AudioCircle
Industry Circles => Bryston Limited => Topic started by: James Tanner on 27 Sep 2018, 01:18 pm
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https://www.computeraudiophile.com/forums/topic/54247-mqa-only-lost-71-million-pounds-in-2017/
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Interesting....
JA from Stereophile sure got thrown under the bus in one of the exchanges....."You will be called out on all half truths and distortions you spread" yikes!
TJ
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He deserves it.
Next.
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Not so fast. JA has objectively reported on hundreds of pieces of gear - and is an incredibly knowledgable audiophile. Nothing wrong with reporting on observations.
As I recall Maestro, you don't even stream music - seems a bit odd to have such strong negative opinions on the matter. Lighten up man.
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LOL, I'm lightened -- nothing in my previous post that's not "lighten".
Yeah, all that good "service" in reasonably well written reviews, then he sells out to Meridian by promoting MQA as a revolutionary medium. As a responsible writer, he should've expressed cautious optimism rather than rabid fanboy enthusiasm. Observations don't justify that kind of journalism.
cheers
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deleted
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I downloaded a Metallica concert I was recently at in Saskatoon in MQA and love the sound. I only wished all of my music sounded that good
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I downloaded a Metallica concert I was recently at in Saskatoon in MQA and love the sound. I only wished all of my music sounded that good
No fair introducing sound quality into the MQA debate :-)
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I downloaded a Metallica concert I was recently at in Saskatoon in MQA and love the sound. I only wished all of my music sounded that good
Metallica sounding good? That hasn't happened since MoP. :lol:
Did they also have a "regular" high res version? Did you compare the mqa version with that?
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Metallica sounding good? That hasn't happened since MoP. :lol:
Did they also have a "regular" high res version? Did you compare the mqa version with that?
no only compared to the mp3 version. I have compared other live recordings to this and I’m pretty happy with my first MQA purchase
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no only compared to the mp3 version. I have compared other live recordings to this and I’m pretty happy with my first MQA purchase
Please. :o
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LOL, I'm lightened -- nothing in my previous post that's not "lighten".
Yeah, all that good "service" in reasonably well written reviews, then he sells out to Meridian by promoting MQA as a revolutionary medium. As a responsible writer, he should've expressed cautious optimism rather than rabid fanboy enthusiasm. Observations don't justify that kind of journalism.
cheers
I agree.
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Please. :o
please what?
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please what?
I could not believe you would even mention mp3 for comparison. :o
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I downloaded a Metallica concert I was recently at in Saskatoon in MQA and love the sound. I only wished all of my music sounded that good
I need to get that concert, thanks for posting. There is a ton of MQA content on Tidal and more new stuff is being released all the time. :thumb:
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSv0lcHlawk
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Poor, totally worthless, no sound on the rebuttal comments which were BS plants by MQA anyway. WTF!
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I need to get that concert, thanks for posting. There is a ton of MQA content on Tidal and more new stuff is being released all the time. :thumb:
Hey witchdoctor can you pm me re an old post you made regarding the efficacy of using mapleshade footers with your tbi sub. Thanks
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSv0lcHlawk
Seems like MQA is in a downward spiral.
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I finally had the time to watch the presentation, or better, the remains of it because of the bullying by the mqa people. They leave no question on how they forced themselves to the point where they are now.
Just watching this should be a massive turn off for anyone even remotely interested in the process.
Well, except for the few that try the same thing here...
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I am no fan of MQA (just another money grab with negligible audible benefit, as far as I can tell), but to be fair, the MQA folks did have a point in that the presenter was ostensibly presenting an "objective" overview of MQA and yet, much of his presentation was unsubstantiated and reflected his opinions. Unfortunately, the audience microphone seemed to disappear halfway through the presentation, making it difficult to hear the questions that he did or did not answer. If one knew nothing about MQA before the presentation, I don't think it was as convincing as it could have been.
My $.02 :|
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Hey witchdoctor can you pm me re an old post you made regarding the efficacy of using mapleshade footers with your tbi sub. Thanks
My PM doesn't work. The TBI sub is now sitting on an Isoacoustic subwoofer stand with great results. The footers worked too but I changed some thins around.
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https://docs.wixstatic.com/ugd/7c4708_a6ad10f865f74369903c44599a91b04b.pdf?fbclid=IwAR2q-jhnEY_Ekp1IiKxnGjErwFS1fbBguSGKrJwKcDHdukzSULV9hmCUWFY
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSv0lcHlawk
Yah I had to stop watching about half way through, I felt like I was watching a looped video. Its a shame I was really looking forward to hearing Chris's full presentation on MQA, it sounded like he was being very open about what he had intended on presenting.
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https://docs.wixstatic.com/ugd/7c4708_a6ad10f865f74369903c44599a91b04b.pdf?fbclid=IwAR2q-jhnEY_Ekp1IiKxnGjErwFS1fbBguSGKrJwKcDHdukzSULV9hmCUWFY
Blind test indicates MQA is kinda dead, and stereophile lost the last bit of credibility they had.
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Blind test indicates MQA is kinda dead, and stereophile lost the last bit of credibility they had.
