Tidal Introduces MQA

Mikey081057

Tidal put up about 50 more albums overnite which brings it to about 500

vcwatkins

Yep, I noticed today that the number of MQA albums on Tidal desktop had grown to ~500. So I favorited a bunch more there, brought up Roon to let it sync those new albums to my Roon library, and tested a couple. Sounded terrible. Took me a few minutes to realize it was going to my little desktop PC sound (PC>HRT Streamer II>Dared MP5>Straley Reality>DefTech StudioMonitor 45) instead of the music rig (Office rig below). It was terribly distorted. Usually, when redbook music is being played on that little rig it's pretty good - nothing great - but definitely listenable. But this time it was not.

Switched over to the Office music rig and it sounded really good. Noticeably good. Surprisingly good, as it had when I tested Zep I and a couple others a few days ago against their redbook equivalent.

So I can see why many are saying MQA played through non-MQA dacs sounds worse and some say it sounds better. Here, at least, it appears it REALLY should be outside of the computer environment as Skip suggested.

I'm still waiting on delivery of the Meridian Explorer2 tonight to test MQA with some headphones. Also waiting impatiently for Roon 1.3.

vcwatkins

Thought I would point to a spreadsheet of Tidal's MQA albums maintained by a guy in the Roon forum. They number close to 800 so far, and I'm still discovering others in Tidal and Roon. Here's the link:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/10VtON9VjMAt3uyHC2-Oo2MjIa3orv9DKZfwiRQKmTAA/edit#gid=945476039

My Meridian Explorer2 never arrived last night, so I did some more A/B between Roon/Tidal redbook and MQA albums (through non-MQA enabled devices) - but this time with Sennheiser hd600/Bottlehead Crack in the den while watching the game. Confirmed the MQA sounding better than redbook counterpart. In the case of Joni Mitchell "Blue", the MQA also sounded better than the 24/96 remastered flac (not sure of exact version). Vocals and Joni/JT/Stills' strings were more detailed and organic, with a more live musicality overall. I'm chalking it up to mastering, at least for now. Hope to do MQA/redbook comparo today when the Explorer2 arrives so I can get a better idea if it'll be worth getting a better MQA enabled dac.

vcwatkins

Continuing my monologue snoozeposts on MQA (and now, Meridian Explorer2)...

Finally received the Meridian Explorer2. Downloaded the update. Not as simple or straightforward as some others. Connected to desktop PC usb, selected as playback device, brought Tidal desktop up, chose an MQA album, played. Sounded really good, but was not lighting up the blue MQA indicator light on the Explorer. Retried, looked around for possible problems - settings, playback devices, music. After 15-30 minutes, I could not get it to stream MQA. Started searching online and finally found one similar case - that user could not stream MQA from Tidal; only from Roon.

So I brought up Roon, chose an MQA album, played. Blue indicator lighted up and sound was improved. Very very good. Great detail with no (what I assumed was PC-related) distortion that I experienced a few days ago. But I didn't have time to listen further. Never figured out my problem with Tidal.

So last night, I moved the Explorer2 to the den. Plugged into the Sonore MicroRendu, pulled up Roon on Macbook. MicroRendu had disappeared from playback devices. Rebooted uRendu. Reappeared on Roon with the Explorer2 icon. Doobie's Vices MQA was already up, so hit play.

WOW! Fantastic clarity, good extension and dynamics, amazingly natural sounding. I could hear into the music like never before. Individual horns were remarkably distinct and realistic. Smooth, dynamic, musical. This was beating the ChordQute/Joule/BHCrack combo playing non-MQA and the Senn HD600's have never sounded this good. Couldn't listen for very long and didn't compare to non-MQA, but I am SOOO pleased with the Meridian Explorer2. I've ordered an AQ mini-plug/rca hard adapter, so I can try over speakers.

I'll probably end up keeping the Explorer2 and using it in the little desktop sound rig since I only listen to a portable player during infrequent air travel. But getting it helped me determine that I need to consider an MQA dac. So, IMO:

Meridian Explorer2

• Fantastic MQA and very good non-MQA sound in a portable dac
• Limited connections
• Good visual feedback with resolution and MQA indicator lights
• Excellent value

MQA

• Enough of an improvement in SQ that I'll start looking at MQA dacs
• Good selection of music so far

Mikey081057

Interesting article

http://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/from-the-editor-mqa-on-the-threshold/

Nightfall

@vcwatkins have you checked out the Brooklyn DAC?

