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MQA ? Pono? What's better than the CD?

The Pono format looks to me to be much better than an upsampled CD file, as the AD conversion has been re-done. Because the Pono format is .FLAC it should be universally playable (i.e., not just by Pono players). Comments on the Pono format?

I have stumbled across MQA. Has anyone had experience with this? Better than Pono? Just another selection?

I don't see how the market can support too many formats, as the albums are going to be need to be re-mastered  and A->D for each format.

Are there are formats out there that have a good selection of re-mastered albums?

~Jim
jimspov

Showing 4 responses by erik_squires

erik_squires
16,654 posts
 
For the bazillionth + 1 time: MQA has no DRM. There is no management of rights. Only authentication of data.

And they can rave all they want to. I've been very pleased with a number of DAC's over the past 3-5 years. MQA is a barely noticeable change to my ears.

Best,

E
erik_squires
16,654 posts
 
That makes it sound a lot better, I take it back, MQA rocks.... er, not. :)

https://www.meridian-audio.com/news-events/meridian-audio-launches-mqa-master-quality-authenticated/
erik_squires
16,654 posts
 
See the link I just posted. :) Enjoy.
erik_squires
16,654 posts
 
Hi Jim!

As a music storage format, FLAC predates Pono by a few years. :) But I rip or download FLAC unless I'm buying DSD.  Also I do like the sound of the Pono portable player, but given it's limitations I ended up going with Fiio and with an extra amp almost as good. One of the Fiio players does android, so you can do Tidal while on the move.

I have a Mytek Brooklyn, which IS great and lets me listen to MQA files as well as DSD. My personal opinion, after listening to a number of tracks is that MQA is almost useless. It would be interesting if Tidal was streaming it. I've listened to MQA and compared a number of tracks in FLAC to FLAC/MQA, Besides the compression there's absolutely no sonic benefit to my ears. As far as I can tell it's just a marketing gimmick for Meridian to wet their beak on licensing. 

Only MQA really requires "remastering." Converting from WAV to FLAC to ALAC or MP3 is a simple software job anyone could do.

Best,


Erik
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