MQA is alive and well thank you. Look at all the new vendors adopting the standard. Whether or not you prefer MQA is up to the listener.
I love Bob Carver and have my Bluesound Node wired to a Sunfire TG3 preamp, and a Carver AV 505 amp, It sounds fabulous.
I liked the article James posted by Bob, thank you. I am sure all of these vendors adopting MQA have done due diligence as well and have decided to adopt it. While I respect Bob I think MQA sounds fantatic...through HIS products. I guess he came to a different conclusion as did all of these vendors who afdpoted the tech:
https://www.soundandvision.com/content/mqa-announces-new-products-and-partners
My Sunfire TG3 and Carver amp:
(https://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=163310)
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Here are Archimago's further thoughts on Chris Connaker's MQA presentation at RMAF (yes, the one with several MQA reps in the room):
http://archimago.blogspot.com/2018/10/musings-on-rmaf-2018-mqa-talk.html (http://archimago.blogspot.com/2018/10/musings-on-rmaf-2018-mqa-talk.html)
He also discusses the issue of "anonymity" and "credentials"
Just to keep the discussion going! :scratch:
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Here are Archimago's further thoughts on Chris Connaker's MQA presentation at RMAF (yes, the one with several MQA reps in the room):
http://archimago.blogspot.com/2018/10/musings-on-rmaf-2018-mqa-talk.html (http://archimago.blogspot.com/2018/10/musings-on-rmaf-2018-mqa-talk.html)
He also discusses the issue of "anonymity" and "credentials"
Just to keep the discussion going! :scratch:
Chris is biased against MQA and bans members from his site that don't oppose it. Only 30 people showed. no surprise there. :lol:
As for Archimego I like his writing style, it's amusing, and he doesn't take himself too seriously at least.
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https://www.audiostream.com/content/bob-stuart-and-mqa-audiostream-podcast-no1
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https://www.soundstagesimplifi.com/index.php/feature-articles/63-hi-rez-streaming-tidal-vs-qobuz
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:thumb: :thumb: :thumb:
Seems to be a balanced honest review.
If U.K. prices are any indication, non-compressed Qobuz won't be cheap in North America.
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I think what's interesting about Archimago is that he actually measures what's going on, instead of relying on demos put on by manufacturers or entirely trusting his ears.
I have seen no sign of CC's banning anyone from his site because they didn't agree with him on MQA.
Anyone whose presentation has been scheduled last in any conference will have a small audience. I've been there, and I sympathize.
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If you have time PLEASE check out the Beatles 50th Anniversary release of the White Album in MQA.
I think I can say that Bob Stuart has realized his goal of giving people the experience of hearing the master tape after listening to this remix version in high res/MQA. If you don't like MQA you can buy the 96/24 high res album (around $100) LOL.
https://www.iheart.com/content/2018-09-24-the-beatles-expand-white-album-with-50th-anniversary-release-details/
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If you have time PLEASE check out the Beatles 50th Anniversary release of the White Album in MQA.
I think I can say that Bob Stuart has realized his goal of giving people the experience of hearing the master tape after listening to this remix version in high res/MQA. If you don't like MQA you can buy the 96/24 high res album (around $100) LOL.
https://www.iheart.com/content/2018-09-24-the-beatles-expand-white-album-with-50th-anniversary-release-details/
I did yesterday that on my new streamer w/ full MQA decoding. Wow, I have to admit I was impressed with sound. I can't compare this version with the FLAC hi-res equivalent, because I don't own it. And that is sort-of the point with MQA, in my opinion.
A high-res PCM file MQA-encoded will be about three times smaller than a comparable high-res FLAC file. For downloads, I could say "who cares", as storage is so cheap that it's almost free. But for streaming providers that have to bear the bandwidth cost, and are struggling to make a profit, the savings are real.
Honestly, I've read many of Archimago's blog posts (and I like his writing, as well) and looked at the graphs, as well as the lengthy post/discussion on Computer Audiophile. I just don't care anymore. I suspect that is why Bob Stuart doesn't respond to the endless technical critique and anecdotes, because he is sick of feeling the arrows from technically illiterate posters.
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If you have time PLEASE check out the roughly 50,000 comments about the deception called MQA.
I think I can say that Bob Stuart has realized his goal of making more money off people that believe the MQA hoax. Any smart and intelligent person would simply buy the standard resolution version of this album, because it's just not worth the money LOL.
https://youcanyoga.nl/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/head-up-ass.jpg
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because he is sick of feeling the arrows from technically illiterate posters.
Gawd witchdokrutch, you are *positively* hilarious...
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(https://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=186725)
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I just don't care anymore. I suspect that is why Bob Stuart doesn't respond to the endless technical critique and anecdotes, because he is sick of feeling the arrows from technically illiterate posters.
Then why are you posting here?
It's not because BS is "sick...".
Could be because BS knows it's....BS.
[he's probably too busy enjoying all that $$$ from suckers who bought into MQA]
cheers
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Unless I am suddenly transported to a DIFFERENT UNIVERSE...
None of this means anything to me.
I also know anyone who does care finds my point 'useless'. But there is a point to my saying so.