Mikey081057

Has anyone listened to Fragile Yes MQA?

vcwatkins

Nightfall wrote: »

@vcwatkins have you checked out the Brooklyn DAC?

I have not, but probably should. It seems to get a lot of love and, on first glance checks all the boxes. Will try to read up. Thanks.

I'm hoping to do more MQA/Hi-res comparison listening next week.

DaveHo

I've had a Tidal HiFi subscription, but had always used the web interface with my work headphone rig. This morning I installed the desktop app. In the settings, next to the choice to select my USB DAC as the output device, there is another link to additional settings. In there you can choose to have the desktop app do the MQA decoding or pass the MQA encoded stream to your DAC. So even if you don't have an MQA capable DAC, it's possible to play MQA encoded recordings. My DAC clearly shows it's receiving a 96KHz signal. This was not obvious to me before fiddling around.

recoveryone

I'm on the 30 day free trial for the HiFi, and still playing around with the basics. I installed the app to my Squeezebox system and the SQ is heads above Pandora. I did my first playlist today (Warning: must be over 45 yrs old and must have a membership in the Funkateer Club) tidal.com/playlist/b087f099-52d9-46cc-b036-d97a42dad65b Bootsy never sounded better. Depending on the catalog selection I may upgrade to the MQA service.

DaveHo

As far as the Tidal pricing tiers are concerned, MQA is not an upgrade over HiFi. It's included. Not sure if the Tidal app for Squeezebox supports MQA, but the PC/MAC desktop app does.

Mikey081057

Apparently none of the devices have the MQA only desktop apps for PC/MAC. You would have to add the Masters stuff to a playlist or to your favorites to access them from your device. My recall with the SBT was that tidal was a hack that had to be setup on the SBT. You may want to check the SBT forums for advice.

Mikey081057

http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?104878-TIDAL-MQA-is-2016

recoveryone

Tidal is a full app now, the only issues I have encountered with Squeezebox is that it won't playback my created playlist, but it plays all the pre installed artist, and playlist.

Mikey081057

OK I sold mine sometime back after Bluesound Node

recoveryone

Figure out the issue with my Squeezebox Touch's, I hand the streaming settings on Flac & Mp3, I put it at Mp3 only and it streamed just fine. I guess the Flac files were a bit much to buffer, as I have Flac on my local system and have no problem with streaming from my local LMS. The sound quality is good, as I can tell they have used very good re-masteres. So far I am impress with the collection of old schools 70's funk bands that other sites don't have.

On-guard, defend yourself I'll shot you with my Bop Gun (George Clinton)

RamZet

Awesome!

rooftop59

So this seems to be working through my HRT Microstreamer (from a MacBook air), which can handle up to 24/96. These "masters" albums sound DAMN good. Especially Wilco (one of my favs). Now I am thinking I may have to pick up an older mac mini to use as a streamer in my bedroom setup. I just wish we knew if or how long it'll take before we get this working through the chromecast audio...

Mikey081057

Awesome Stuff!!!

erniejade

I think if you add to your faves on the tidal desktop and then play the list from Chromecast Audio, it should work.. or in theory is should?

rooftop59

erniejade wrote: »

I think if you add to your faves on the tidal desktop and then play the list from Chromecast Audio, it should work.. or in theory is should?

hmm...worth a shot, but here is an interesting tidbit from computer audiophile (http://www.computeraudiophile.com/f22-networking-networked-audio-and-streaming/tidal-confirms-hifi-service-chromecast-not-working-31012/): "Currently getting the Chromecast Audio streaming 24/96kHz, taking advantage of the Windows TIDAL app (not Chrome) MQA Masters decoding feature, with help from BubbleUPnP Server, Foobar2000 with the foo_out_upnp & foo_record plugins, plus VB Audio Hi-Fi cable software. Easy when you know how!"

I can do the first part (use my the tidal app on my macbook to cast to the chromecast) but not the rest...

