MQA is Vaporware

[The Computer Audiophile]

10 minutes ago, MikeyFresh said:

I'm not quite sure how you would know specifics about any given businesses ability to keep the lights on, or their direct attempt to do so by implementing MQA.

Unfortunately I spend many hours per day talking on the phone and exchanging emails with manufacturers, dealers, and distributors in HiFi. It's the worst part of the business, but a necessary evil. Yesterday was great because I found out about a very cool project one manufacturer is working on and my input was requested. This will be a win for AS readers because I speak for them when speaking to the manufacturer on something like this. Other days I hear about struggling businesses, politics inside companies, etc... That's how I know. 

 

I respect your opinion and unwillingness to spend money with any company that implements MQA. I wish I could do the same, but I couldn't keep the lights on and hard drives spinning if I didn't accept advertising dollars from MQA-linked companies.

[The Computer Audiophile]

Hi Guys, I received a PM saying my language could've been better in a post above. I agree and apologize for intimating a member of the community was being an asshole. I disagree strongly with what he said, believe he was being unreasonable, and even illogical. That said, it was out of character and ill-conceived to use the term I used. 

 

I must say, the world is getting to me. 

[The Computer Audiophile]

11 minutes ago, KeenObserver said:

Interesting!

 

Seems like MQA is laying the groundwork for a new round of BS.

 

They must have got their funding to remain an active entity.

 

MQA is still a threat to the music consumer.

Is there a link or something you’re referencing?

[The Computer Audiophile]

4 minutes ago, Rt66indierock said:

 

MQA is an interesting study of audio politics, pre announcement strategies against determined opposition. 

 

And only the foolish assume the fight is just here. 

You’ve always talked like there is other action but refused to say what it is. It’s time to show your cards. Pics our it isn’t happening. 

[The Computer Audiophile]

9 minutes ago, MikeyFresh said:

 

I disagree Chris, this isn't a court of law and he owes no definitive proof of anything. I for one don't find his posts outlandish or far fetched, and while I respect that your opinion may differ, it's just that, an opinion.

 

To put that another way, if one were demanding proof, it could easily be a demand for proof to the contrary, right? So do you have some sort of proof that contradicts the OP?

I have no interest in making this a court of law and foolishly imposing such rules. I asked for him to spill the beans because I don’t think he has done a thing that matters and he is blowing smoke. He’s been blowing smoke for years about MQA. It just gets old. 

[The Computer Audiophile]

4 minutes ago, Rt66indierock said:

I don't do pictures with me and other people no point. I've interacted with more than twenty major league baseball players this spring at the Biltmore's short game practice area. What's the point of getting a picture? When I was kid in Minnesota we lived a few houses away from Bob Allison and Fran Tarkenton went to our church. I tried to qualify for the PGA Tour and met lots of famous people. And I worked briefly at Infosphere and met a lot of famous computer guys. And I'm not getting you a picture of me the next famous person I meet for the obvious reason client confidentiality.

With all due respect. Nobody cares. 
 

 

[The Computer Audiophile]

Just now, Rt66indierock said:

 

I want you to think I've done nothing. 

You’ve succeeded. 
 

However, blowing smoke online for years says quite the opposite. 

[The Computer Audiophile]

5 minutes ago, Ishmael Slapowitz said:

Clearly NO customer asked for MQA because the "Mach 1" version of this brick came to market with MQA, and this company had no other digital products.

Not sure which logic class teaches that method of reasoning. 
 

Clearly when bringing a product to market, manufacturers consult their dealers and distributors for feedback. Intern, these guys provide feedback based on market demand, not based on a technological assessment of available options. 

[The Computer Audiophile]

45 minutes ago, Ishmael Slapowitz said:

In fact you are wrong. This interview details the fact he designer decided to include MQA of his own choice.

 

In fact, this is a very illuminating read for all on this thread. It shows how clueless many so called authorities and luminaries are. All credit to the interviewer. We get a behind the curtain look...

 

http://highfidelity.pl/@main-870&lang=en

Again, I attended far different logic classes than you did in college. Your comments make zero sense to me. 

 

If you believe that you read what you said and that this means zero feedback from dealers, distributors and customers was involved, then I can no longer be involved in a discussion with you. We speak different languages. 

 

I dislike MQA as much as the next guy but I'd put you well past the religious right wing on the continuum, if there was one for MQA. Perhaps that's a compliment to you, given your stance.

[The Computer Audiophile]

6 minutes ago, KeenObserver said:

That is why I bought the Benchmark DAC3.  I know it is not infected with MQA.  I know it is not crippling my music.

The EMM DACs are "infected" as you say, but I know they are't crippling my music either. 

[The Computer Audiophile]

19 minutes ago, maxijazz said:

Why not “radical left wing”?

Same thing but didn’t have alliteration and less likely to bare arms.  

[The Computer Audiophile]

5 minutes ago, wdw said:

they never give it up....!

 

http://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/mqa-supports-jazz-refresheds-sxsw-artists-to-reach-a-worldwide-audience-and-capture-the-outstanding-experience/

And they do it like only MQA can. Anonymous authors, and attaching marketing press releases to bands / artists. 

 

[The Computer Audiophile]

5 minutes ago, ARQuint said:

 

 

Gimme a break, guys.

 

At the top of the magazine's home page, between "Equipment Reports" and "Show Reports" is a content category called "News" that consists largely of press releases from audio manufacturers and others with skin in the game, including a lot of record labels. You can tell because every one begins with the words "The following is a press release issued by…" It's obviously marketing, the magazine exhibiting support for the ecosystem we are part of. Please scroll down through the category: Naim, Reference Recordings, Quboz , Yarlung, McIntosh, Thorens, German Physiks, Musical Surroundings, Wilson, KEF, Focal, Parasound, etc, etc, etc—the list goes on for 67 pages! All those announcements are credited to "TAS Staff." Is the magazine really "shilling" for all those hundreds of companies?

