MQA is Vaporware

[Ishmael Slapowitz]

13 minutes ago, MikeyFresh said:

 

Thats already happened, for instance Linn, Benchmark, and Schiit Audio just to name a few.

 

Not that being a well-known industry figure should be the final arbiter such things, it isn't.

 

 

Can we add McIntosh, Bryston, Ayre, Exogal, Playback Designs, and Chord? Again, just to name a few.

[sandyk]

8 minutes ago, Ishmael Slapowitz said:

What I find VERY disturbing is that that hundreds of MQA albums have appeared out of no where on PSM.

 

Many of them are albums that have been previously remastered, and sold as 24 bit downloads. They CLEARLY have been run through the MQA sausage maker. And in fact are now LOSSSY. A good example is the 24/96 Doors Studio Album virtual box set, done by original engineer Bruce Botnick circa 2009. There are numerous others. 😴

 

In other words, if you haven't already got your favourite high res versions from HD Tracks etc. already, then it may be a good idea to purchase them before they disappear, to be replaced by the lossy MQA versions.

 Let's hope that HDTracks etc. don't remove the genuine high res versions from their inventory due to pressure from the major Record Labels.

[MikeyFresh]

4 minutes ago, sandyk said:

In other words, if you haven't already got your favourite high res versions from HD Tracks etc. already, then it may be a good idea to purchase them before they disappear, to be replaced by the lossy MQA versions.

 Let's hope that HDTracks etc. don't remove the genuine high res versions from their inventory due to pressure from the major Record Labels.

 

That's right, and maybe after seeing what happened as a (former) customer of PSM, I might not wait to send the note after the fact.

 

Instead I'll send HDtracks a note now, telling them they would keep me as a customer and perhaps carve a market niche in not supporting MQA, and I'll send the same note to SupeHiRez too. I'm a good customer of both, though my true favorite for downloads was the now long-gone Pono Music Store.

[rickca]

On ProStudioMasters, The Doors 50th Anniversary Deluxe Edition

 

FLAC 24/96 costs $24.49

MQA 24/192 costs $32.89 (same price as FLAC 24/192)

 

Hilarious.  So uninformed people are going to pay a premium for MQA.  I'm pretty sure Jim Morrison didn't approve it.

 

More megapixels = Better

[mansr]

13 minutes ago, MikeyFresh said:

That's right, and maybe after seeing what happened as a (former) customer of PSM, I might not wait to send the note after the fact.

 

Instead I'll send HDtracks a note now, telling them they would keep me as a customer and perhaps carve a market niche in not supporting MQA, and I'll send the same note to SupeHiRez too. I'm a good customer of both, though my true favorite for downloads was the now long-gone Pono Music Store.

The Cheskys are already enthusiastic MQA supporters. Do not buy from them, even if they're not offering MQA downloads.

[Ishmael Slapowitz]

2 minutes ago, rickca said:

On ProStudioMasters, The Doors 50th Anniversary Deluxe Edition

 

FLAC 24/96 costs $24.49

MQA 24/192 costs $32.89 (same price as FLAC 24/192)

 

Hilarious.  So uninformed people are going to pay a premium for MQA.  I'm pretty sure Jim Morrison didn't approve it.

A fool and their money are soon parted...😎

[Ishmael Slapowitz]

6 minutes ago, mansr said:

The Cheskys are already enthusiastic MQA supporters. Do not buy from them, even if they're not offering MQA downloads.

Were they not planning an MQA streaming service, sort of a Fox News for streaming, where there is an alternate reality?😎

 

What happened?  And if they were MQA supporters, why have they not opted to sell MQA downloads like PSM?

 

Lastly, why has no music, to the best of my knowledge, on the Chesky label, been MQA processed?

[mav52]

22 minutes ago, Ishmael Slapowitz said:

Were they not planning an MQA streaming service, sort of a Fox News for streaming, where there is an alternate reality?😎

 

What happened?  And if they were MQA supporters, why have they not opted to sell MQA downloads like PSM?

 

Lastly, why has no music, to the best of my knowledge, on the Chesky label, been MQA processed?

The HD Tracks Streaming service was called HDmusicStream, 7 Digital will “will handle app development, host the music catalogue on its platform and deliver tracks to consumers.”   But this was supposed to happen a year or so ago.

[mansr]

24 minutes ago, Ishmael Slapowitz said:

Lastly, why has no music, to the best of my knowledge, on the Chesky label, been MQA processed?

They have released a few MQA CDs.

[Jud]

2 hours ago, Shadders said:

Hi sandyk,

Don't be so sure. The requirements for being Moses are as follows :

1. You must be Jewish.
2. You must be circumcised.
3. You must have a long stick with a curve/hook at the top end
4. You must have a stone tablet with 10 bullet points on it.
5. You must have a beard.