To me, and I would guess plenty of other folks who have never, and will never stream, the whole MQA, and Tidal vs Qobuz is meaningless.
The last link offered by James Tanner read like the Qobuz is better, only a tiny bit better, but still better. Since it is still in the early stages, I would say that is hope for a future without MQA cornering the market. (However the powers that be (who favor MQA) may try to thwart Qobuz via licensing with the studios as a difficulty for Qobuz.
All in all just odd reading for me. Maybe someday I would be interested in it all. Not soon though. (other than adding my 2 cents.)
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Then why are you posting here?
It's not because BS is "sick...".
Could be because BS knows it's....BS.
[he's probably too busy enjoying all that $$$ from suckers who bought into MQA]
cheers
Here is a link to Amazon, you can join the "suckers" paying $66 for MP3, $94 for vinyl, or $138 for CD. I gots no beef with that if thats how you roll. Why should you care how I buy music?
https://www.amazon.com/Beatles-White-Album-Super-Deluxe/dp/B07HJJPJ4Y/ref=ice_ac_b_dpb?ie=UTF8&qid=1542153291&sr=8-1&keywords=the+beatles+white+album+50+anniversary
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Why should you care how I buy music?
I don't give a baboon's red arse how you buy your music.
I do give a hoot about the bigger picture -- if MQA worms its way into most of the future DACs and music market, not to mention its illicit proprietary lock on music rights, we all will end up paying an MQA tax (aka "stupidity tariff"), whether or not we use MQA-compatible gear.
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Here is a link to Amazon, you can join the "suckers" paying $66 for MP3, $94 for vinyl, or $138 for CD. I sic(HAVE) no beef with that if that's how you roll. Why should you care how I buy music?
Why not also list the $0.99 Cds? And the $3.95 LPs? on Amazon? Because they do not support your argument? Locally I have a couple of good used LP and CD stores. Plenty of great music for less.
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Then why are you posting here?
Good question... I will stop.
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I don't give a baboon's red arse how you buy your music.
I do give a hoot about the bigger picture -- if MQA worms its way into most of the future DACs and music market, not to mention its illicit proprietary lock on music rights, we all will end up paying an MQA tax (aka "stupidity tariff"), whether or not we use MQA-compatible gear.
Hmmm, I am happy to pay an "MQA" tax if it means more new MQA releases like the new White Album. Pirating is what screwed up the music industry and degraded SQ through low bit rate MP3's.
I am paying Tidal $20 a month and if Bob Stuart gets a cut good for him, as long as they keep dropping new albums in MQA every week. :thumb:
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^ You don't actually OWN any of this streamed music, right? Unlike buying $1 CDs and $3 LPs from stores/Amazon. Pride of ownership. Priceless.
:lol: Renters.....
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When I buy music I like buying BRD or SACD. But there is no way I could keep up buying the volume of music being released in MQA each week, regardless of how deep my pockets are, there is no practical way to store that many CD's regardless of my "pride" in ownership. :(
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Good question... I will stop.
(https://media.foodnetwork.ca/recipetracker/9b23167c-7707-4ea6-af1b-d3f8307fd078_COMFORT%20FOOD%20-%20Chocolate%20Celebration%20Cake%20-%20ep%206_WebReady.jpg)
Cake for all!!!
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I do not think pride of ownership is important here. To me renting a huge base of music may be practical for folks. Specially if they do not already own a large base of music. If I did not already own the thousands of albums I do, I am certain I would be streaming. No question.
The idea of ownership is losing out Young people are renting not buying EVERYTHING. Look at the death knell for DVD movie sales. No one is buying movies anymore. All streaming services.
Seems enough Music lovers are still buying albums to support the production system..
So that is good. I cannot say I want to see that end at all.
But physical music media may die if MQA dominates.. Seriously. One of the problems with a monopoly is it always wants to be bigger, more control. And MQA is not going to be any different.
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^ True.
Selection is still meagre -- esp for classical albums.
given a CHOICE, many still buy musik, and choose not to stream. Maybe not the market-movers (young people), but still buyers (actually, the crowds of young(er) folks who buy LPs from brick stores are still noticeable. Not sure why it's so).
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I dont know how Tidal and Qobuz competes in Europe but i suspect once Qobuz starts up in North America and offers a slight better interface, audiophiles will flock over. Ive been using Tidal for a few months and even though i can play MQA on one DAC, its not worth the inconvenience to play through a desktop/laptop. Tidal MQA library is horribly lacking, difficult to search and recommend tracks have nothing to do with my play history. I hope Qobuz doesnt have that superficial limitation of requiring a windoes/mac os. From what i can tell mpd and upmpdcli have the support for Qobuz hires.
Again, the only MQA game in town is tidal, and tidals MQA library is weak. Yes there are other ways to get MQA, but they are even lessor known.
I signed up to a streaming service for three reasons, first not all music are making their ways CD and Vinyl. Second, cd and vinyl prices have increased, yea you can still find good prices. Third, convenience, guests can play practically any song they want and I can listen to that song i heard on the radio that night. With Best Buy halting CDs sales, there are few places to buy music other than online, and im sure CDs sales in general will continue to slow down.
