been debunked and the MQA technology is now seen as lacking any benefit for anyone other than record labels and MQA Ltd."[23]
An extensive video examining MQA through the use of author-created audio tracks released on Tidal was post on YouTube[24]. Through analysis of tracks before and after MQA conversion, the authors demonstrated how the MQA process alters the sound and how the claims made by MQA do not hold true.[24]
Hardware and software decoders
Hardware decoders are manufactured by Pioneer, iFi Audio, Onkyo, Mytek, Meridian, Cocktailaudio and Bluesound. Selected Meridian products will support MQA thanks to a firmware update. On software side, the desktop application by Tidal supports MQA.[25]
Commercial MQA-capable playback devices require payment of a royalty to MQA Ltd per unit sold. Based on information from Auralic, a manufacturer of Audiophile Wireless Audio Streamers, Meridian Audio prohibits digital output of unpacked MQA in any digital format, only allowing the unpacked data to be fed to an on-board MQA-compatible DAC and output in analog form. Some claim this to be a kind of DRM process,[15] which allows a proper MQA file to be authenticated and the full quality of the signal decoded only on commercially licensed equipment.
Streaming services
Starting in January 2017, Tidal provides MQA audio to subscribers of the Tidal "HiFi" package.[26]
References
Further reading
Lossy compression
Data compression approach that reduces data size while discarding or changing some of it
Content is available under CC BY-SA 3.0 unless otherwise noted.
-------------
Reference: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Master_Quality_Authenticated (text retrieved April 26 2021 at 8:00 Copenhagen time).
From:
Wikipedia (retrieved 26 April 2021= the exact worded article posted below).
Master Quality Authenticated
Master Quality Authenticated (MQA) is an audio codec using lossy compression[1] and a form of file fingerprinting, intended for high fidelity digital audio internet streaming and file download.[2] Launched in 2014 by Meridian Audio, it is now owned and licensed by MQA Ltd, which was founded by Bob Stuart, co-founder of Meridian Audio.
MQA logo
History
MQA was launched on 4 December 2014 at The Shard in London,[3] although the concepts underpinning the development had previously been the subject of a presentation to the Audio Engineering Society British Section (10 June 2014)[4] and a paper (published 8 October 2014) presented at the Audio Engineering Society 137th Convention in Los Angeles, CA in October 2014.[5]
MQA was demonstrated to visitors to the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas in January 2015.[6] Several download/streaming services, playback system manufacturers and record labels have subsequently announced support for the technology, including Pioneer Corporation, Onkyo, Meridian Audio, 7digital, Norwegian label Lindberg Lyd (2L), Mytek and others,[7] with Warner Music Group announcing the signing of a "long-term licensing deal" with MQA at the Munich High End show in May 2016.[8]
In May 2016, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), in cooperation with the Recording Academy Producers & Engineers Wing, the American Association of Independent Music (A2IM), and DEG: The Digital Entertainment Group, announced that services providing music encoded in MQA are eligible to carry the industry's official logo mark for "Hi-Res MUSIC".[9]
In March 2018, MQA launched "Live", a virtual concert-going service designed to preserve the original sound quality of live performances.[10] While playback will be available on any device, only devices compatible with MQA's proprietary codec may access the stream's "full quality."[10]
Codec description
MQA encoding is lossy;[11] it hierarchically compresses the relatively little energy in the higher frequency bands into data streams that are embedded in the lower frequency bands using proprietary dithering techniques but after the decoding the result would be the lossless archive.[12]
After a series of such manipulations, the resulting 44.1 kHz data, the layered data streams, and a final "touchup" stream (compressed difference between the lossy signal from unpacking all layers and the original) are provided to the playback device. Given the low amount of energy expected in higher frequencies, and using only one extra frequency band layer (upper 44.1 kHz band of 96/24 packed into dither of 48/16) and one touchup stream (compressed difference between original 96/24 and 48/16) are together distributed as a 48/24 stream, of which 48/16 bit-decimated part can be played by normal 48/16 playback equipment.
