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  1. #1
    Join Date: Feb 2012

    Location: Falun, Sweden

    Posts: 2,245
    I'm Mike.

    Default Tidal now streaming MQA!

    As of this morning Tidal is giving access to MQA encoded material for their HiFi-customers. I actually didn't think i'll see the day!

    I dont know if it's available for all markets yet though...
    Material so far limited, but som nice xamples;
    The Eagles, Beyoncé etc
    And a very nice album for you all:

    Sturgill Simpson - A Sailor's Guide To Earth

    The MQA material seem to be available in Roon too, even if Roon does not say explicitly that it's MQA (it identifies MQA material in your local library, but not yet from Tidal)
    It is displayed as 24bit 44.1 Khz though if you look at the source info.

  2. #2
    Join Date: Jan 2013

    Location: Bristol

    Posts: 6,843
    I'm Justin.

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by AlfaGTV View Post
    As of this morning Tidal is giving access to MQA encoded material for their HiFi-customers. I actually didn't think i'll see the day!

    I dont know if it's available for all markets yet though...
    Material so far limited, but som nice xamples;
    The Eagles, Beyoncé etc
    And a very nice album for you all:

    Sturgill Simpson - A Sailor's Guide To Earth

    The MQA material seem to be available in Roon too, even if Roon does not say explicitly that it's MQA (it identifies MQA material in your local library, but not yet from Tidal)
    It is displayed as 24bit 44.1 Khz though if you look at the source info.
    I got an upgrade notice yesterday for this. It said look in What's New but I saw nothing in the quick glimpse I had.

    I'll look again tonight but have they made want is in MQA obvious?

  3. #3
    Join Date: Jan 2013

    Location: Bristol

    Posts: 6,843
    I'm Justin.

    Default

    Ah go to What's New then the Albums section then Masters and apparently it is all there.

  4. #4
    Join Date: Jan 2013

    Location: Bristol

    Posts: 6,843
    I'm Justin.

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    According to the MQA website the stream will sound better than CD without and MQA decoder. But better still with one.

  5. #5
    Join Date: Feb 2012

    Location: Falun, Sweden

    Posts: 2,245
    I'm Mike.

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by User211 View Post
    According to the MQA website the stream will sound better than CD without and MQA decoder. But better still with one.
    Yes, and i actually agree that the MQA sounds somewhat better, but im pretty convinced it's all down to the mastering rather than the format...
    (Theres some phase correction and other adjustments made to the digital master depending on what ADC's were originalyl used if i remeber correctly?)

  6. #6
    Join Date: Jan 2013

    Location: Bristol

    Posts: 6,843
    I'm Justin.

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    Just got home and hey I count 346 albums in MQA. And a large percentage of it is very mainstream. Smiths, Dream Theater. Blur, Muse, The Doors, Bowie, Madonna etc actually it's a great selection.

    Unfortunately I can't really evaluate it at the mo as my right ear is still suffering from the end of a serious ear infection.

    Still, something to have fun with.

  7. #7
    Join Date: Feb 2012

    Location: Falun, Sweden

    Posts: 2,245
    I'm Mike.

    Default

    Apologies!
    I didn't understand fully first, as i am unused to the Tidal desktop App.
    You can actually make it software decode upp to 88.2/96khz if you set your output in Prefs, and of course select Exclusive mode...
    I cant say if it's the same in Windows, but probably something similar.

    Nevertheless, i fail to detect any noticeable difference in audio quality between software decoded and undecoded..

  8. #8
    Join Date: Jan 2013

    Location: Bristol

    Posts: 6,843
    I'm Justin.

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    Out of curiosity do you use TIDAL because you rejected Spotify SQ?

  9. #9
    Join Date: Feb 2012

    Location: Falun, Sweden

    Posts: 2,245
    I'm Mike.

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by User211 View Post
    Out of curiosity do you use TIDAL because you rejected Spotify SQ?
    If that question was addressed to me, then no, and yes..
    Tidal works so well in coop with Roon, and the combined library of my own files and Tidal content lets me build a really nice library.
    Tidal Hifi does sound significantly better than Spotify Premium in my setup, and what i have heard of the new MQA stuff it does sound promising!
    And it sounds very good whether your not decoding at all (better mastering) or software decoding (better mastering+Unfolding higher rez content) or presumably what you will get with a good MQA aware DAC.
    Now, i'm just waiting to see what the cost will be to have access to this later on!

  10. #10
    Join Date: Oct 2008

    Location: Glasgowshire

    Posts: 9,656
    I'm Gary.

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    Magik, will check this out on Tidal thanks for the heads up!
    Yup, showing as 24/44...nice.

    Nice Nirvana cover on the Simpson album too.

    Shame you cant use Roon's 'focus' feature on Tidal to identify all MQA albums, ah well.
    some info here:
    https://support.tidal.com/hc/en-us/a...-TIDAL-MASTERS
    Last edited by Gazjam; 06-01-2017 at 22:44.

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