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regardless of how deep my pockets are, there is no practical way to store that many CD's regardless of my "pride" in ownership. :(
I used to own lots of box sets of CDs. I ripped them to Flac, and sold them off on the online marts. Space freed up. Somehow, streaming doesn't interest me. With the amt I have invested in my rig, physical media always had an attraction for me, and also downloads bought from places like Presto and Pro Studio Masters.
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^ True.
Selection is still meagre -- esp for classical albums.
given a CHOICE, many still buy musik, and choose not to stream. Maybe not the market-movers (young people), but still buyers (actually, the crowds of young(er) folks who buy LPs from brick stores are still noticeable. Not sure why it's so).
Many, but not most, by a wide margin:
https://www.theverge.com/2018/3/22/17152120/digital-downloads-cd-vinyl-riaa-2017-report (https://www.theverge.com/2018/3/22/17152120/digital-downloads-cd-vinyl-riaa-2017-report)
A few month old, but worth a read.
Streaming music is taking over the recording industry, and there’s no clearer sign of it than this: digital download sales have fallen so much in the past few years that they’re now smaller than sales of CDs, vinyl, and other physical media, which hasn’t been the case since 2011.
Last year, nearly two-thirds of all revenue — over $5.7 billion — came from streaming, an increase of 43 percent. Compared with $1.3 billion last year for digital downloads, whereas physical media, while also falling, only declined to $1.5 billion.
Unless you want nothing more than to listen to the White Album, again and again, at some point you will have to accept streaming into your "rig".
:popcorn:
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I wouldn't mind buying the new White Album to get the 5.1 mix that's included along with the CD.
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Spending money. Let's see. I spent $33,000 in the past eight months on....
Stereo equipment. How much on music? $147.
Actually the Music has been paying ME! IF I subtract the money fro selling LPs while weeding my LP collection I spent -$2,363. on music.
I already OWN far more music than I can possibly really listen TO!
If all you own is The White Album? Well WHAT have you been doing???
If I play each album I own in some sequence, not repeating, say ten hour a day...
I could manage the LPs in about a year. Ditto another year for the CDs...
And with weeding, I really enjoy the albums that are left. So I could live with them forever, and nothing else.. anyway.
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Liz, lend me some dough?
Patience. Med researchers are working on extending lifespans to 100+ (they did it for fruitflies years ago LOL -- those critters live only hours/few days normally). With or without mental faculties intact (e.g. hearing, memory) LOL.
I have 3 portable drives feeding my digital player: 1. "Favorites" 2. "Classical" 3. "Non-classical". Would take me about a year to play all 18/7. Culled most of library last year -- resell, gifting, etc.
Funny thing is that none of it's MQA.....
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at some point you will have to accept streaming into your "rig".
Nope. :popcorn:
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at some point you will have to accept streaming into your "rig".
And listen to music in watered down quality of unknown sources? Uhm... No.
But I doubt you understand this.
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And listen to music in watered down quality of unknown sources? Uhm... No.
:thumb:
Too many are just following the crowds and hailing polls/stats. Populism is certainly rising in some circles. Too bad. For them.
cheers
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I listen to MQA in the near field in my desktop rig in a very similar setup to what they use in a studio It is very inexpensive and extremely enjoyable.
Master Tape Quality Authenticated file decoded through a proper DAC (check) + JBL monitors in the near field (check) + direct signal path through my pre-amp (check)= one happy camper for not a lot of scratch.
Now if only I could get a pair of those humongous towers James demoed in Toronto for a near field setup (can you imagine :thumb:) my life would be complete.
(https://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=162252)
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And listen to music in watered down quality of unknown sources? Uhm... No.
But I doubt you understand this.
Bad mastering is orthogonal to the delivery format. With a well-mastered album, I am sure you could distinguish an MP3/320 from a Redbook equivalent, or even a high-res release encoded with MQA. :roll:
And, I'm also sure you know all about the mastering/recording/delivery chain for everything in your collection, right?
I suspect that you don't see the irony of your statement. The key design center of MQA was to solve that very problem - authenticating the mastering/recording chain, all the way through to delivery to your DAC.
Checkmate :lol:
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The key design center of MQA was to solve that very problem - authenticating the mastering/recording chain, all the way through to delivery to your DAC.
An admirable goal, but they (MQA "designers") haven't accomplished it. Has anybody?
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An admirable goal, but they (MQA "designers") haven't accomplished it. Has anybody?
nugs.net has, check out this Bob Weir concert from a few days ago, hit the drop down menu under BUY to select your format and compare:
http://nugs.net/browse/music/20392/Bob-Weir-and-Wolf-Bros-mp3-flac-download-11-15-2018-Boch-Center-Wang-Theatre-Boston-MA
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^ I don't have any MQA-compatible gear. :nono:
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^ I don't have any MQA-compatible gear. :nono:
I'm not suggesting you buy any. I am suggesting you hold off on making opinions on any format until you have actually had time to review it in your own system. :duh:
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I'm not suggesting you buy any. I am suggesting you hold off on making opinions on any format until you have actually had time to review it in your own system. :duh:
I'm mostly against the ethical b.s. that has been committed by the "designers" of MQA: their misrep of the facts, etc. As documented in links from earlier posts of this thread.
