MQA is Vaporware

[lucretius]

2 hours ago, The Computer Audiophile said:

New Walkman with MQA. The writer believes it’s a good thing. 

 

https://www.digitalmusicnews.com/2019/09/09/sony-streaming-walkman/

 

It looks like Sony has made a firmware update to their top-of-the-line Walkman so it can do MQA:

https://www.sony.com/electronics/walkman/nw-wm1z.  I'm wondering how much "bloom" this model has? 😁

 

(I bet $900 for the NW-ZX507 is looking like a bargain now.  😀)

 

Apparently, Sony is introducing a couple of other streaming walkmans (no mention of MQA):

https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/339210

https://www.maxim.com/gear/sony-releases-2-new-versions-of-the-walkman-2019-9

[skikirkwood]

I thought that Harley had disabled the comments section of his last advertisement on MQA, but it turns out Disqus was blocked because they were calling it without an https protocol on an SSL-encrypted page. Looks like this effectively turned off the comments section from every article. 

 

What a bunch of clowns. The site is not mobile-friendly either. Hey, it's 2019.  And yeah, I trust your technical expertise on things like MQA.

[Ralf11]

Clowns indeed!

[jcbenten]

On 9/11/2019 at 10:58 PM, lucretius said:

 

It looks like Sony has made a firmware update to their top-of-the-line Walkman so it can do MQA:

https://www.sony.com/electronics/walkman/nw-wm1z.  I'm wondering how much "bloom" this model has? 😁

 

(I bet $900 for the NW-ZX507 is looking like a bargain now.  😀)

 

Apparently, Sony is introducing a couple of other streaming walkmans (no mention of MQA):

https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/339210

https://www.maxim.com/gear/sony-releases-2-new-versions-of-the-walkman-2019-9

Thanks....think I will stick with my ZX2 and ZX1...sound great and no updates in years...

[Shadders]

Hi,

Is this the kiss of death for MQA :

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-49726068

Amazon launches HD music streaming

The technical bit

• Spotify: MP3, 320kbps
• Apple Music: AAC, 256kbps
• Amazon HD: FLAC, 16 bit, 44.1kHz
• Amazon Ultra HD: FLAC, 24 bit, 192kHz

Regards,

Shadders.

[The Computer Audiophile]

 

 

[MikeyFresh]

Desktop app for Windows looks quite good (HD and Ultra HD can't be streamed from a web browser):

 

Clicking the Ultra HD icon for any given track yields playback information specific to that device, so they are making an attempt to educate Joe Public here, my Lenovo laptop's sound card tops out at 24/48:

 

 

 

Connecting an Oppo HA-2 and selecting it in Windows sound settings produces 24/96:

 

[labjr]

I don't think even Amazon Ultra HD can make Thunder Road sound good!

[MikeyFresh]

Casting from the Android app using a Galaxy S7 to the office TV worked without a hitch, though there clicking the little HD badge produced a message saying no information about the stream was available while casting, so tough to say what the actual resolution was but I don't see any reason why that wouldn't be up to the Chromecast 24/96 limit for lossless audio:

 

 

[psjug]

41 minutes ago, MikeyFresh said:

Desktop app for Windows looks quite good (HD and Ultra HD can't be streamed from a web browser):

It is working with BlueOS, showing the HR icon.

[firedog]

This could be the death knell for both Tidal and Qobuz. 

[Albrecht]

15 minutes ago, firedog said:

This could be the death knell for both Tidal and Qobuz. 

We can only hope........

 

 

[The Computer Audiophile]

42 minutes ago, firedog said:

This could be the death knell for both Tidal and Qobuz. 

 

Could be but it’s like big box vs boutique. 

 

 

 

23 minutes ago, Albrecht said:

We can only hope........

 

 

 

No way. Try getting Amazon to listen to your requests for changes or exclusive mode etc.  ain’t gonna happen. Qobuz is not only responsive they participate here. 

[Rt66indierock]

6 minutes ago, The Computer Audiophile said:

 

Could be but it’s like big box vs boutique. 

 

 

 

 

No way. Try getting Amazon to listen to your requests for changes or exclusive mode etc.  ain’t gonna happen. Qobuz is not only responsive they participate here. 

