Apple AirPlay/ Tidal MQA

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Kingkwas
Kingkwas Posts: 92
in Going Digital
Plan to give Tidal MQA a try on new stereo setup with my MacBook and Marantz. Does Apple AirPlay have a high enough data transfer rate ? Does it water down the signal? Best method to connect and listen to Tidal MQA?

Thanks!
AVR: Marantz SR 5011
L/ R: Polk Audio 703 LSiM (Bi Amp'd)
C: Polk Audio 255c - LS
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Sub: PSW 505 (12 inch)
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  • andrew82
    andrew82 Posts: 144
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    Last I checked, airplay transmits at 16/44.1; so enough for tidal hifi.

    As the conversion of the MQA occurs in the app, I doubt that it'll pass over airplay as anything higher than CD quality. Worth a shot though, especially if you're sending it to a receiver with the capability to read out the files it's playing.
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  • RamZet
    RamZet Posts: 792
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    the Airplay maxes out at CD quality so 16/44 bit 1024kbps
    I just attempted to Airplay MQA tidal stuff and it did not pass for me.
    I then tried regular FLAC and it did not, but my CD quality stuff passes.
    B&W CM9Classé Sigma
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  • RamZet
    RamZet Posts: 792
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    FYI I just went to the Tidal settings and gave Tidal "exclusive access" and "forced volume" to my HRT Music Streamer DAC and it went from 24/48 to 24/96.
    Check it:
    c9lylk6elwjt.png
    B&W CM9Classé Sigma
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  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,906
    edited March 2017
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    The App is limited to 24/96, you need MQA certified dacs to get the full benefit. Using it over airplay the MQA for Tidal masters may not work at all because the airplay is limited to 16/44. I'd imagine if it did work, it may not sound too good.

    Basically, you won't get Tidal masters over airplay. Your best bet is to just use Tidal for the cd quality 16/44.
    Post edited by tonyb on
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