But yeah...I will refrain from posting impressions of MQA SQ.
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Bad mastering is orthogonal to the delivery format. With a well-mastered album, I am sure you could distinguish an MP3/320 from a Redbook equivalent, or even a high-res release encoded with MQA. :roll:
And, I'm also sure you know all about the mastering/recording/delivery chain for everything in your collection, right?
I suspect that you don't see the irony of your statement. The key design center of MQA was to solve that very problem - authenticating the mastering/recording chain, all the way through to delivery to your DAC.
Checkmate :lol:
Nope, You didn´t understand. As expected.
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You don't have to stream to get MQA. Look at this new release from Chicago, you can buy the "hirez" or MQA, whatever floats your boat. The drum solo on track #9, I'm a Man is a GREAT MQA demo IMO:
https://www.onkyomusic.com/US/artist/chicago/release/greatest-hits-live-8564180
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*sigh* time to slumber..... :sleep:
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"But yeah...I will refrain from posting impressions of MQA SQ."
Agree. After all, this is an AUDIO forum. Why would anyone want to share their impressions of SOUND QUALITY on an AUDIO forum?
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"But yeah...I will refrain from posting impressions of MQA SQ."
Agree. After all, this is an AUDIO forum. Why would anyone want to share their impressions of SOUND QUALITY on an AUDIO forum?
Nooooo... Please don't encourage him... :cry:
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Can someone please explain to an old dude why most DACs provide mqa via usb, only? Thanks
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Can someone please explain to an old dude why most DACs provide mqa via usb, only? Thanks
Check out the iFi circle, I think they have several that offer connections other than USB. The Modwright circle is working on a new one offered by Pro-Ject too.
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Thanks, but what am I missing? Why do the majority use USB?
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Typically coax and optical cables are not rated to carry more than 24/192.
That is why you see DSD/DXD done mostly over either USB or Ethernet. There are a few DAC manufacturers that support dual coax (typically AES) that do support DSDx2 and DXD over coax and I believe Aurender makes a server that support dual AES out. But it is rare and expensive to find this.
There are some USB converters that will convert a USB input to a variety of outputs, including i2S, which can also handle DSD using an HDMI cable.
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Thanks!
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You don't have to stream to get MQA. Look at this new release from Chicago, you can buy the "hirez" or MQA, whatever floats your boat. The drum solo on track #9, I'm a Man is a GREAT MQA demo IMO:
https://www.onkyomusic.com/US/artist/chicago/release/greatest-hits-live-8564180
Or with Tidal streaming you can come home from work, see Witchdoctor’s post, and then you’re sitting in your chair with the glass doors to the pool open listening to Chicago along with the neighbors.
(https://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=187097)
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Or with Tidal streaming you can come home from work, see Witchdoctor’s post, and then you’re sitting in your chair with the glass doors to the pool open listening to Chicago along with the neighbors.
(https://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=187097)
Love the pic :) What did you think of the drum solo? It's a 9 minute song, much longer than the album version.
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Witchdoctor
You don't have to stream to get MQA. Look at this new release from Chicago, you can buy the "hirez" or MQA, whatever floats your boat. The drum solo on track #9, I'm a Man is a GREAT MQA demo IMO:
https://www.onkyomusic.com/US/artist/chicago/release/greatest-hits-live-8564180
I thought one of the points to MQA is the folding and unfolding of the file so that it can be streamed?? I know that wireless bandwidth will increase and this folding will not be necessary in the near future for most of us, but I don’t care to download music, or even buy music. I can be content with renting music by a streaming service, and maybe buying an album or cd after I have listened to many, many older familiar artists or new artists emerging daily on streaming sites.
No flames here, just not sure I get all the kickback on MQA. Albums are ok, cds are ok and so are new formats, I don’t see MQA lasting if the bandwidth really opens up..
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Witchdoctor
You don't have to stream to get MQA. Look at this new release from Chicago, you can buy the "hirez" or MQA, whatever floats your boat. The drum solo on track #9, I'm a Man is a GREAT MQA demo IMO:
https://www.onkyomusic.com/US/artist/chicago/release/greatest-hits-live-8564180
I thought one of the points to MQA is the folding and unfolding of the file so that it can be streamed?? I know that wireless bandwidth will increase and this folding will not be necessary in the near future for most of us, but I don’t care to download music, or even buy music. I can be content with renting music by a streaming service, and maybe buying an album or cd after I have listened to many, many older familiar artists or new artists emerging daily on streaming sites.
No flames here, just not sure I get all the kickback on MQA. Albums are ok, cds are ok and so are new formats, I don’t see MQA lasting if the bandwidth really opens up..
I like the convenience of streaming, every week I open up the "New MQA Additions" Masters playlist and see them constantly dropping new albums. Some members here prefer to download so I was just letting them know you can do both.
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So, if one bought an mqa album, would one play it by storing it on a usb stick plugged into the DAC USB port? Sorry, I’m new to all this....
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So, if one bought an mqa album, would one play it by storing it on a usb stick plugged into the DAC USB port? Sorry, I’m new to all this....
Yes, you could also play it from a file located on your computer or a NAS drive.