One more difference to standard formats is the sampling process. The audio stream is sampled and convolved with a triangle function, and interpolated later during playback. The techniques employed, including the sampling of signals with a finite rate of innovation, were developed by a number of researchers over the preceding decade, including Pier Luigi Dragotti and others.[13][14]
MQA-encoded content can be carried via any lossless file format such as FLAC or ALAC; hence, it can be played back on systems either with or without an MQA decoder. In the latter case, the resulting audio has easily identifiable high-frequency noise occupying 3 LSB bits, thus limiting playback on non-MQA devices effectively to 13 bit. MQA claims that nevertheless the quality is higher than "normal" 48/16, because of the novel sampling and convolution processes.[15]
Other than the sampling and convolution methods, which were not explained by MQA in detail, the encoding process is similar to that used in XRCD and HDCD.
However, unlike other lossy compression formats like MP3 and WMA, the lossy encoding method of MQA is similar to aptX, LDAC and WavPack Hybrid Lossy, which uses time-domain ADPCM and bitrate reduction instead of perceptual encoding based on psychoacoustic models.
Reception
While the technology has received little comment in the general and mainstream press, it has been exalted by the audiophile and hi-fi press. Robert Harley, editor of The Absolute Sound has referred to it as "The most significant audio technology of my lifetime".[16] Editor John Atkinson writing in Stereophile magazine following the UK launch in December 2014 wrote "In almost 40 years of attending audio press events, only rarely have I come away feeling that I was present at the birth of a new world."[17]
Criticism
MQA has received criticism from various sources within the music industry.
Audio product manufacturer Schiit Audio announced that it will not be supporting MQA due to, amongst other reasons, the understanding that "…supporting MQA means handing over the entire recording industry to an external standards organization."[18]
In a blog post title "MQA is Bad for Music. Here's why"[19] Hi-fi Manufacturer Linn Products criticises MQA's licensing requirements, asserting that MQA is "...an attempt to control and extract revenue from every part of the supply chain, and not just over content that they hold the rights for."[19] After having discussed several disadvantages for both the artist and the consumer Linn concludes that as a consumer you will "…pay a higher price for the same music, and you'll pay more for your hi-fi system too. And even if you don't buy into MQA, everyone will get less innovation, creativity and poorer music as a result."[19]
In an interview for online publication Positive Feedback, engineer Andreas Koch is critical of MQA due to its lossy algorithms and compression, along with its licensing requirements; also saying that a format such as this "does not solve any problem that the world currently has."[20] Koch was involved in the creation of the Super Audio CD, the development of the Direct Stream Digital codec, and is co-founder of audio product manufacturer Playback Designs.
An article titled Digital Done Wrong[21] on the International Audio/Video Review web site, concluded that MQA is founded on a fundamentally unsound understanding of correct digital audio processing and found that playback of a sample MQA encoding demonstrated gross distortion and reconstruction failure. It did however comment that some listeners may find the technical defects of MQA encoding subjectively pleasing.
Some critical comments have been made in online forums such as the Audiophile Style forum[22] and in audio magazine website comments, and a few writers have expressed concern in some areas. Over 80 detailed questions, some of which voiced these concerns, were submitted to the editors of the Audiophile Style forum and subsequently addressed in detail by the creator of MQA, Bob Stuart, in an extended question-and-answer article.[23] The editors of Audiophile Style forum subsequently updated the article with a disclaimer that "Most of Bob Stuart's answers have been debunked and the MQA technology is now seen as lacking any benefit for anyone other than record labels and MQA Ltd."[23]
An extensive video examining MQA through the use of author-created audio tracks released on Tidal was post on YouTube[24]. Through analysis of tracks before and after MQA conversion, the authors demonstrated how the MQA process alters the sound and how the claims made by MQA do not hold true.[24]
Hardware and software decoders
Hardware decoders are manufactured by Pioneer, iFi Audio, Onkyo, Mytek, Meridian, Cocktailaudio and Bluesound. Selected Meridian products will support MQA thanks to a firmware update. On software side, the desktop application by Tidal supports MQA.[25]
Commercial MQA-capable playback devices require payment of a royalty to MQA Ltd per unit sold. Based on information from Auralic, a manufacturer of Audiophile Wireless Audio Streamers, Meridian Audio prohibits digital output of unpacked MQA in any digital format, only allowing the unpacked data to be fed to an on-board MQA-compatible DAC and output in analog form. Some claim this to be a kind of DRM process,[15] which allows a proper MQA file to be authenticated and the full quality of the signal decoded only on commercially licensed equipment.