 

Chris himself once said in reference to an especially zealous zealot, "When you're a hammer, everything looks like a nail." So it is for some people who view MQA as an evil beyond evil, and even a neutral presentation of an announcement from the company as some kind of ethical lapse. Like it or not, MQA is a part of this industry. TAS accepts their announcements without fear or favor, as we do everyone else's.

 

 

 

Andy Quint

 

TAS

 

My point was that it’s hard for MQA to get a name behind it now days, thus depending on anonymous press releases, and they must attach themselves to bands and even crises. Years ago RH would’ve written about something like this. 

Nothing wrong with press releases. As long as they benefit your readers, they should be happy. 
 

Not sure who this press release benefits other than MQA. 

[The Computer Audiophile]

One thing that MQA has going against it is the fact that product certification for HiFi components takes a long time. Requiring physical product testing etc...

 

Its a pain in the butt for many manufacturers. Perhaps they’ll forgo the hassle in the next product cycle. 

[The Computer Audiophile]

7 minutes ago, Ishmael Slapowitz said:

"To recap, Master Quality Authenticated is an encoding and decoding technology that delivers true high-resolution audio in a file size that can be easily streamed. It is based in part on entirely new research into human hearing as well as on novel digital sampling techniques for natural signals developed for cutting-edge medical imaging and astronomy. MQA’s stated mission is to deliver studio-master sound quality to listeners in a convenient format that anyone can enjoy. Beyond its superior sound quality (even compared with high-bit-rate PCM).."

Wow, that's rich. 

[The Computer Audiophile]

1 minute ago, Allan F said:

 

Actually, Chris, it's incredibly poor - as in grossly misleading and disingenuous.

Well said.

[The Computer Audiophile]

10 hours ago, KeenObserver said:

People should keep in mind that open standards like FLAC will always be out there.

 

MQA could go the way of HDCD and simply cease to exist.  Does anyone produce HDCD decoders anymore?

Ayre’s new QB-9 Twenty decodes HDCD

 

 

10 hours ago, Ishmael Slapowitz said:

Not sure, but what is weird, unless I am mistaken, the Grateful Dead continue to release HDCDs for their excellent live archival sets.

 

It just means they use a Pacific Microsonics Model 1 or Model 2 ADC. 

[The Computer Audiophile]

3 hours ago, ARQuint said:

 

 

Lazy? Enthusiasts like you and me want to hear about new products and technologies at the earliest possible point in their development or commercial introduction—that's why it's "News." Reporting from trade shows and passing along announcements from manufacturers  are two ways audio magazines accomplish this, always underscoring that these are narratives controlled by those presenting them. ("The following is a press release issued by…") They are short and sweet and obviously don't substitute for a full consideration, that is, a review.

 

I think what everyone is getting at is that publishing an MQA press release like this is akin to JAMA: The Journal of the American Medical Association publishing an article from anti-vaxxers. 
 

Once in a while we in the press need to use our best judgement and weed out some things. It would be interesting to see what’s on the cutting room floor at TAS. There’s no way you publish all the crazy releases. I get them as well, and wouldn’t even accept advertising dollars in the middle of an economic disaster caused by a global pandemic, from some of those guys. 

[The Computer Audiophile]

Nice to see a high resolution/streaming article in the more mainstream press that isn’t injected with MQA marketing. 
 

https://www.forbes.com/sites/marksparrow/2020/05/27/qobuz-ditches-mp3s-and-welcomes-sonos-into-the-world-of-hi-res-music/amp/

[The Computer Audiophile]

1 minute ago, KeenObserver said:

 

MQA seems to be the Creature That Wouldn't Die.

 

I don't blame Jbara and Stuart for milking the MQA money tree for all they can.  But does the money behind MQA Ltd really see a cash cow in the future?  Do they really think that they are going to ram MQA down the throats of the music consumer?

They probably hope to sell it to Dobly or the like, so it can be rebranded and used in areas Stuart and Jbara can’t penetrate. 

[The Computer Audiophile]

Everyone knows the amount of money taken by MQA from HiFi consumers probably doesn’t cover the salaries at the company. The goal is much larger, but we’ve all been used to get them to the next phase. 

[The Computer Audiophile]

3 minutes ago, sphinxsix said:

 

I just got to know that CDJapan has informed about cancelling of number of planned MQA/UHQCD releases. Don't cry, please.

 

Oh no. People will be stuck with unaltered lossless audio. What a shame :~)

[The Computer Audiophile]

The best way to find out about MQA ltd, I believe, is to check for people moving on to new jobs. If the ship is sinking, people usually jump off. 

[The Computer Audiophile]

The team at MQA would love it if this thread turned into anything other than MQA. Please get back on topic. 

[The Computer Audiophile]

8 minutes ago, Archimago said:

Hmmm, not much new on the MQA front.

 

I see they're releasing the MQA-enabled ESS low-power USB-C phone DACs now:

https://kawaraban.kibidango.com/?item=ztella&ui_medium=release&ui_source=kibidango&ui_campaign=ztella_c&fbclid=IwAR24Q8HAqkiuUM9byROclHkjwkEOcbW-qJ5tMiBKuzWCCzXx1V1w14VI9kE

 

Wonder how well those perform as a DAC...

 

Looks like a roughly $37 premium for the MQA version over the non MQA version.
 

$90 - NonMQA

$126.60 -MQA