MQA is Vaporware

[The Computer Audiophile]

1 hour ago, yahooboy said:

 

Not really, You've got to remember where ROON came from (Meridian) there might be very positive feelings toward the former employee

Meridian was just a stop between the founding of Sooloos and the start of Roon. 
 

Strange in that the MQA piece has nothing to do with Roon Radio. 

[The Computer Audiophile]

2 hours ago, daverich4 said:

 

When I asked about it the response was pretty much Nothing To See Here...

 

https://community.roonlabs.com/t/station-in-live-radio-is-a-recording-instead-of-a-live-stream/86335

Wow. 

 

Also, one doesn't have to search for it to find it. I browsed the Roon live stations and found it. 

 

It's actually quite prominent. 

 

Live Radio > Music (the first category) > Avant-garde (also the first category within music) > and it's right there. 

[The Computer Audiophile]

1 minute ago, yahooboy said:

 

Well they seem very defendant regarding MQA, had writings back and forth with them on several occasions.

They either don't understand MQA (highly unlikely) or they are so much in bed with MQA that they have to/or feel they have to market a scam (probably a part of the contract.)

 

They won't enable a sorting of MQA and non MQA files. They are deleting posts on their site that badmouths MQA, in general they do not like anyone questioning MQA

I certainly hear you about that stuff. 

 

I've tried to remove MQA material from my searches, but it's not possible.

 

It's possible to filter out MQA albums in one's library, but that's only after one's been infected :~)

[The Computer Audiophile]

I moved the news of the Lee Scoggins announcement to its own topic. I know he was involved with this MQA topic, but this is a different animal.

 

 

[The Computer Audiophile]

10 minutes ago, Ralf11 said:

They aren't running out of operating capital, it just hasn't been deconvoluted yet, so is inapparent 

Wait until they get a compressed lossy amount of money and turn it into billions by unfolding the dollar bills. 

[The Computer Audiophile]

13 minutes ago, esldude said:

So when you deblur millions you get billions?

Yes, billions with a B :~)

[The Computer Audiophile]

45 minutes ago, kumakuma said:

 

There is ample evidence that MQA Ltd. performs a lossy conversion on invested capital. 

You win!

[The Computer Audiophile]

43 minutes ago, KeenObserver said:

Jay-Z has returned his music to Spotify.  Tidal must not have been doing it for him.

That’s a good observation. He realizes Tidal isn’t working for him. 

[The Computer Audiophile]

7 minutes ago, KeenObserver said:

Lot of wild rumors floating around.

 

Perhaps Jay-Z is not a businessman.

But he’s a business, man. 😁

[The Computer Audiophile]

3 hours ago, Ralf11 said:

The closer we get to producing music perfectly, the more there are people that want to sell us snake oil

I don’t believe there’s a correlation. 

 

 

 

 

2 hours ago, esldude said:

Just imagine we have a format known to be fully transparent and blameless under all possible conditions.  Imagine we had the gear to reproduce that with effective perfection for $100.  Imagine we had amplifiers that would do the same for $100.  All that is left is speakers/rooms/headphones as a differential in final sound quality.  Kills much of the industry unless that industry becomes one of the imagination.  There is some room for premium looks, UI etc.  

 

Now I wouldn't say we are at the point described above, but I think we are closer to it than the general idea pushed commercially in high end audio.  Where we are supposed to nervously figure out elaborate ways to connect two wires to something. Or try to lock music into a strange format with ephemeral advantages at best. 

 

1 hour ago, Archimago said:

 

Well said.

 

The idea that such blasphemous thoughts, that maybe inexpensive consumer level devices could be more than "good enough", potentially getting hold of a large percent of the audiophiles out there probably is the stuff of nightmares for some in the industry...

 

Very disturbing ideology indeed.

 

 

I believe you guys are looking through a narrow telescope focused on one aspect of the hobby. As you know, purchasing decisions for HiFi are just like those of all other consumer products. 
 

Look at cars. A Toyota Carolla is all anybody needs and is good enough. “Everybody” knows this, but luxury brands are doing just fine.
 

The top speed on MN highways is 70 mph. Yet, there’s a waiting list for cars that go 200 mph. 

[The Computer Audiophile]

25 minutes ago, crenca said:

 

 

I think there is a distinction that needs to be made between "High End" and "High Fidelity".  The former is the luxury market (encompassing the consumer & the suppliers) and the latter is what guys like esldude, Archimago, and myself are interested in.  No doubt for a host of reasons there is considerable overlap between these two, so much so that it at times is just about impossible to distinguish them.  Still, it's a crucial distinction.

 

I think Archi and esldude is on to something important:  We appear to be at the point, and probably have been for a while, that most in "the industry" are actually existentially threatened by High Fidelity, because they are so $dependant$ upon High End.  Stereophile, TAS, and many (most?) manufacturers are now really about High End, and (given the state of underlying audio tech) anti High Fidelity.

Certainly could be the case. 

[The Computer Audiophile]

8 hours ago, STC said:

But what would you do when a person insists that changing the spark plugs and tyres can make the car do 200mph? Do you point out or you should just allow him to enjoy what he is doing?  Kenny123 made a good point. 

 

I started this hobby like everyone else. Purchased power conditioners, exotic cables and equipments. I did hear the difference. I perceived better soundstage. It was real enough for me until you experience something else. 
 