Streaming services
Starting in January 2017, Tidal provides MQA audio to subscribers of the Tidal "HiFi" package.[26]
References
- ^ "Is MQA DOA?". Retrieved 3 February 2017. 'MQA is not lossless.'
- ^ Radding, Ben. "Studio-Quality Music Streaming Coming Soon From MQA". PC Mag. Ziff Davis. Retrieved 15 April 2016. 'MQA is a digital encoding and playback service, standing for Master Quality Authenticated, which aims to deliver master studio quality sound in a file that's small enough to stream or download.'
- ^ "Meridian Launch MQA 'Master Quality Authenticated' Audio Format". HiFiCritic.com. 7 December 2014. Retrieved 11 May 2016.
- ^ Stuart, Craven, J Robert, Peter. "High Resolution: Capturing the Moment". Audio Engineering Society UK. AES British Section. Retrieved 11 May 2016.
- ^ Stuart, Craven, J Robert, Peter. "A Hierarchical Approach to Archiving and Distribution". Audio Engineering Society. Audio Engineering Society Inc. Retrieved 11 May 2016.
- ^ Waldrep, Mark. "MQA at CES 2015: Part II Listening". Real HD Audio. Real HD Audio. Retrieved 11 May 2016.
- ^ audioXpress Staff. "Master Quality Authenticated (MQA) Launches Major Partnerships and New Development Platforms at CES 2016". audioXpress. audioXpress. Retrieved 13 May 2016.
- ^ Music Business Worldwide. "Warner becomes first major to sign deal with HD music firm MQA". Music Business Worldwide. Music Business Worldwide. Retrieved 11 May 2016.
- ^ RIAA News. "HI-RES MUSIC INITIATIVE EXPANDS TO INCLUDE MUSIC STREAMING SERVICES". Recording Industry Association of America. RIAA. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
- ^ a b Roberts, Becky (Mar 19, 2018). "MQA Live promises "original quality" real-time concert streams". What Hi Fi?. Retrieved December 18, 2018.
- ^ Darko, John. "An inconvenient truth: MQA sounds better!". Retrieved 27 May 2020. the MQA encoding process is lossy – it is no longer the studio master as archived by the record label
- ^ "MQA The Facts vs the fiction". Retrieved 5 May 2020. 'the result is the same as lossless compression'
- ^ Dragotti, Pier Luigi (November 24, 2009). "Sparse Sampling: Theory and Applications"(PDF). Imperial College London. Retrieved 11 March 2018.
- ^ Oñativia, J; Dragotti, PL (February 2015). "Sparse sampling: theory, methods and an application in neuroscience". Biological Cybernetics. 109 (1): 125–39. doi:10.1007/s00422-014-0639-x. PMC 4315512. PMID 25452206.
- ^ a b Christoph Engemann, Anton Schlesinger (2017-12-30). "MQA - A clever stealth DRM-Trojan". 34C3 (video). media.ccc.de. YouTube tGJ5eW-gBxA.
- ^ Harley, Robert. "Master Quality Authenticated (MQA): The View From 30,000 Feet". The Absolute Sound. The Absolute Sound. Retrieved 11 May 2016.
- ^ Atkinson, John. "I've Heard the Future of Streaming: Meridian's MQA". Stereophile. Stereophile. Retrieved 11 May 2016.
- ^ "Schiit Audio, Headphone amps and DACs made in USA". schiit.com. Retrieved 2017-03-22.