 

The key here is will this cause funding to dry up for smaller players?

 

The other question is will this encourage the move to subscription based on a limited catalog similar to CBS TV?

[jma2]

40 minutes ago, Albrecht said:

We can only hope........

 

 

 

Nothing wrong with Qobuz in my opinion. And if you buy music from them regularly, you can through the discount rate for subscribers earn back you subscription.

 

I moved from Tidal to Qobuz and plan to keep on supporting them. They are quite responsive to queries and I am a happy customer.

 

Jan

[Albrecht]

22 minutes ago, The Computer Audiophile said:

 

Could be but it’s like big box vs boutique. 

 

 

 

 

No way. Try getting Amazon to listen to your requests for changes or exclusive mode etc.  ain’t gonna happen. Qobuz is not only responsive they participate here. 

Most N. Americans, - especially waddly old N. American Audiophiles; aren't interested in any music that wasn't written in the 70s. Or wasn't "ripped off" of music that was written in the 70s. (Tom Petty only wrote 1 song, that he changed slightly over and over).

This breeds the Netflix-ization of regurgitated crap. New music from around the world is wholly missing from a service like Tidal. When you subscribe to a Netflix/Tidal, - you are faced with having your favorite music removed. Unless of course, - it's the Eagles, or Michael Jackson, and their hundreds of N. American white-washed, copy-bands.

Your own music, (that you've bought as CDs, or downloaded as FLAC from Bandcamp), sounds better, and is in your possession and control, - and will not disappear when Tidal kills Sigur Ros and replaces it with Justin (sic) Timberlake.

[The Computer Audiophile]

1 minute ago, Albrecht said:

Most N. Americans, - especially waddly old N. American Audiophiles; aren't interested in any music that wasn't written in the 70s. Or wasn't "ripped off" of music that was written in the 70s. (Tom Petty only wrote 1 song, that he changed slightly over and over).

This breeds the Netflix-ization of regurgitated crap. New music from around the world is wholly missing from a service like Tidal. When you subscribe to a Netflix/Tidal, - you are faced with having your favorite music removed. Unless of course, - it's the Eagles, or Michael Jackson, and their hundreds of N. American white-washed, copy-bands.

Your own music, (that you've bought as CDs, or downloaded as FLAC from Bandcamp), sounds better, and is in your possession and control, - and will not disappear when Tidal kills Sigur Ros and replaces it with Justin (sic) Timberlake.

Still no reason to stop using or supporting a service. I use Qobuz, Tidal, and Amazon HD. In the odd chance they don't have something I want I buy it. No reason to buy everything just incase it disappears. I don't need total control, I just need access. If it's cut off, I'll buy. 

[labjr]

23 minutes ago, The Computer Audiophile said:

 

Could be but it’s like big box vs boutique. 

 

 

 

 

No way. Try getting Amazon to listen to your requests for changes or exclusive mode etc.  ain’t gonna happen. Qobuz is not only responsive they participate here. 

Maybe for some people. But in my experience most people will go with the cheapest alternative. I know people who post on Facebook about how Amazon is an irresponsible company and are killing jobs. At the same time they subscribe and shop constantly. One of these same people complains about how expensive healthcare is but she's an RN earning $80 an hour. People are funny.

[The Computer Audiophile]

1 minute ago, labjr said:

Maybe for some people. But in my experience most people will go with the cheapest alternative. I know people who post on Facebook about how Amazon is an irresponsible company and are killing jobs. At the same time they subscribe and shop constantly. One of these same people complains about how expensive healthcare is but she's an RN earning $80 an hour. People are funny.

Amazon is mass not class. No problem with that, but its customers should expect what they get.

[Albrecht]

4 minutes ago, The Computer Audiophile said:

Still no reason to stop using or supporting a service. I use Qobuz, Tidal, and Amazon HD. In the odd chance they don't have something I want I buy it. No reason to buy everything just incase it disappears. I don't need total control, I just need access. If it's cut off, I'll buy. 

I hear what you're saying here....

But, - that's a bit simplistic and doesn't work so well in practice....

