MQA The Truth lies Somewhere in the Middle

[Derek Hughes]

I was in the audience and did interrupt and made some negative comments. In my opinion, despite Chris stating that he was going to be impartial, his presentation was anything but. 

[Derek Hughes]

So Chris, here’s where your site fails on this subject. Brinkman Ship says I should be ashamed and I know that if I engaged in a debate with him or others I would receive a shit storm. 

[Derek Hughes]

Austin pop, well said.

[Derek Hughes]

Brinkman Ship, I’m not a victim. I have no intention on engaging with you and others on MQA or Chris’s presentation. I made my points in the room. 

[Derek Hughes]

Several of you have made comments about me from watching the video, that's OK. What is not OK is the comment about "the guy sleeping" next to me. Edwin is blind. 

[Derek Hughes]

On 9/18/2018 at 5:16 PM, Rt66indierock said:

Our own Chris Connaker will lead this discussion Sunday afternoon at RMAF. Time get that list together of the cons, cost and claims made. 

To all

I've watched the video and all I can say is that unless you were there you got about 10% of the audience participation, ask Lee Scoggins and Rajiv. That's the fault of all of us, the moderator, me, the audience and the camera and mic folks.  Chris did his best in a very difficult situation and yes, with some hostile feedback from the audience including me (yes, I am the Brit in the blue T shirt) . For those of you mocking me, go ahead, for those of you mocking Edwin, the guy sitting next to me, you disgust me. It is obvious that he is blind, his white cane is in full view. By the way Brinkmanship I've added your clip to my profile, the grandkids love it.

 

At the end of the day the seminar was about the pros and cons of MQA, that's what Chris tried to present. In MY OPINION, that was not what his presentation was, it was biased against MQA, that is why he got the reaction that he did. Again in MY OPINION, he stated that it would be unbiased and it wasn't. I am in touch with Chris privately and I think we are good.

 

As to my position on MQA. I listen to MQA tracks on Tidal and  Red Book tracks on Tidal. I enjoy both and I love Tidal as a vehicle for me to listen to music I know and, to discover new music. Let  me give you an example, I wandered around RMAF with Shazam in hand. I got home and built a Tidal playlist of the Shazam tracks, it's great to listen to. Once Qobuz becomes available I'll sign up for it and then decide if I stay with one or go with both. I can not defend or support MQA technically, I don't have the necessary skills. At least one of you, maybe more, have said that they hope Tidal fails because of their support for MQA, I don't. Tidal and MQA will survive or fail based on customer demand and their finances. 

 

I have really enjoyed my time reading CA, I post very little but I have gotten a lot from it. I really enjoyed the bar time with Chris and other CA members at both Axpona and RMAF. Most of you are a good bunch and Chris has built a great brand and and is enjoying the success of his labors. I'm sure that it will continue. 

[Derek Hughes]

1 minute ago, mansr said:

It was because you and your MQA buddies were hell-bent on ruining the presentation lest a nugget of truth get out. Had I been in charge, the lot of you would have been escorted from the room.

 

What is your affiliation with MQA anyway?

None.

[Derek Hughes]

5 minutes ago, Shadders said:

Hi,

The white stick is not noticeable until the end when it is moved. Yourself notices it, because you know it is there.

 

With regards to the pro's and cons, MQA do not publish any cons, so maybe, the "negative" aspects of the presentation were to balance the misinformation of MQA Ltd ? I did not see any cons - only exposure of the misinformation from MQA Ltd.  The slides are available on this web site - so you can see and challenge the con's if you so desire.

 

Regards,

Shadders.

Go to minute 33 and watch it again, the white cane is clearly visible. I've been in touch with Chris privately and I'll discuss his presentation with him privately if he wants to. As I said above, unless you were in the room you got about 10% of the audience participation.

Derek 

[Derek Hughes]

3 minutes ago, mansr said:

Sure, and I have bridge for sale in Brooklyn.

So you are calling me a liar. I suggest that you ask Chris, he knows me, you don't.

[Derek Hughes]

1 minute ago, Indydan said:

 

Then why defend MQA with such passion if you have no affiliation?!