- ^ a b c "MQA is Bad For Music. Here's Why". Retrieved 2017-03-22.
- ^ Koch, Andreas (2017-03-16). "My Questions and Answers (MQA): An Interview with Andreas Koch". Positive Feedback. Retrieved 2017-03-23.
- ^ "Digital Done Wrong". International Audio/Video Review. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
- ^ Miska. "Some analysis and comparison of MQA encoded FLAC vs normal optimized hires FLAC". Audiophile Style. Retrieved 11 May 2016.
- ^ a b Stuart, Bob. "A Comprehensive Q&A With MQA's Bob Stuart". Audiophile Style. Retrieved 11 May 2016.
- ^ a b "I published music on Tidal to test MQA - MQA Review". YouTube.
- ^ Cox, Joe (31 January 2017). "MQA audio: What is it? How can you get it?". What Hifi. Retrieved 11 February 2017.
- ^ Smith, Adam (5 January 2017). "Tidal adds hi-res audio streams with 'Tidal Masters'". What Hifi. Retrieved 11 February 2017.
Further reading
Lossy compression
Data compression approach that reduces data size while discarding or changing some of it
Audiophile
Name for a person who pursues high-quality or realistic audio playback
Content is available under CC BY-SA 3.0 unless otherwise noted.
-------------
Reference: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Master_Quality_Authenticated (text retrieved April 26 2021 at 8:00 Copenhagen time).
DimitryZ
pfm Member
We all have access to WP. I am sure you understand the worldwide WP distribution availability.Another cracking read about MQA. In particular some of the articles linked to. One claims MQA to be lossy and lossless at the same time. A comment left below the fact-finding article calls MQA "Schrödinger's codec."
From:
Wikipedia (retrieved 26 April 2021)
Master Quality Authenticated
Master Quality Authenticated (MQA) is an audio codec using lossy compression[1] and a form of file fingerprinting, intended for high fidelity digital audio internet streaming and file download.[2] Launched in 2014 by Meridian Audio, it is now owned and licensed by MQA Ltd, which was founded by Bob Stuart, co-founder of Meridian Audio.
MQA logo
History
MQA was launched on 4 December 2014 at The Shard in London,[3] although the concepts underpinning the development had previously been the subject of a presentation to the Audio Engineering Society British Section (10 June 2014)[4] and a paper (published 8 October 2014) presented at the Audio Engineering Society 137th Convention in Los Angeles, CA in October 2014.[5]
MQA was demonstrated to visitors to the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas in January 2015.[6] Several download/streaming services, playback system manufacturers and record labels have subsequently announced support for the technology, including Pioneer Corporation, Onkyo, Meridian Audio, 7digital, Norwegian label Lindberg Lyd (2L), Mytek and others,[7] with Warner Music Group announcing the signing of a "long-term licensing deal" with MQA at the Munich High End show in May 2016.[8]
In May 2016, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), in cooperation with the Recording Academy Producers & Engineers Wing, the American Association of Independent Music (A2IM), and DEG: The Digital Entertainment Group, announced that services providing music encoded in MQA are eligible to carry the industry's official logo mark for "Hi-Res MUSIC".[9]
In March 2018, MQA launched "Live", a virtual concert-going service designed to preserve the original sound quality of live performances.[10] While playback will be available on any device, only devices compatible with MQA's proprietary codec may access the stream's "full quality."[10]
Codec description
MQA encoding is lossy;[11] it hierarchically compresses the relatively little energy in the higher frequency bands into data streams that are embedded in the lower frequency bands using proprietary dithering techniques but after the decoding the result would be the lossless archive.[12]
After a series of such manipulations, the resulting 44.1 kHz data, the layered data streams, and a final "touchup" stream (compressed difference between the lossy signal from unpacking all layers and the original) are provided to the playback device. Given the low amount of energy expected in higher frequencies, and using only one extra frequency band layer (upper 44.1 kHz band of 96/24 packed into dither of 48/16) and one touchup stream (compressed difference between original 96/24 and 48/16) are together distributed as a 48/24 stream, of which 48/16 bit-decimated part can be played by normal 48/16 playback equipment.