That Fascist/Corporate Socialist exploitation of both the consumer & artists, - forces the death of all other models. When radio payola hit, - the combined "industry" forced the Eagles down everyone's throat and prevented others from entering the space. This infliction made people actually LIKE the Eagles:  yuckko......  In short, - we already cannot buy CeeDees. People don't even start bands anymore, - it's not a "thing."

Tidal isn't solely responsible for this of course. But it's 1 important component in the death of creative music. Of course US Culture is largely fine with this, - commoditizing everything.... 

Tidal is putting CDs & K-Disk out of business, - Sites like BandCamp may be next.

[The Computer Audiophile]

3 minutes ago, Albrecht said:

I hear what you're saying here....

But, - that's a bit simplistic and doesn't work so well in practice....

That Fascist/Corporate Socialist exploitation of both the consumer & artists, - forces the death of all other models. When radio payola hit, - the combined "industry" forced the Eagles down everyone's throat and prevented others from entering the space. This infliction made people actually LIKE the Eagles:  yuckko......  In short, - we already cannot buy CeeDees. People don't even start bands anymore, - it's not a "thing."

Tidal isn't solely responsible for this of course. But it's 1 important component in the death of creative music. Of course US Culture is largely fine with this, - commoditizing everything.... 

Tidal is putting CDs & K-Disk out of business, - Sites like BandCamp may be next.

I have to disagree 100%.

 

We can't purchase CDs because people elected to stop buying them. As a business owner, if I produced and sold CDs and people were still buying them left and right, do you think I'd stop selling them? No way. The public has spoken and selected streaming as the format of choice, not the other way around. the labels didn't decide to put their biggest cash cow ever, the CD, out of business. People decided it was over. 

 

Streaming companies are serving the desires of consumers. 

 

The artists that I know who went into music to make money all suck. The artist that I know who went into music because they are creative, song writers, musicians, etc... are good. I don't care if the guys who went into it to make money are no longer doing it. I can do without another KISS album. 

 

Nothing is making bands "not a thing" other than the people who have other things to do. 

 

You're blaming the man rather than people's personal responsibility for things you don't like. 

 

[crenca]

36 minutes ago, Albrecht said:

Most N. Americans, - especially waddly old N. American Audiophiles; aren't interested in any music that wasn't written in the 70s....

This breeds the Netflix-ization of regurgitated crap. New music from around the world is wholly missing from a service like Tidal. When you subscribe to a Netflix/Tidal, - you are faced with having your favorite music removed....

 

It may be true what "most" NA Audiophiles want/listen to, and yes there is this reality around albums coming and going from streaming.  However, much of this has to do with artists (sometimes big players like Beatles) and niche labels who were not happy with the business model and balked.  My wife and I noticed Natalie Merchant and Emmylou Harris now have most of their catalog available on Tidal/Quobuz whereas not that long ago they did not.

 

The bolded part of your assertion simply is not true.  I stream mostly new music (< ten years).  Tidal is actually better in all genre's excepting classical when it comes to new music - and because of this I have not been able to let go of my Tidal subscription like I wanted to.  

 

In fact, I would say it is more true that Tidal/Qobuz skew towards "new music" rather than away from it...

[Rt66indierock]

24 minutes ago, Albrecht said:

I hear what you're saying here....

But, - that's a bit simplistic and doesn't work so well in practice....

That Fascist/Corporate Socialist exploitation of both the consumer & artists, - forces the death of all other models. When radio payola hit, - the combined "industry" forced the Eagles down everyone's throat and prevented others from entering the space. This infliction made people actually LIKE the Eagles:  yuckko......  In short, - we already cannot buy CeeDees. People don't even start bands anymore, - it's not a "thing."

Tidal isn't solely responsible for this of course. But it's 1 important component in the death of creative music. Of course US Culture is largely fine with this, - commoditizing everything.... 

Tidal is putting CDs & K-Disk out of business, - Sites like BandCamp may be next.

 

I'm listening to new bands all the time.

[crenca]

Just now, Rt66indierock said:

 

I'm listening to new bands all the time.

 

Yea he is not making sense.  Perhaps he does not actually use Tidal or Qobuz.

[Ralf11]

I don't see how he could.  He would need a device to use those services, and that would entail Fascist/Corporate Socialist exploitation.

 

OTOH, many people certainly will go for a cheap alternative and are not able to claims multiple subscriptions as a business expense.