We all are speaking from our POV. Truth in audio may not be compatible or comfortable when our joy is the hobby of audio reproduction as best as what we think is the right way. 

 

If someone insists spark plug make their car go 200 mph, I’m totally fine with it.
 

I’m not big brother, a crusader, or a buzz killer. This is a fun hobby. Nobody is saving babies or killing puppies. 
 

Live and let listen. 

[The Computer Audiophile]

26 minutes ago, Thuaveta said:

 

This related comment on ASR is intriguing. @The Computer Audiophile, my hunch would be that reaching out to whomever wrote it, and see if they'd be interested in expanding on it, might make for some really interesting reading.

 

It's tangentially related to what @crenca was saying, but some people might find this audioholics video of interest. There's a reminder of the Lexicon Oppo rebrand in there.

If anyone has an hour, can you watch the video and let us know if there are points of interest? Sounds interesting but I don’t have the time right now. 
 

 

[The Computer Audiophile]

59 minutes ago, KeenObserver said:

Does anyone have sales figures for MQA CD's?

7

[The Computer Audiophile]

2 minutes ago, mansr said:

I have failed to find any on the pirate sites, whatever that indicates.

Only honest people get involved with MQA 🤣

[The Computer Audiophile]

How much Chinese music is available in MQA?

[The Computer Audiophile]

13 minutes ago, Daccord said:

 

MQA is already taking steps to address this. I bought a 2.5GB download from 7digital two days ago and the transfer took 3 hours 8 minutes.

The cool thing about purchasing downloads is you only have to download it once and go through the pain once. With MQA you have to go through the pain every time when streaming. 

[The Computer Audiophile]

25 minutes ago, Archimago said:

Perhaps you need to ask yourself what you have invested in this hobby (to MQA?) to think any of this is so disturbing as to not be able to resist yourself from such comments. 

I’d like to think Bob had just had a rough day and let loose on a thread that doesn’t thrill him. 
 

I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt. 
 

 

17 minutes ago, Paul R said:

The science in the thread is great. The personalities in this thread are ruining the whole audiophile world, and driving people away. (shrug). 

 

The science is great. I agree Paul. I really wish it was possible to get where we are without the incivility. I believe we would’ve got here way quicker without the incivility. 
 

Some of the personalities are abrasive and I’d prefer they acted differently, but I’d never say they are ruining the whole audiophile world.  

[The Computer Audiophile]

1 hour ago, ARQuint said:

 

Steven Stone's post includes a 1200 word response from Bob Stuart. Instead of just spewing for five sentences, why don't you critique Stuart's points in a reasoned fashion? Could you? That's what civility looks like.

I’m currently on vacation, so will not go into detail. But, Bob’s points have all been debunked several times. I don’t believe people want to waste their own time to wack the mole in another location. 
 

In these days of releasing music to streaming services right after it’s created and the freedom of distribution afforded to artists, I’d bet the farm that the vast majority aren’t interested in another layer in the process (MQA) that nobody has asked for, other than MQA. 
 

Rhetorical question, if MQA Ltd stopped its push on all fronts, do you think the product would die? 
 

If yes, then there is no demand, no need, and no interest in MQA. 
 

If the product is that good, these advertorials wouldn’t be necessary every few months. 

[The Computer Audiophile]

2 hours ago, esldude said:

or what if MQA were free. What if the company just said, "hey, we like music, we think it is important music is well presented, so we are open sourcing MQA for everyone to use freely.  Just so the world can benefit for our research."

 

They give up on profiting from it, and make it a gift to the world.  Then if no one wants it .............

I’m all for making money from one’s product but it should be commensurate with the product’s value to customers. In this case it’s near zero and I’m not sure which side of zero. 
 

And yes, what if it was free and nobody wanted it. Wouldn’t surprise me. 

[The Computer Audiophile]

2 hours ago, firedog said:

 The latter thread isn't my cup of tea, but it is harmless: It's hobbyists discussing their tweaks to SQ on a hobbyist site. It has little/nothing to do with the "Old Guard" as it doesn't come from the ecosystem of the audio establishment. I don't think there is necessarily any connection/correlation between the participants in that thread and MQA boosters and fanboys in the press and on forums. 

+100

[The Computer Audiophile]

If only we had a technology that could use lossy compression, because this 200 Gbps fiber just sucks. Its slated 600 Gbps speed will also be just way to slow for high resolution two channel audio. 
 

https://www.inverse.com/amp/article/61909-a-fiber-optic-breakthrough-could-bring-superfast-internet-to-remote-areas

 

[The Computer Audiophile]

Please note that I have zero audio qualifications, often look scruffy, and was a DJ for my friend’s parent’s 40th wedding anniversary party (because I knew how the equipment worked). 

[The Computer Audiophile]

14 minutes ago, KeenObserver said:

LOL!

 

How's the vacation going?

Back home to snow and cold 😢

[The Computer Audiophile]

1 hour ago, Rt66indierock said:

Finally Christopher what I’ve done stop MQA didn’t just happen here. In fact I viewed high end audio as a very minor part my activities. It’s why many “luminaries” in high end audio are upset with me. 
 

As they say, pics or it didn't happen. 

 

1 hour ago, Rt66indierock said:

I will be judged by the artists, recording and mastering engineers I spared the unnecessary expense of MQA. I’m fine with that and don’t regret anything I’ve said to fight MQA.

 

With all due respect Stephen, your sense of self importance with respect to MQA knows no bounds.