I reckon it is possible.

Regards,

Shadders.

 

I went to our office holiday party once with a robe, a long white beard, cardboard "tablets," and a boom box playing Joe Strummer's "Get Down Moses." As I strode through the restaurant to get to the back room where we were holding our party, I heard people exclaim "Look, Santa!"

[Ishmael Slapowitz]

3 minutes ago, mansr said:

They have released a few MQA CDs.

Ok, I was unaware. Just the term "MQA CD" makes me laugh.🙄

[Ishmael Slapowitz]

4 minutes ago, mav52 said:

The HD Tracks Streaming service was called HDmusicStream, 7 Digital will “will handle app development, host the music catalogue on its platform and deliver tracks to consumers.”   But this was supposed to happen a year or so ago.

...and is probably DOA...

[Jud]

10 minutes ago, mav52 said:

The HD Tracks Streaming service was called HDmusicStream, 7 Digital will “will handle app development, host the music catalogue on its platform and deliver tracks to consumers.”   But this was supposed to happen a year or so ago.

 

7Digital itself sells hi res downloads, and MQA.

[sandyk]

48 minutes ago, MikeyFresh said:

Instead I'll send HDtracks a note now, telling them they would keep me as a customer and perhaps carve a market niche in not supporting MQA, and I'll send the same note to SupeHiRez too.

 

Perhaps also point them to the opposition in this forum to MQA ,and the fear of genuine high res material sold by them disappearing.

They should also realise that a large number of forum members are existing customers of theirs who will simply ignore MQA releases sold by them.

Audiophile Style members do NOT want to purchase LOSSY versions, they want LOSSLESS versions !

[Ishmael Slapowitz]

4 minutes ago, Jud said:

 

7Digital itself sells hi res downloads, and MQA.

I can't find a single MQA album on 7digital. Can you provide a link?

[Ishmael Slapowitz]

16 minutes ago, mansr said:

They have released a few MQA CDs.

Thinking about it, I find it highly suspect they have not had any of their high rez recordings encoded in MQA. It tells me they know it its total bullshit. They are well known to care about one thing...to give you an idea of what that is, when Norm Chesky was asked if he plays an instrument, he replied, yes, the "Jewish piano"..the cash register...lol

[MikeyFresh]

9 minutes ago, Ishmael Slapowitz said:

Just the term "MQA CD" makes me laugh

 

Or vomit.

 

It's an oxymoron, MQA does not conform to the Redbook specification, and it doesn't offer 16-bit resolution when played with a normal CD player (the kind that's been sold for 35 years now). 

[Jud]

2 minutes ago, Ishmael Slapowitz said:

I can't find a single MQA album on 7digital. Can you provide a link?

 

I was sure I saw several the other day when I was searching there, to my consternation.  But when I have a chance after I'm home, I'll double-check to be sure I haven't confused them with someone else.

[MikeyFresh]

7 minutes ago, Ishmael Slapowitz said:

when Norm Chesky was asked if he plays an instrument, he replied, yes, the "Jewish piano"..the cash register...lol

 

Evidently he didn't like their cut of the spoils vis-à-vis MQA?

 

Might that be another example of Lee's new ecosystem and the supposed fairness/equity to all stakeholders in it being just a pipe dream?

[Ishmael Slapowitz]

Just now, Jud said:

 

I was sure I saw several the other day when I was searching there, to my consternation.  But when I have a chance after I'm home, I'll double-check to be sure I haven't confused them with someone else.

I did numerous searches and zero comes up. 

[The Computer Audiophile]

47 minutes ago, mansr said:

The Cheskys are already enthusiastic MQA supporters. Do not buy from them, even if they're not offering MQA downloads.

I wouldn’t be so sure. 

[Ishmael Slapowitz]

1 minute ago, MikeyFresh said:

 

Evidently he didn't like their cut of the spoils vis a vis-à-vis MQA?

Indeed....or maybe David Chesky told him that MQA destroys his minimalist 24/192 recordings sonically....and that was too much to swallow...?

[Ishmael Slapowitz]

1 minute ago, The Computer Audiophile said:

I wouldn’t be so sure. 

I would tend to agree...😙

[kumakuma]

2 minutes ago, The Computer Audiophile said:

I wouldn’t be so sure. 

 

It must be true. @Lee Scoggins has said it repeatedly.

[mansr]

2 minutes ago, The Computer Audiophile said:

I wouldn’t be so sure. 

Are you implying they've changed their minds? The MQA CD releases of Rebecca Pigeon and Camille Thurman were widely reported in the audio press.