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Love the pic :) What did you think of the drum solo? It's a 9 minute song, much longer than the album version.
Decent .. Innagadadivida’esq ... the whole album is decent and not just for a live album. I’ve listened to Chicago since I was a kid. Tonight I did an A/B with the MQA vs non MQA on Tidal and I thought there was a big difference ... that’s not always the case but it is with this album.
Good call...
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http://fairhedon.com/2017/11/05/an-interview-with-mastering-engineer-brian-lucey/
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http://fairhedon.com/2017/11/05/an-interview-with-mastering-engineer-brian-lucey/
AMEN!
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From Lucey's interview (JT's link above).....
[That little blue LED on MQA-DACs must have worked some pseudo-magic...a masterpiece of marketing and brainwashing imo. On comes the blue LED, and MQA-philes ejaculate. "Authentic!". LOL].
Brian Lucey:
"When I first heard about MQA I wondered why would anyone bother with such a concept, as streaming the full file is only going to get easier over time, and the reduction of data with MQA is minimal . Let’s just sell the 24 bit files at the mastering session sample rate, not higher and not lower, and call it a day? Too easy perhaps for the creativity of modern commerce.
My initial info on MQA (the claims of less data with no loss, and that it was correcting PCM) led me quickly to be skeptical about the intentions behind the initiative, especially given that video streaming money has dried up. It’s logical corporate think to move into controlling the global audio stream. However I’m always open minded and am not a crusty cynic like some, so I gave it an open minded listen. Not bad, not great was my impression. It’s definitely a lossy codec, that was clear. And like Mastered for iTunes or any reduction scheme the losses are in critically important areas. Where as mastered for iTunes is harmonically cold and loses some low volume/low end information, actually altering the groove to make everything sound like a nerdy white wedding band, MQA brightens the high-mids in the Mid section while thinning the low-mids on the Sides. There’s also some harmonic distortion which some people could find pleasing, If I want that distortion in the master I would’ve put it there in the first place. The results of MQA I would call fatal to the source material even as they are very subtle.
A real negative is the millions of dollars in DA stock that is being made obsolete with their cynical end run on proper vetting. MQA has been targeting the weakest players in our world, the audiophiles. And they’re targeting those most dependent on pimping new tech, the audiophile press. Meanwhile, one sided presentations at trade shows leave no time for deep Q and A and any real discussion panels are eschewed by MQA. The most excitement about MQA seems to be from perfectionist consumers who want that blue LED and sense of authentication, pressuring DA makers to send that licensing money to MQA and catch up with a demand invented by MQA. A cynical marketing scheme to be kind about it. Or as Mike Jbara told me in a written exchange, “As a team of engineers and a company, we have a POV behind our tools and that is what we talk about.”
I’m most concerned about the bogus claims that MQA is fixing approved masters. Not possible, and a rude assertion to trillions of hours of hard work by teams of people making records for decades. Pure marketing hyperbole. Nothing in audio is perfect, there is no Original Sin, and there is no going back to the place of ideal perfection. Ultimately there is no free lunch in digital, and music production is about a constant flow forward … shaping distortions and how they play with frequency balance and transients. When a record is first tracked, then rough mixed, mixed, revised, mastered, revised in mastering and finally approved … there is no fixing it. Anything that changes violates 5-20 people who have all signed off. Distortion artifacts are musically incorporated in to all music production, there is no perfection in music. That way of thinking is bogus and anti music. Music is flawed and that’s a good thing, it’s the humanity. Perfection has no place in music production, it’s a dangerous myth. MQA has no future in the world of serious engineers in my view, it’s a corporate money scheme at this point. Yet we will see how it turns out, most people are lazy and greed goes a long way on it’s own power".
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And here I was thinking it was my viagra dosage.... :duh:
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Very interesting interview with Lucey. I do get a chuckle when sound engineers start "peacocking" and get defensive about their profession. Most modern day recordings are serviceable at best, and down right atrocious at worst.
This isn't to say Lucey hasn't gotten it right in his work, I'm not familiar with his catalog.
However, IME, really great recordings are few and far between.
On MQA, I do notice a sound quality difference between the 16/44 and MQA versions, as the MQA versions are HiRez. I don't care about the format personally. If Tidal, or some other service can let me stream HiRez audio using PCM, I would be just as happy.
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In the comments Lucey mentioned his work is being peddled as MQA on Tidal and he hasn’t authenticated any of his work. Seems like Tidal/MQA have a large problem if they have to fake their library.
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In the comments Lucey mentioned his work is being peddled as MQA on Tidal and he hasn’t authenticated any of his work. Seems like Tidal/MQA have a large problem if they have to fake their library.
I remember fiasco in the HiDef DVD vs BluRay war.. Seems a number of titles were being sold in the two formats which had no higher resolution than the DVD had. Same nonsense. They are selling 'upgrades' that are just fake.. just to add titles and seem like things are gaining traction..