One more difference to standard formats is the sampling process. The audio stream is sampled and convolved with a triangle function, and interpolated later during playback. The techniques employed, including the sampling of signals with a finite rate of innovation, were developed by a number of researchers over the preceding decade, including Pier Luigi Dragotti and others.[13][14]
MQA-encoded content can be carried via any lossless file format such as FLAC or ALAC; hence, it can be played back on systems either with or without an MQA decoder. In the latter case, the resulting audio has easily identifiable high-frequency noise occupying 3 LSB bits, thus limiting playback on non-MQA devices effectively to 13 bit. MQA claims that nevertheless the quality is higher than "normal" 48/16, because of the novel sampling and convolution processes.[15]
Other than the sampling and convolution methods, which were not explained by MQA in detail, the encoding process is similar to that used in XRCD and HDCD.
However, unlike other lossy compression formats like MP3 and WMA, the lossy encoding method of MQA is similar to aptX, LDAC and WavPack Hybrid Lossy, which uses time-domain ADPCM and bitrate reduction instead of perceptual encoding based on psychoacoustic models.
Reception
While the technology has received little comment in the general and mainstream press, it has been exalted by the audiophile and hi-fi press. Robert Harley, editor of The Absolute Sound has referred to it as "The most significant audio technology of my lifetime".[16] Editor John Atkinson writing in Stereophile magazine following the UK launch in December 2014 wrote "In almost 40 years of attending audio press events, only rarely have I come away feeling that I was present at the birth of a new world."[17]
Criticism
MQA has received criticism from various sources within the music industry.
Audio product manufacturer Schiit Audio announced that it will not be supporting MQA due to, amongst other reasons, the understanding that "…supporting MQA means handing over the entire recording industry to an external standards organization."[18]
In a blog post title "MQA is Bad for Music. Here's why"[19] Hi-fi Manufacturer Linn Products criticises MQA's licensing requirements, asserting that MQA is "...an attempt to control and extract revenue from every part of the supply chain, and not just over content that they hold the rights for."[19] After having discussed several disadvantages for both the artist and the consumer Linn concludes that as a consumer you will "…pay a higher price for the same music, and you'll pay more for your hi-fi system too. And even if you don't buy into MQA, everyone will get less innovation, creativity and poorer music as a result."[19]
In an interview for online publication Positive Feedback, engineer Andreas Koch is critical of MQA due to its lossy algorithms and compression, along with its licensing requirements; also saying that a format such as this "does not solve any problem that the world currently has."[20] Koch was involved in the creation of the Super Audio CD, the development of the Direct Stream Digital codec, and is co-founder of audio product manufacturer Playback Designs.
An article titled Digital Done Wrong[21] on the International Audio/Video Review web site, concluded that MQA is founded on a fundamentally unsound understanding of correct digital audio processing and found that playback of a sample MQA encoding demonstrated gross distortion and reconstruction failure. It did however comment that some listeners may find the technical defects of MQA encoding subjectively pleasing.
Some critical comments have been made in online forums such as the Audiophile Style forum[22] and in audio magazine website comments, and a few writers have expressed concern in some areas. Over 80 detailed questions, some of which voiced these concerns, were submitted to the editors of the Audiophile Style forum and subsequently addressed in detail by the creator of MQA, Bob Stuart, in an extended question-and-answer article.[23] The editors of Audiophile Style forum subsequently updated the article with a disclaimer that "Most of Bob Stuart's answers have been debunked and the MQA technology is now seen as lacking any benefit for anyone other than record labels and MQA Ltd."[23]
An extensive video examining MQA through the use of author-created audio tracks released on Tidal was post on YouTube[24]. Through analysis of tracks before and after MQA conversion, the authors demonstrated how the MQA process alters the sound and how the claims made by MQA do not hold true.[24]
Hardware and software decoders
Hardware decoders are manufactured by Pioneer, iFi Audio, Onkyo, Mytek, Meridian, Cocktailaudio and Bluesound. Selected Meridian products will support MQA thanks to a firmware update. On software side, the desktop application by Tidal supports MQA.[25]
Commercial MQA-capable playback devices require payment of a royalty to MQA Ltd per unit sold. Based on information from Auralic, a manufacturer of Audiophile Wireless Audio Streamers, Meridian Audio prohibits digital output of unpacked MQA in any digital format, only allowing the unpacked data to be fed to an on-board MQA-compatible DAC and output in analog form. Some claim this to be a kind of DRM process,[15] which allows a proper MQA file to be authenticated and the full quality of the signal decoded only on commercially licensed equipment.
