MQA is Vaporware

[FredericV]

I recently ordered this album, on a physical redbook CD, to have the best version of the album:

 

Why? Well the 24/88.2 MQA version on Tidal did not sound like the usual L'Arpeggiata album.

In the above video, at around 1 minute, the first track of the album "Music for a while" starts. You can see the instrument used for the percussion.

I did compare several versions of this track:

1. the Tidal MQA version, both decoded to 24/88.2 and non-decoded 24/44.1 sound dull and the percussion sounds recessed - it does not sound like how L'Arpeggiata normally sounds. These albums usually have a very wide and deep soundstage.

2. the ~ 128 kbit AAC stream from the above YT converted to 16/44.1 WAV (using foobar as AAC to WAV converter), and also loaded into Roon and then skipping to around 1 minute leads to the first track of the actual album, and sounded more lifelike like any other L'Arpeggiata album and did not have the recessed percussion.



Even when the AAC used on YT is band limiting the upper part of the spectrum (and starts to roll off above 15 kHz), the MQA still sounds like someone dialed down the treble, and the YT version does not have that problem.


3. the redbook version

Listening to the redbook version and comparing it with both decoded and non-decoded MQA, the redbook is currently my best version. MQA version sounds also more aggressive.

I did GO LISTEN to MQA. I did not like it. I did help the artist by buying the CD then ripping it to our server, to have the best version.

It's all backwards:

A lot of L'Arpeggiata CD's sound like real hi-res since their recordings are usually great. They capture the atmosphere and acoustics of the original performance well. On shows listeners would  ask us if these tracks are hi-res. I always answer: no, just CD quality.

The MQA version, which is claimed to decode to 24/88.2 does not has this quality. It just does not sound right. It's boring.

To bring back this quality which makes a lot of L'Arpeggiata demo quality, I just need to buy more CD's .... since well mastered CD's can sound like real hi-res.
 

[sphinxsix]

7 minutes ago, FredericV said:

... since well mastered CD's can sound like real hi-res.

And yet hi-res derived from the same analogue or hi-res master sounds better.

[The Computer Audiophile]

7 minutes ago, sphinxsix said:

And yet hi-res derived from the same analogue or hi-res master sounds better.

Said someone who clearly hasn't listened to all the terribly compressed high resolution versions. 

[sphinxsix]

3 hours ago, The Computer Audiophile said:

Said someone who clearly hasn't listened to all the terribly compressed high resolution versions. 

Said someone who's never encountered a terribly compressed CD.? 😎 

 

BTW what about the DR in case of MQA.? (really asking)

[JoeWhip]

I have heard terribly compressed CDs and high Rez files. Terrible all around.

[yahooboy]

6 hours ago, FredericV said:

I did GO LISTEN to MQA. I did not like it.

Available as 24/88 on Apple Music, currently traveling so only have AirPods with me, so don't know if it is MQA infected, but it shouldn't be

 

https://music.apple.com/dk/album/music-for-a-while-improvisations-on-purcell/818797900

[KeenObserver]

In their most recent financial posting MQA Ltd stated that they would need to secure further funding by the end of Q1 2023 in order to continue as a going concern.

My question is, have they secured further funding?

[KeenObserver]

I see that Rupert resigned as Director.

Makes me think that MQA has lost its South African Financing.

[MikeyFresh]

3 hours ago, KeenObserver said:

I see that Rupert resigned as Director.

Where/when did you see that?

[Iving]

4 hours ago, KeenObserver said:

I see that Rupert resigned as Director.

Makes me think that MQA has lost its South African Financing.

 

56 minutes ago, MikeyFresh said:

Where/when did you see that?

 

If you mean Anthony Edward, resigned 17th March just gone ...

 

https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/officers/LNJGna3ocs9lQGm3IdiYx3hLV0c/appointment

[Currawong]

4 hours ago, KeenObserver said:

I see that Rupert resigned as Director.

Makes me think that MQA has lost its South African Financing.

