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Thread: MQA scam exposed

  1. #1
    Join Date: Apr 2010

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    I'm CaughtBetweenTheDevilAndTheDeepBlueSea.

    Angry MQA scam exposed

    I've always thought that MQA was just a marketing ploy that doesn't add any real value to the hobby. Regardless, I subscribed to Tidal HiFi anyway, because then, it was the sole streaming service offering CD-quality streaming and some exclusive content from artists that support Tidal.

    However, I'll be dropping the use of the service in favour of Qobuz soon, because some content on Tidal is passed on to the unsuspecting as non-MQA lossless FLAC even though it's the same high-distortion MQA version! I won't tolerate such fraudulent practice.

    If you're unaware of how this all came to light, feel free to follow the URL below.

    https://youtu.be/pRjsu9-Vznc
    MALEK
    There is no way to happiness... Happiness is The Way...

  2. #2
    Join Date: Jan 2008

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    I don't currently use a high resolution streaming service, but I did a couple of years ago, and I have to say that Qobuz was vastly superior in terms of sound quality. If I streamed again, I'd go straight back to them.

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  3. #3
    Join Date: Feb 2013

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    ive tried them all and qobuz is best. spotty is also good and sure they will take bodies if and when they bring out a cd quality version
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  4. #4
    Join Date: Aug 2009

    Location: Staffordshire, England

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    I'm Martin.

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    It's not just MQA, the entire 'hi-res' thing has been a scam right from the start.
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  5. #5
    Join Date: Jan 2008

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    I'm BigBobJoylove.

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    Quote Originally Posted by struth View Post
    ive tried them all and qobuz is best. spotty is also good and sure they will take bodies if and when they bring out a cd quality version
    I'm surprised they haven't capitalised on it yet to be honest. They must know the market inside out and can see that there's a demand worth pandering to.

    I use YouTube music which is surprisingly good, and a lot of well produced music sounds utterly amazing through the hifi. Not sure of the data rates, but it's very good and if the people who post the content have 'sound naus' they'll put it in as high res as possible. I don't think YouTube caps the audio stream - correct me if I'm wrong on that.

  6. #6
    Join Date: Aug 2009

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    The quality of the production and mastering far outweighs any effect the bit rate will have, which is why some programme on You-Tube can sound so good and why some people think 'hi-res' is better than 16/44.1

    You Tube are coy about the maximum bit rate possible but I think it is 256/kbps.
    Current Lash Up:

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  7. #7
    Join Date: Mar 2014

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    Quote Originally Posted by struth View Post
    ive tried them all and qobuz is best. spotty is also good and sure they will take bodies if and when they bring out a cd quality version
    Spotify is going to CD quality later this year, in fact they've already notified me that my family premium subscription will be increasing from £14.99 to £16.99 in June which I suspect is to allow for it.
    Audiophile Tosher

  8. #8
    Join Date: Feb 2018

    Location: Glasgow

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    I'm Nick.

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    Quote Originally Posted by PRYML View Post
    I've always thought that MQA was just a marketing ploy that doesn't add any real value to the hobby. Regardless, I subscribed to Tidal HiFi anyway, because then, it was the sole streaming service offering CD-quality streaming and some exclusive content from artists that support Tidal.

    However, I'll be dropping the use of the service in favour of Qobuz soon, because some content on Tidal is passed on to the unsuspecting as non-MQA lossless FLAC even though it's the same high-distortion MQA version! I won't tolerate such fraudulent practice.

    If you're unaware of how this all came to light, feel free to follow the URL below.

    https://youtu.be/pRjsu9-Vznc
    A mate and I did a side by side blind comparison of Spotify and Tidal a while back (we had no idea about the MQA scam at the time) and even then we could hear a Tidal 'signature' on the music that indicated to us immediately that it was Tidal that we were listening to. I can understand why you might not want to use Spotify as your hifi source (although through a Chromecast audio it's pretty decent) but why anyone would pick Tidal over Quboz is beyond me, there is such a clear affinity for bass and low end sound on Tidal that's hard not to focus on when listening.

    That video was very informative, I had no idea how shady MQA was, thanks for posting this!

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  9. #9
    Join Date: Apr 2010

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    Quote Originally Posted by Silent View Post
    I can understand why you might not want to use Spotify as your hifi source (although through a Chromecast audio it's pretty decent) but why anyone would pick Tidal over Quboz is beyond me, there is such a clear affinity for bass and low end sound on Tidal that's hard not to focus on when listening.
    For one thing, Qobuz was not even an option in my region, and secondly, works from artists such as Eva Cassidy, was sadly limited to only a handful of tracks, of which most were actually MP3!
    MALEK
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  10. #10
    Join Date: Feb 2018

    Location: Glasgow

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    Quote Originally Posted by PRYML View Post
    For one thing, Qobuz was not even an option in my region, and secondly, works from artists such as Eva Cassidy, was sadly limited to only a handful of tracks, of which most were actually MP3!
    I had to make the same decision when deciding on how to listen to music and tidal just doesn't compare to FLAC/WAV from CD but I guess it comes down to how much is that worth? Most people would say that the monthly subscription for something like Tidal is so much cheaper than buying the same library on CD that the quality difference is just inconsequential

    Sent from my SM-G988B using Tapatalk
    Hifi: Innuos Zen Mini MKIII > Fisual Hollywood Optical > Quad Vena II > Custom Clyde interconnects > TA Monoblocks > Tellurium Black > Reiver Millburn MK II (Custom super tweeters & TQ Black Jumpers).

    Headphone Rig: MacBook Pro/Google CCA > Fisual Hollywood Optical > Beresford SEG > Custom Clyde interconnects > Beresford Capella > Sennheiser 700s

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