MQA is Vaporware

[asdf1000]

8 minutes ago, FredericV said:

Remember that Bose does not provide specs for it's consumer products?

Bob now does the same:

http://www.realhd-audio.com/?p=6517


Off course, providing specifications would mean that customers would discover:

- 17/88.2 or 17/96 actual max resolution
- with upsampling to fake indication value on DAC, so customers believe it's 24/whatever like 24/192 or 24/352.8
- frequency domain is horrible
- not the master, not the quality, not authentic

 

I know you've posted that graph many times before but can you kindly remind me what track (and album it's from) that is?

[asdf1000]

2 hours ago, FredericV said:

 

http://www.2l.no/hires/

 

2L-053 = bottom row

 

How does "Stereo 24BIT/96kHz" (non-MQA) look versus "MQA stereo original resolution" (first MQA unfold only).... ?

 

And even "Stereo 24BIT/96kHz" (non-MQA) vs DXD?

[asdf1000]

On 5/13/2019 at 4:35 PM, Em2016 said:

 

How does "Stereo 24BIT/96kHz" (non-MQA) look versus "MQA stereo original resolution" (first MQA unfold only).... ?

 

And even "Stereo 24BIT/96kHz" (non-MQA) vs DXD?

 

@FredericV - the reason I ask is because at my end, even "Stereo 24BIT/96kHz" (non-MQA) versus DXD doesn't like great on my end... and there's no MQA even involved...

 

On the other hand, "Stereo 24BIT/96kHz" (non-MQA) look versus "MQA stereo original resolution" (first MQA unfold only) looks very similar...

 

Hoping you can check and confirm...

[asdf1000]

New video by Darko with Bob:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T7mq_RDiROI

[asdf1000]

1 hour ago, Ishmael Slapowitz said:

This is sickening...

 

That’s a bit extreme... 

 

I’ve noticed in interviews, the more controversial the comment from Bob’s mouth, the quieter he gets. Almost like a whisper. Makes me chuckle every time. We can still hear you Bob.

 

I love how Darko cuts it quickly with Bob’s very last comment... “it’s good for everybody”

 

I wonder if they both burst out laughing right after.

 

[asdf1000]

3 minutes ago, Ishmael Slapowitz said:

That’s a bit extreme... "

 

Nope, 

 

Bob makes me chuckle... he doesn’t make me feel sick..

 

That’s just me though.

[asdf1000]

2 hours ago, Currawong said:

How do you explain to someone who has no technical understanding why MQA is dubious?

 

 

Agree with your comments. This MQA Vaporware thread is definitely not the thread to link anybody, for technical (or even non-technical) understanding why MQA is dubious. This MQA Vaporware wouldn't concern or worry MQA Ltd at all. Any good posts in this thread are diluted by extreme comments/reactions and a lot of misinformation. It's probably become a joke to MQA Ltd to be honest (if they're still reading this thread).

 

Two great links to share with others are:

 

https://audiophilestyle.com/ca/reviews/mqa-a-review-of-controversies-concerns-and-cautions-r701/

 

and 

 

https://audiophilestyle.com/forums/topic/30572-mqa-technical-analysis/

 

 

 

[asdf1000]

15 minutes ago, Siltech817 said:

I doubt it is a laughing matter to them.

 

I was referring to this particular thread (MQA is Vaporware) very specifically...

 

The links I shared above would be much much less a laughing matter for MQA Ltd...

 

[asdf1000]

2 hours ago, Currawong said:

6. 96k limit. As per the image from a couple of pages back showing totally different HF content?

 

This image?

 

https://audiophilestyle.com/forums/topic/30381-mqa-is-vaporware/?do=findComment&comment=957196

 

I asked @FredericV some questions about this but never got a response...

 

How does "Stereo 24BIT/96kHz" (non-MQA) look versus "MQA stereo original resolution" (first MQA unfold only).... ?

 

And even "Stereo 24BIT/96kHz" (non-MQA) vs DXD?

 

The reason I asked is because at my end, even "Stereo 24BIT/96kHz" (non-MQA) versus DXD doesn't like great on my end... and there's no MQA even involved...

 

On the other hand, "Stereo 24BIT/96kHz" (non-MQA) look versus "MQA stereo original resolution" (first MQA unfold only) looks very similar...

 

Hoping he could check and confirm...

 

 

[asdf1000]

7 minutes ago, mansr said:

A 24/96 downsampled version obviously discards any content above 48 kHz that may be present in a higher-rate original. Below 48 kHz (minus a small transition band) it will match exactly if the downsampling is done properly. The MQA "first unfold" output has a 96 kHz sample rate, so the frequency content there is also limited to 48 kHz. There has to be some loss compared to the non-MQA version, but for most music it is probably insignificant. When MQA is "rendered," content above 48 kHz is simply invented with no relation to what was in the original file. That's where the huge discrepancy comes from.

 

Noted. But how does the "Stereo 24BIT/96kHz" (non-MQA) look on the same graph? Same track

 

Especially compared to the DXD file of that track...

[asdf1000]

8 minutes ago, mansr said:

unless they botched the downsampling.

 

That's what I was asking someone to actually check... I mentioned, I checked at my end and it looks like it was botched...

 

I could have botched something at my end though - although MQA 1st unfold vs proper 24/96 look pretty similar (as expected...) at my end.