I have heard much the same thing, and more. It looks like.... this thread is vapourware. 

 

What are we going to complain about after this? 😂

[sphinxsix]

33 minutes ago, Currawong said:

 

What are we going to complain about after this? 😂

 

Been asking myself this question for at least 2 - 3 years now..

If some MQA replacement doesn't appear you will be in trouble guys.

Better pray that that it appears..

Maybe AS "go fund me" for Bob Stuart to develop some new format.?

😎

[The Computer Audiophile]

24 minutes ago, Currawong said:

I have heard much the same thing, and more. It looks like.... this thread is vapourware. 

 

What are we going to complain about after this? 😂

MQAir, or make that SCL6 🙂

[MikeyFresh]

15 minutes ago, The Computer Audiophile said:

MQAir, or make that SCL6 🙂

With money running out on March 31st or thereabouts, and SCL6 not available in any products until sometime next year, hopefully this last gasp meant to attract further investment in MQA never materializes at all.

[lamode]

Fingers crossed that this scam implodes ASAP

[Peter Gunby]

Footer on MQA's website-

The affairs, business and property of the Company are being managed by Philip David Reynolds and David Hudson who were appointed Joint Administrators on 3 April 2023. The Administrators act as agents of the Company and act without personal liability.

 

The magic money tree hasn't produced a harvest this year.  They are making redundancies and likely some element of the business will be bought by one or more of their larger partners - the LG, Sony, Lenbrook type companies.

 

 

[Iving]

6 hours ago, Peter Gunby said:

Footer on MQA's website-

The affairs, business and property of the Company are being managed by Philip David Reynolds and David Hudson who were appointed Joint Administrators on 3 April 2023. The Administrators act as agents of the Company and act without personal liability.

 

fantastic news 

[ralphfcooke]

Definitely looks like they're going down😁

https://insolvencyintel.co.uk/mqa-limited/

[JoeWhip]

The UK equivalent of bankruptcy. The question is whether it will result in a reorganization or liquidation.

[DuckToller]

Both administrators are restructuring experts as of the company website ( https://www.frpadvisory.com/people/people-profiles that is)

[Peter Gunby]

I guess it depends on who bails them out; if its a big tech company they may just want the IP and use their own infrastructure, if it's another type of investor they may just look to cut costs and carry on pretty much as is.  Will be interesting to see who's interested.

[kumakuma]

This link provides a good summary of what being in administration in the UK means:

 

https://www.gov.uk/put-your-company-into-administration

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Patrick Cleasby]

The Gazette entry says administrators appointed yesterday.

[MikeyFresh]

18 minutes ago, kumakuma said:

This link provides a good summary of what being in administration in the UK means:

 

https://www.gov.uk/put-your-company-into-administration

 

 

 

 

 

 

So the appointed administrators get 8 weeks to submit a plan to the creditors etc...

[Archimago]

So, this is what (likely) "the end" looks like.

 

Hmmm, I wonder what Peter Veth and the Facebook group thinks about all this? Are they pissed off and blaming nay sayers? Or will he and the Facebook group just go silent because nobody's paying to promote any more?

 

Likewise, will those magazine reviews that hype up MQA content suddenly stop talking about it? Or would they continue and lament the demise of this amazing "format" that deblurred music with a sense of nostalgia about how great it was and how Bob Stuart should have been allowed to deliver audiophiles into the Promised Land?

 

Let's see how many "true believers" there really are. Will be interesting to see the price of MQA devices perhaps also drop since there will be little value to be had say between the Topping D90SE and D90LE. Will the Asian manufacturers continue to use the MQA logo on their devices?

 

Then there's the potential fallout with TIDAL. Will they continue to pursue MQA "Master" streaming or might they consider joining everyone else with superior lossless ALAC/FLAC/etc. if they still want to remain in the hi-res game?

 

Looks like we still have some interesting things to talk about and observe before getting back to the usual audiophile debates like cables. ;-)