Another interesting post. Can someone here confirm?
"Tidal has confirmed you cannot stream lossless with Chromecast via the Tidal IOS apps, yet they have yet to go public with that and continue to take HIFI subscription payments from users of their IOS apps. This is downright fraudulent in my opinion. No doubt there are numerous 3rd party workarounds to solve this issue but that's not the point I'm making here."

If this is the case, its pretty lame.

RamZet

My DAC is displaying 24/48K, but it doesn't officially "support" MQA, now I need to spend more money...

Whats MQA compliant and under 200 bucks, dragonfly?


This has good/quick/easy info about MQA:
http://www.audiostream.com/content/mqa-decoding-explained#wVzLr7uSHq5DI8e9.97

doctor r

Listening to MQA from Tidal on my laptop directly to my Meridian Explorer2. The presentation is pretty amazing for a small portable DAC. Previously was able to stream 192/24 to the Meridian from my Logitech Touch with upgraded Welborne PS and it sounded nice, but the true MQA is more... interesting and engaging. Using an Audioquest 3.5mm to RCA adapter and Audience AU24se cables to connect to my preamp. I am curious how it will sound with a power source besides the HP laptop's which is not optimized for audio. Hoping the digital MQA signal will eventually be able to be passed through my Logitech Touch.

Nightfall

RamZet wrote: »

My DAC is displaying 24/48K, but it doesn't officially "support" MQA, now I need to spend more money...

Whats MQA compliant and under 200 bucks, dragonfly?


This has good/quick/easy info about MQA:
http://www.audiostream.com/content/mqa-decoding-explained#wVzLr7uSHq5DI8e9.97

I think the Meridian Explorer 2 is the cheapest option available.

doctor r

It is my understanding that saving the MQA albums to favorites to play back on Roon only produces 96/24 output (Tidal software processing only) to the DAC. Is this correct?

vcwatkins

My Explorer2 is indicating 176/192k on some MQA albums played through Roon. Doobies' Vices is one I am certain of. I'm also really enjoying this little Explorer2. Also using the AQ adapter to tie into Office rig.

Several MQA's are noticeably more 'musical' than their hi-res non-MQA counterparts. Inner detail and spatial queues are often improved too. Doobies' Vices, Mitchell's Blue, Zeppelin series are some that come to mind. I still want to do a lot more listening and blind comparisons before deciding to pursue MQA.

Listened to Tusk a few nights ago and couldn't believe how freakin good it sounded. This is an album I've listened to hundreds of times and it was just stunning - and this was coming from a daggum PC!

In case I haven't mentioned it here before, there's a spreadsheet of known MQA works available on Tidal. Many are available but don't show up in the What's New - Albums - Masters group. Here's the link:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/10VtON9VjMAt3uyHC2-Oo2MjIa3orv9DKZfwiRQKmTAA/edit#gid=945476039

halo

Jay Z’s Tidal sells one-third stake to Sprint for about $200m

Transaction will help artist-owned service compete against Apple and Spotify

https://ft.com/content/3c26c7fc-e187-11e6-8405-9e5580d6e5fb

rooftop59

vcwatkins wrote: »

In case I haven't mentioned it here before, there's a spreadsheet of known MQA works available on Tidal. Many are available but don't show up in the What's New - Albums - Masters group. Here's the link:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/10VtON9VjMAt3uyHC2-Oo2MjIa3orv9DKZfwiRQKmTAA/edit#gid=945476039

Thanks for the spreadsheet, that's awesome! BUT Am I just slow, or are there no album titles?

vcwatkins

rooftop59 wrote: »

vcwatkins wrote: »

In case I haven't mentioned it here before, there's a spreadsheet of known MQA works available on Tidal. Many are available but don't show up in the What's New - Albums - Masters group. Here's the link:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/10VtON9VjMAt3uyHC2-Oo2MjIa3orv9DKZfwiRQKmTAA/edit#gid=945476039

Thanks for the spreadsheet, that's awesome! BUT Am I just slow, or are there no album titles?

Make sure you're on the right tab and cursor all the way left. Album is column B on the first and third tab.

rooftop59

Found it, duh...thx!