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How many of you believe in MQA?

I have recently purchased a Bluesound Node 2i.  The dealer suggested I connect the Bluesound by way of digital coax to a Pro-Ject S2 DAC by way of RCA anologue to my ARCAM AVR550.  However, I found out I will not be able to control my Bluesound with an iPhone, iPad or PC notebook.  The only way to hear MQA completely unfolded is to plug in a computer USB.  This would mean I would have to get up from where I am sitting, go to the computer to change songs and albums.  I believe the Pro-Ject RS2 DAC would work, but not sure what the sales price is or if this is a good option.

The dealer asked me why I wanted to even bother listening to MQA completely unfolded when the DAC sounded better than the DAC inside the Bluesound.  He thinks MQA is way over rated and it may not be around a year from now.  If I hook things up with the Pro-Ject S2 DAC I will be able to hear one unfold which would be at 24 bit/88.2 kHz.  If I do this, I will be giving up the opportunity to hear MQA recordings recorded at 24 bit/96 kHz or 24 bit/192 kHz.  

How many of you are enbracing MQA?  
128x128larry5729

Showing 5 responses by b_limo

b_limo's avatar
b_limo
2,273 posts
 
I’ve been far happier with qobuz.  Not too many mqa albums that I listened to.  Hi Res files on Qobuz is a different story.  Michael Jackson sounds really good on Qobuz Hi Res; same with Norah Jones.  I can find quite a bit of edm in Hi Res on Qobuz.  When I type Mozart in Qobuz’ search engine it doesn’t bring up a rapper, like in Tidal.

I prefer the sound of Qobuz over Tidal
b_limo's avatar
b_limo
2,273 posts
 
To my knowledge, the bluesound node 2i will decode MQA 24/192...

I’m confused here.  If you didn’t know that the Bluesound Node 2i is a network streamer / dac, what did you think it was?  
b_limo's avatar
b_limo
2,273 posts
 
The Node 2i supposedly sounds quite a bit better than the original Node 2.

Larry, did you connect the Bluesound to your system yourself?

The bluesound node is a dac / streamer...  what were you using previously as your dac and have you a/b compared the two dacs (node / previously used dac).

Do you know how to a/b compare the two dacs?  If not, maybe we could help.  What is lacking in the bluesound dac?  What is lacking in the streamer?  

Its really odd that you bought a new streamer / dac and then right away ask about what kind of dac and streamer you should connect to your new dac and streamer...?

Again, when you were sold the Bluesound, what did he say it was?

b_limo's avatar
b_limo
2,273 posts
 
Larry5729,

“I thought the Bluesound connected RCA (analogue) to my ARCAM sounded really good. I think it might have sounded less harsh”

... this is because you prefer the dac in the bluesound over the dac in the pro-ject.

Have you even read anyones response on this thread that you started?
b_limo's avatar
b_limo
2,273 posts
 
@Brianlucey, Thank You for your response!  Very informative and helpful 👍
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