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^ makes me wonder about all of the "remastered" recordings. Wasn't there something a few yrs back about Abbey Road Studios using flawed "masters" for their Beatles re-release? :scratch:
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^ makes me wonder about all of the "remastered" recordings. Wasn't there something a few yrs back about Abbey Road Studios using flawed "masters" for their Beatles re-release? :scratch:
Check out no recording at all, just a LIVE MQA stream:
https://audiobacon.net/2018/10/08/rmaf-2018-mqa-live-streaming-your-favorite-concerts-in-high-res/
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From Lucey's interview (JT's link above).....
[That little blue LED on MQA-DACs must have worked some pseudo-magic...a masterpiece of marketing and brainwashing imo. On comes the blue LED, and MQA-philes ejaculate. "Authentic!". LOL].
Brian Lucey:
"When I first heard about MQA I wondered why would anyone bother with such a concept, as streaming the full file is only going to get easier over time, and the reduction of data with MQA is minimal . Let’s just sell the 24 bit files at the mastering session sample rate, not higher and not lower, and call it a day? Too easy perhaps for the creativity of modern commerce.
My initial info on MQA (the claims of less data with no loss, and that it was correcting PCM) led me quickly to be skeptical about the intentions behind the initiative, especially given that video streaming money has dried up. It’s logical corporate think to move into controlling the global audio stream. However I’m always open minded and am not a crusty cynic like some, so I gave it an open minded listen. Not bad, not great was my impression. It’s definitely a lossy codec, that was clear. And like Mastered for iTunes or any reduction scheme the losses are in critically important areas. Where as mastered for iTunes is harmonically cold and loses some low volume/low end information, actually altering the groove to make everything sound like a nerdy white wedding band, MQA brightens the high-mids in the Mid section while thinning the low-mids on the Sides. There’s also some harmonic distortion which some people could find pleasing, If I want that distortion in the master I would’ve put it there in the first place. The results of MQA I would call fatal to the source material even as they are very subtle.
A real negative is the millions of dollars in DA stock that is being made obsolete with their cynical end run on proper vetting. MQA has been targeting the weakest players in our world, the audiophiles. And they’re targeting those most dependent on pimping new tech, the audiophile press. Meanwhile, one sided presentations at trade shows leave no time for deep Q and A and any real discussion panels are eschewed by MQA. The most excitement about MQA seems to be from perfectionist consumers who want that blue LED and sense of authentication, pressuring DA makers to send that licensing money to MQA and catch up with a demand invented by MQA. A cynical marketing scheme to be kind about it. Or as Mike Jbara told me in a written exchange, “As a team of engineers and a company, we have a POV behind our tools and that is what we talk about.”
I’m most concerned about the bogus claims that MQA is fixing approved masters. Not possible, and a rude assertion to trillions of hours of hard work by teams of people making records for decades. Pure marketing hyperbole. Nothing in audio is perfect, there is no Original Sin, and there is no going back to the place of ideal perfection. Ultimately there is no free lunch in digital, and music production is about a constant flow forward … shaping distortions and how they play with frequency balance and transients. When a record is first tracked, then rough mixed, mixed, revised, mastered, revised in mastering and finally approved … there is no fixing it. Anything that changes violates 5-20 people who have all signed off. Distortion artifacts are musically incorporated in to all music production, there is no perfection in music. That way of thinking is bogus and anti music. Music is flawed and that’s a good thing, it’s the humanity. Perfection has no place in music production, it’s a dangerous myth. MQA has no future in the world of serious engineers in my view, it’s a corporate money scheme at this point. Yet we will see how it turns out, most people are lazy and greed goes a long way on it’s own power".
MQA has been targeting the weakest players in our world, the audiophiles.
Some of the circles here would call those "weakest players" customers.
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MQA has been targeting the weakest players in our world, the audiophiles.
Some of the circles here would call those "weakest players" customers.
The audiophile press are pimps? If the press are pimps and the customers are "weakest players" what does that make Brian Lucey?
Your point is....?
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MQA has been targeting the weakest players in our world, the audiophiles.
Some of the circles here would call those "weakest players" customers.
The audiophile press are pimps? If the press are pimps and the customers are "weakest players" what does that make Brian Lucey?
No comments on Tidal/MQA faking their library? Seems completely dishonest. Lucey knows his market and knows why MQA is here, it seems very clear to the non-bleibers.
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Your point is....?
I didn't like the article.
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Well, as a retired lawyer, I can only say that thecontentions are improbable in light of U.S. law. But, there have been improbable matters in the past that turned to be....
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I didn't like the article.
Obviously. :lol:
What specifically about it didn't you like? The truth?
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After reading all this I’m scratching my head. I still think the MQA purchases I have made sound incredible compared to lossless
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Me, too. Color me clueless.
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After reading all this I’m scratching my head. I still think the MQA purchases I have made sound incredible compared to lossless
Your "lossless" files are probably lossy, or are derived from lousy (pun intended) masters.
Is iTunes cheaper than MQA? :scratch: (Both are lossy....).
cheers
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Obviously. :lol:
What specifically about it didn't you like? The truth?
I think it's fine to pitch whatever you have to sell without having to rip the competition. He goes beyond ripping MQA when he attacks the press and audiophiles. Not necessary IMO.
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Your "lossless" files are probably lossy, or are derived from lousy (pun intended) masters.