[asdf1000]

8 minutes ago, mansr said:

The spectrum of the 96 kHz file obviously ends at 48 kHz. Just below, from about 44 kHz, it deviates a little due to the roll-off of the downsampling filter. Otherwise it's a very close match. There is nothing abnormal here.

 

Cheers. As I feared, something botched at my end.

 

[asdf1000]

1 hour ago, Rt66indierock said:

I’m at T.H.E. Show in Long Beach California this weekend. People are upset and can’t believe nobody listens to Tidal.

 

Because everyone there listens to vinyl and physical CD? Or listens to Spotify?

 

On 6/7/2019 at 9:32 AM, Rt66indierock said:

I have two standing challenges in audio. One is if you think high resolution will benefit artists prove it. Come to my office and lay your proof on my conference table in the Valley of the Sun. Nobody has.

 

Why does someone need to come to you specifically? What's in it for them? 

 

I thought you're an accountant that enjoys HiFi shows?

[asdf1000]

On 6/7/2019 at 9:32 AM, Rt66indierock said:

Come to my office and lay your proof on my conference table in the Valley of the Sun. Nobody has.

 

If the rumoured Amazon lossless (CD quality plus Hi-Res) streaming option launches in Q4 or in 2020, will you personally refund all artists that visit your conference table? Even if they fail to convince you before Q4?

 

Refund all flight, accomodation, cab/uber, dining, ‘entertainment’ expenses?

 

[asdf1000]

Error 

[asdf1000]

Error

[asdf1000]

1 hour ago, MikeyFresh said:

Spotify still bleeds money every quarter.

 

Previous quarter was profitable...

 

https://www.theverge.com/2019/2/6/18214331/spotify-earnings-financial-announcement-profits-music-streaming-podcast

 

That was their first ever and yes most recent quarter was another loss but as paid subscriber numbers continue to climb and their year on year losses get smaller, it's not rocket surgery to guess where they're heading...

 

 

[asdf1000]

1 hour ago, Jud said:

 

Or brain science?   

 

I loved when the late great Charles Hansen (RIP) used to say 'it's not rocket surgery' 😉

 

[asdf1000]

33 minutes ago, MikeyFresh said:

Point taken, but one quarter does not a company make.

 

Noted and this is why I acknowledged that this was their only quarter of profit and not even their most recent (as you pointed) but I also emphasised their year on year losses continue to reduce, as their paid subscriber numbers continue to climb... 

[asdf1000]

Interesting article in many ways. Tragic story. But something potentially related to this thread:

 

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/11/magazine/universal-fire-master-recordings.html

 

Today Universal Music Group is a Goliath, by far the world’s biggest record company, with soaring revenues bolstered by a boom in streaming music and a market share nearly double that of its closest competitor, Sony Music Entertainment. Last year, Vivendi announced a plan to sell up to 50 percent of UMG. The sale is the talk of the music business; rumored potential buyers include Apple, Amazon and the Chinese conglomerate Alibaba. The price tag is expected to be hefty: In January, Deutsche Bank raised its valuation of UMG to more than $33 billion.

 

 

[asdf1000]

3 minutes ago, The Computer Audiophile said:

 

 

Whoops, missed this. But, as above, the part maybe interesting (I thought) to this thread:

 

Today Universal Music Group is a Goliath, by far the world’s biggest record company, with soaring revenues bolstered by a boom in streaming music and a market share nearly double that of its closest competitor, Sony Music Entertainment. Last year, Vivendi announced a plan to sell up to 50 percent of UMG. The sale is the talk of the music business; rumored potential buyers include Apple, Amazon and the Chinese conglomerate Alibaba. The price tag is expected to be hefty: In January, Deutsche Bank raised its valuation of UMG to more than $33 billion.

 

[asdf1000]

39 minutes ago, Odd Magnus Bjerkvik said:

Roon, Meridian and Tidal goes hand in hand which people are concerned. They are scratching each others back. 

https://www.cepro.com/article/sooloos_parts_ways_with_meridian_to_form_roon_labs the origin of Roon.

 

Regarding Roon, I don't think their past matters at all... here is Roon's COO/President on MQA.. I don't think this public comment is scratching Meridian's back....

 

[asdf1000]

This is a couple weeks old already and I know already came up in this thread.

 

But does anyone think this deal will be lucrative for MQA Ltd?

 

https://www.grammy.com/grammys/news/china-gets-mqa-studio-quality-audio-streaming-alibabas-xiami-music

 

"China's revitalized recorded revenue market currently ranks seventh in revenue internationally, due in part to the efforts of streaming services like Xiami. The country also ranks fourth in terms of music streaming income, behind only the U.S., the U.K. and Germany."

[asdf1000]

1 minute ago, GUTB said:

 

A Chinese CD player outputting via TOSLink to a Mytek Liberty with linear power supply. 

 

 

It supports MQA decoding through it's TOSlink input?

 

[asdf1000]

22 minutes ago, The Computer Audiophile said:

Hi Guys - Here’s something for your reading pleasure this morning. There’s a link in this Financial Times article about MQA, to this thread!

 

The article may not be viewable in all countries. Some people are saying it behind a pay wall. It’s was available for me here in the US without paying.

 

I can't access the full article either but saw this much:

 

"Mr Stuart's MQA (Master Quality Authenticated) format has just been adopted by Alibaba's Xiami music-streaming service, with its 14m subscribers in China."