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RE: Has Anyone Actually Heard MQA Files?

It would not surprise me if the MQA files (which are 44/24) sound better than the 44/16 files, even if played without a decoder, but I would be surprised if they sounded as good as the 96/24 files without a decoder. (I have several of the albums in this format.)

It's possible that the decoded MQA files might sound better, at least in some respects, than the 96/24 files. (I say this because I have done similar DSP of my own on various files and some of the DSP is similar to what MQA is said to use.) However, a better reference standard than "better" would be comparison with the true master files, the DXD originals from which all the formats were derived.

It is of course, possible that a lower quality version of an original may sound better than the original. For example, if the process reduces brightness and the original recording were too bright the rolled off version might sound better. This is why the only valid assessment of a new format is with full access to original masters, as well as to alternate competing formats. There are lots of ways to slant comparisons and create misleading impressions, so the only way I would judge formats is with hands on experience. (The easiest way to "rig" an audio demo is to make one format slightly louder (e.g. 0.25 dB). If done subtly both sounds will have the same apparent volume, but the louder one will sound better.

Another problem with the MQA show demos as described is that they used headphones. This is not a proper way to play stereophonic recordings when evaluating filters, since many of the filter effects associated with sample rate converters affect imaging and soundstage, neither of which are normal (if present at all) when listening to headphones.


Tony Lauck

"Diversity is the law of nature; no two entities in this universe are uniform." - P.R. Sarkar


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