Is iTunes cheaper than MQA? :scratch: (Both are lossy....).
cheers
not from iTunes I don’t download from there. Compared to lossless files not iTunes
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I think it's fine to pitch whatever you have to sell without having to rip the competition. He goes beyond ripping MQA when he attacks the press and audiophiles. Not necessary IMO.
He's criticizing those press agents who promote MQA as "lossless" and a "revolution", and also the 'philes who took the bait and continue to propagate the false claims made by MQA's originators.
cheers
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not from iTunes I don’t download from there. Compared to lossless files not iTunes
I believe that somewhere in the MQA chain a proprietary digital filter is applied. Lucey mentions this when he talks about MQA purporting to "improve" the music somehow. Lucey also talks about how different forms of compression alter the sound from the original.
You just might like whatever digital filter is being applied to the MQA files, versus the recording played losslessly. Different strokes for different folks.
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After reading all this I’m scratching my head. I still think the MQA purchases I have made sound incredible compared to lossless
Maybe they sound incredible due to the increases in the mid range and high frequency ranges. Its like you turned the treble up. :lol:
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Maybe they sound incredible due to the increases in the mid range and high frequency ranges. Its like you turned the treble up. :lol:
exactomundo.
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He's criticizing those press agents who promote MQA as "lossless" and a "revolution", and also the 'philes who took the bait and continue to propagate the false claims made by MQA's originators.
cheers
press agents = pimps? nah :nono:
philes= fools? nah :nono:
Lacey= one bitter engineer? That is the impression I get.
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press agents = pimps? nah :nono:
philes= fools? nah :nono:
Lacey= one bitter engineer? That is the impression I get.
P. T. Barnum was right. He was probably talking about folks like you. :lol: However, if you have stock in MQA, keep lobbying for it. :lol:
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Lacey= one bitter engineer? That is the impression I get.
Lacey got frauded (so did millions of 'philes). He should be pissed. Any normal person making an honest living would be. Considering that, his controlled analysis and discussion are commendable.
witchdoc = one rational 'phile? nope :nono:
You can't admit that you got ripped off. Repeatedly. And duped. Lossless? :lol:
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I have been enjoying MQA for many months now. My concern (limited concern) is that Jay-Z is running Tidal into the ground. I did not worry about albums going away, nor did I worry CD's would go away. Does anyone care very much about reel to reel, cassettes, 8 tracks???
Many people I know during the 80's and 90's were stealing music away from the artists when file sharing (think LimeWire, Scour, Grokster, Madster, eDonkey2000 and Napster) was the big thing. Not much complaining about music making, formatting or recording concerns back then. I am glad to see streaming services offering musical artists money and find streaming of all kinds, overall good for music (even MQA)
Besides when the bandwidth opens up to the point that big files can be streamed easily, MQA will fade away. Why all the fuss?
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I have been enjoying MQA for many months now. My concern (limited concern) is that Jay-Z is running Tidal into the ground. I did not worry about albums going away, nor did I worry CD's would go away. Does anyone care very much about reel to reel, cassettes, 8 tracks???
Many people I know during the 80's and 90's were stealing music away from the artists when file sharing (think LimeWire, Scour, Grokster, Madster, eDonkey2000 and Napster) was the big thing. Not much complaining about music making, formatting or recording concerns back then. I am glad to see streaming services offering musical artists money and find streaming of all kinds, overall good for music (even MQA)
Besides when the bandwidth opens up to the point that big files can be streamed easily, MQA will fade away. Why all the fuss?
IMO the "haters" got burned dropping $$$ into DSD downloads and dacs and are peeved that Tidal subscribers get tons of hirez MQA tracks without a similar investment. The manufacturers are pissed that they invested $$$ into producing hirez dacs which are at the risk of becoming less desirable with customers who prefer MQA. They don't want to lose a profit margin and buy another licensing fee.
I would have gladly paid a $10 a month premium for MQA and Tidal kept it at $20 (which I applaud Jay-Z for). My favorite thing is opening the new release playlist and getting surprised by the constant release of new MQA content.
If someone likes DSD or 24/96 rock on. I just can't afford to buy every new HIREZ release that I get via MQA on Tidal.
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Lacey got frauded (so did millions of 'philes). He should be pissed. Any normal person making an honest living would be. Considering that, his controlled analysis and discussion are commendable.
witchdoc = one rational 'phile? nope :nono:
You can't admit that you got ripped off. Repeatedly. And duped. Lossless? :lol:
Frauded? Pissed? Ripped Off? You seem bitter too :(
Please read my above post. No worries, I understand.
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If someone likes DSD or 24/96 rock on. I just can't afford to buy every new HIREZ release that I get via MQA on Tidal.
Very soon Qobuz will be there with HiRez in the US for the same dollar as Tidal. A win for all!
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Frauded? Pissed? Ripped Off? You seem bitter too :(
Please read my above post. No worries, I understand.
Not at all. I get what I love -- lossless, life-like realism. No reaching for "revolutionary formats". You got it all wrong, bud. Don't be a psychiatrist, you'll get sued for malpractice :lol:
cheers
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Hey guys, cut it with the personal snipes. Thanks.
[Update] Thread split and locked.