This is interesting - I'm surprised some people are getting 88.2/96/192kHz with their non-MQA DACs!
When I play MQA content* to my non-MQA DAC it shows up as 24bit (always) and sometimes as 44.1kHz and 48kHz, which I thought was to be expected in such a setup? I wasn't aware that (at least some) non-MQA DACs can also do the unfolding WRT sampling rate?
*separately verified in the Tidal desktop app to make sure it really *is* MQA
"it shows up as 24bit (always) and sometimes as 44.1kHz and 48kHz" - then you are not hearing any MQA vln. Sounds as though your system has not been set up correctly from the start, or that you are seeing the same bug as I report.
Software decoding in the Tidal program only decodes to 24/88.2 or to 24/96. Not any higher. To decode MQA to a higher sample rate requires an MQA DAC.
+++++++++++++++
To permit software decoding (max 96kHz) in the Windows Tidal program requires:
- not have the Tidal bug
- set Windows's "Speaker Properties/Advanced" to "Allow applications to take exclusive control..." ticked
- you may need to experiment with the bit depth/rate drop-down. Although if your system is correctly configured, Tidal will override whatever you have set here.
- In the Tidal program, under "Settings/Streaming" choose your DAC.
- Hover with your mouse until the secret "cog" icon becomes visible.
- Click the secret cog and select "Use Exclusive Mode"
- Choose a track for which the "Master" flag is indicated
- Your DAC should now read 24/88.2 or 24/96 and the job is done.
- After a few tracks or tens of minutes, go back and see if Tidal has flipped your "Streaming" choice back from your DAC to "System Default". If so, then Exclusive Mode will have been disengaged and your DAC will be displaying whatever bit depth/rate you have had set in your Windows control panel. And you will not at this point be hearing any MQA software decoding.