I wasn't defending MQA, I was pointing out that Chris's presentation was biased. I spoke to one of the MQA reps in the bar after the presentation. I pointed out to him that I thought that they had gone in to the marketplace with too much hoopla and set themself for a very high bar. In my opinion they should have gone in much softer and gotten some feedback. 

 

[Derek Hughes]

9 minutes ago, mansr said:

Did you really have to do that in such a rude manner? The usual protocol is to leave questions until the end.

Were you there? Chris did not state that he wanted to leave questions to the end. I worked at Intel for over 20 years, if you think that was rude you have no idea.

Are you still calling me a liar? 

[Derek Hughes]

 

28 minutes ago, Shadders said:

Hi,

The reason you are aware of the white stick is because you know it is there. For someone who is not really paying attention, it is very easily missed. People on this site are not that nasty.

Regards,

Shadders.

OK, I'll buy that but the comment clearly upset me. 

[Derek Hughes]

2 hours ago, BigAlMc said:

 

From my perspective there is a difference between asking a few questions and systematically derailing a presentation.

 

I wasn't there but the MQA guys seem to think they entered a door labeled "MQA team debates Chris C". Chris on the other hand entered a door with "Chris C's  presentation".

 

You stated 20 years experience at Intel. I have never worked there but I don't imagine that derailing a presentation by arguing/heckling for the vast majority was encouraged or productive at Intel. I've worked in IT for years and a few constructive questions is one thing but presentation sabotage is quite another.

 

FWIW Derek I felt Chris made a slight misstep describing his presentation as neutral when it leaned slightly to anti-MQA.

 

That said I honestly believe he was genuine in trying to avoid an MQA Takedown or bigging up MQA. Hence let's look at MQA and their claims was (in my humble opinion) a genuine attempt to be fair.

 

The MQA executive team conspiring to shut the presentation down with corrections like "we haven't used that logo since 2016"  doesn't help. Its not DRM, trust us we haven't done it so far, likewise doesn't.

 

I'd genuinely appreciate knowing your background and stance here?

 

But that video played as the MQA team rudely derailing and sabotaging Chris's attempt to have a rational discussion about the pros and cons of MQA. Hence the defensive reaction.

 

I have an MQA download (from High Res Audio) that sounds amazing. I have some Tidal masters that are likewise. I have others that are meh at best.

 

I'd love for MQA to be an audiophile bonus. And I've kept an open mind to date. But that video plays as bullying and raises the question why do they feel compelled to do so.

 

Cheers,

Alan

OK, I hear you Alan. I was honestly trying to help, clearly I failed and have certainly paid for it here. I have the same opinions as you on MQA on Tidal so I guess there are a few out there. My background is primarily in IT although I retired in 2001 so mainly in mainframe and enterprise systems. I worked at Intel for over 20 years and anyone who worked there under Andy Grove will tell you that there were many heated meetings and seminars. There was a term used there called Constructive Confrontation, in fact, I taught the class. The main idea is to confront the problem or issue and not the person. That's what I was trying to do, confront the issue that Chris appeared, in MY OPINION to be biased in his presentation. The fact that I got frustrated is my problem although I do stand by my comments if not in the way they were delivered. Clearly folks here believe I was attacking Chris. I wasn't, I like and respect the guy, he has built an incredibly successful business and brand. 

[Derek Hughes]

2 hours ago, Ralf11 said:

I am surprised that a continuous video did not capture 90% of this.  What do you mean by that, Derek Hughes?

 

I also did not see the white cane...

Hardly any of the comments from the audience were caught on the mic. As an example, Lee Scoggins talked about DRM quite a bit, none of it comes thru on the video. I hear you on the white cane and as Chris said let's move on on that. 

[Derek Hughes]

3 hours ago, crenca said:

 

On the one hand, you have a very strong table-banging opinion, which happens to coincide with those who have $investment$ in MQA 

 

On the other hand, you admit you don't have the skills/knowledge to have an opinion one way or another.

 

I guess INTEL does not mean what it used to mean.  Don't worry, your a meme worthy representation of so much of what is wrong with Audiophiledom - lots of opinion, no actual knowledge.

 

Also, I saw where your table banging frightened your blind friend.  No wonder you are disgusted with yourself...

Thanks, you are certainly piling it on.