Streaming services
Starting in January 2017, Tidal provides MQA audio to subscribers of the Tidal "HiFi" package.[26]
References
- ^ "Is MQA DOA?". Retrieved 3 February 2017. 'MQA is not lossless.'
- ^ Radding, Ben. "Studio-Quality Music Streaming Coming Soon From MQA". PC Mag. Ziff Davis. Retrieved 15 April 2016. 'MQA is a digital encoding and playback service, standing for Master Quality Authenticated, which aims to deliver master studio quality sound in a file that's small enough to stream or download.'
- ^ "Meridian Launch MQA 'Master Quality Authenticated' Audio Format". HiFiCritic.com. 7 December 2014. Retrieved 11 May 2016.
- ^ Stuart, Craven, J Robert, Peter. "High Resolution: Capturing the Moment". Audio Engineering Society UK. AES British Section. Retrieved 11 May 2016.
- ^ Stuart, Craven, J Robert, Peter. "A Hierarchical Approach to Archiving and Distribution". Audio Engineering Society. Audio Engineering Society Inc. Retrieved 11 May 2016.
- ^ Waldrep, Mark. "MQA at CES 2015: Part II Listening". Real HD Audio. Real HD Audio. Retrieved 11 May 2016.
- ^ audioXpress Staff. "Master Quality Authenticated (MQA) Launches Major Partnerships and New Development Platforms at CES 2016". audioXpress. audioXpress. Retrieved 13 May 2016.
- ^ Music Business Worldwide. "Warner becomes first major to sign deal with HD music firm MQA". Music Business Worldwide. Music Business Worldwide. Retrieved 11 May 2016.
- ^ RIAA News. "HI-RES MUSIC INITIATIVE EXPANDS TO INCLUDE MUSIC STREAMING SERVICES". Recording Industry Association of America. RIAA. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
- ^ a b Roberts, Becky (Mar 19, 2018). "MQA Live promises "original quality" real-time concert streams". What Hi Fi?. Retrieved December 18, 2018.
- ^ Darko, John. "An inconvenient truth: MQA sounds better!". Retrieved 27 May 2020. the MQA encoding process is lossy – it is no longer the studio master as archived by the record label
- ^ "MQA The Facts vs the fiction". Retrieved 5 May 2020. 'the result is the same as lossless compression'
- ^ Dragotti, Pier Luigi (November 24, 2009). "Sparse Sampling: Theory and Applications"(PDF). Imperial College London. Retrieved 11 March 2018.
- ^ Oñativia, J; Dragotti, PL (February 2015). "Sparse sampling: theory, methods and an application in neuroscience". Biological Cybernetics. 109 (1): 125–39. doi:10.1007/s00422-014-0639-x. PMC 4315512. PMID 25452206.
- ^ a b Christoph Engemann, Anton Schlesinger (2017-12-30). "MQA - A clever stealth DRM-Trojan". 34C3 (video). media.ccc.de. YouTube tGJ5eW-gBxA.
- ^ Harley, Robert. "Master Quality Authenticated (MQA): The View From 30,000 Feet". The Absolute Sound. The Absolute Sound. Retrieved 11 May 2016.
