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
@Brianlucey, Thank You for your response!  Very informative and helpful 👍
Brian,

I really appreciate your insight since you are a music master engineer.

How are most recordings made.  Are they recorded in 32 bit 192 kHz to begin with and then the recording studio copies 24 bit/192 kHz or 24 bit/96 kHz to a DVD or disk that can fit the greater amount of data and copy to a lower 16 bit/44.1 kHz to fit on a standard CD.  What then does MQA do that is different if it offers an original recording let's say in 24/96?  Isn't this going to sound exactly the same as any CD you pick off the shelf of the same recording done in 24/96 and pay more for the high res recording compared to the same recording sell on the shelf that is 16/44.1?  Is this what you are trying to say?

As a rookie starting out in this hobby I am beginning to begin to understand bit rates and sample rates.  I am also having problem hearing the difference between 16 bit and 24 bit recordings.  Maybe I am deaf.  The only thing I think I am hearing when hearing 24 bit is a bit more space and dimension.  However, maybe this is similar to THE EMPORER'S NEW CLOTHS phenomenon.  

I just connected a Pro-Ject S2 DAC to my Bluesound Node 2i after Amazon launched Amazon Music Unlimited HD.  I felt maybe the DAC is better than the DAC inside the DAC inside the Bluesound.  So far, I think it might sound more harsh after adding the Pro-Ject DAC.  Wonder if the Pro-Ject DAC emphasizes highs and the Bluesound is more neutral or is it I am hearing more detail compared to the Bluesound DAC and the DAC inside my ARCAM?  I called ARCAM and they told me the DAC inside the Bluesound was better than the DAC chip they put inside my ARCAM?  He said it can process more and since it has more processors, resistors, etc. than what they can fit inside the ARCAM, it should sound better.  My thinking was then maybe the stand alone Pro-Ject DAC, which has even more things inside than perhaps the Bluesound, maybe this will sound better than the DAC inside the Bluesound.

Several dealers and manufacturers at the RMAF told me what I am listening to remember everything I am hearing is the DAC.

Not too confusing!  I wonder what you would do if you were in my shoes.  Would you just connect the Bluesound via RCA analogue to my ARCAM or would you have connected the Bluesound via digital coax to a DAC like an affordable Pro-Ject S2 DAC and connect the DAC via RCA analogue to my ARCAM.  What in your opinion sounds better.  From what I can determine is if you want to hear MQA and in a completely unfolded format, you need to just hook up the Bluesound RCA's to the ARCAM.  I have a TIDAL subscription and I wanted to take advantage of the MQA technology.  However, dealers told me to forget MQA and either add a DAC to the mix that is better than the DAC inside the Bluesound and hear 1 unfold at 24/88.2 or take out a subscription to Qobuz and be able to take advantage of some of their recordings offered in 24/96 and 24/192.

I do think MQA could be just smoke and mirrors and a way to generate a lot of revenue from multiple sources by inventing a way to fold data and then in order to completely unfold it during the streaming process, you need to purchase expensive equipment.  

I will look forward to hearing some responses to this post. I must say, I am embarrassed to ask what might be stupid questions.

Sorry for the long post.  I just need to learn what some of you experts have learned already.  Some of you are highly technical and I really am fascinated by your knowledge.



Do you have a Bluesound?  If you do, did you connect it digital coax to an external DAC to your amplifier or receiver?

The Bluesound can play up to 32 bit just like my DAC.  i have switched the RCA's back and forth between the Bluesound and the Pro-Ject S2 DAC and I think the bass sounds tighter and the highs more detailed than the Bluesound DAC.  However, when I select an album from Tidal that is MQA recorded at 24/192, the maximum bit and sample rate I will hear is 24/88.2.  I still might go back to using just the Bluesound and hear this supposedly superior quality MQA sound.  I it difficult to know by using the DAC I am only able to hear up to 24/88.2.  However, I just can't hear the difference playing MQA.  I think most hi res music must be released in 24/96 and 24/192 is kind of rare.  

Amazon's roll out of their Amazon Music Unlimited HD prompted me to try the DAC because they offer Ultra HD up to 24/192 and they don't offer MQA.  So, if I stream a Ultra HD song at 24/192, it won't matter because I will get the full benefit of 24/192.  If this is the case, Based on this, I should have purchased an ARCAM R-Play streamer and connected that anaologue.  The frequency response plays down to 29 Hz and I wouldn't have had to add a DAC.
Post removed