- ^ Atkinson, John. "I've Heard the Future of Streaming: Meridian's MQA". Stereophile. Stereophile. Retrieved 11 May 2016.
- ^ "Schiit Audio, Headphone amps and DACs made in USA". schiit.com. Retrieved 2017-03-22.
- ^ a b c "MQA is Bad For Music. Here's Why". Retrieved 2017-03-22.
- ^ Koch, Andreas (2017-03-16). "My Questions and Answers (MQA): An Interview with Andreas Koch". Positive Feedback. Retrieved 2017-03-23.
- ^ "Digital Done Wrong". International Audio/Video Review. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
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- ^ a b Stuart, Bob. "A Comprehensive Q&A With MQA's Bob Stuart". Audiophile Style. Retrieved 11 May 2016.
- ^ a b "I published music on Tidal to test MQA - MQA Review". YouTube.
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Further reading
Lossy compression
Data compression approach that reduces data size while discarding or changing some of it
Wikipedia
Audiophile
Name for a person who pursues high-quality or realistic audio playback
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Andrew L Weekes
Reverse Engineer
The detection of test tones and the takedown of the test files from Tidal told me everything I need to know about MQA. If you aren't willing to be open and allow test scrutiny, you're hiding something.
As others have said MQA is a solution to a problem that increasingly no longer exists, one of limited bandwidth, it will die, eventually.
As others have said MQA is a solution to a problem that increasingly no longer exists, one of limited bandwidth, it will die, eventually.
Del monaco
Del Monaco
I think the evidence that MQA is not all that it seems is mounting and the arguments have been made. But like I said earlier you have choice. I chose Qobuz.
I feel compelled to butt in again, not about MQA but Internet bandwidth... . Whilst some friends in the US and other places enjoy GB bandwidth, here in the forward thinking, 1st world UK we are still dealing with 2 digit mb speeds. Some have single figure speeds.
We have frequently experienced buffering when watching HD and someone else doing something online. BT 'guarantees' 36mbs. If only. It frequently drops below this.
So, Internet bandwidth is still an issue for many and will be so for some time.
misterdog
Not the canine kind
MQA is generally only available through a Tidal subscription, 360 Reality Audio has been adopted by Tidal. Therefore it is pertinent to this thread IMO.
You have to ask why Tidal if they believe in MQA so much feel the need to adopt yet another new 'format'.
Amber Audio
This is the Day
It’s not so much about the Max speed you’re quoted but the quality and consistency of that connection. There are various things you can do to give your connection a better chance if you’re OK paying for a better router and possibly some cabling work and a new master socket with a filter in some cases. Moving to a more specialised and customer service oriented ISP is also an option. Rule of thumb more than 10Mbps on a consistent connection is a good bar to aim for in a normal household. Normal ADSL2+ broadband gets up to 24Mbps Down, unless you want the much faster Upload speed Fibre provides it isn't a necessity to enjoy multiple Streams.
misterdog
Not the canine kind
Again ?
I have mentioned 360 Reality Audio several times and also that it is a Sony product.
Del monaco
Del Monaco
Tried it through my Sony’s. Non plussed really.
Amber Audio
This is the Day
This is a genuine query, my preferred format is vinyl, I do have Tidal and Qobuz subs and MQA capable DACs, I’m not fussed about it as a format but like many do not want it foisted on me, I want to make my own choice if I want the MQA version or not.
This guy has deliberately gone for an MQA master on the vinyl release. Not a band I collect so I won’t likely get to hear the record. I was surprised when I saw vinyl coming off MQA masters, thoughts, does his quote stand up to scrutiny?
On Amazon I found a Norwegian Jazz LP and nothing else after a cursory search so not yet a widespread thing it seems.
This guy has deliberately gone for an MQA master on the vinyl release. Not a band I collect so I won’t likely get to hear the record. I was surprised when I saw vinyl coming off MQA masters, thoughts, does his quote stand up to scrutiny?
On Amazon I found a Norwegian Jazz LP and nothing else after a cursory search so not yet a widespread thing it seems.
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