Pioneer’s XDP-100R the world’s first MQA-compatable player

Andrewjvt

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Thought u guys might be interested in this as it will be able to decode m q a format:

Pioneer brings all of its hi-fi expertise to the burgeoning world of portable hi-res audio. Adrian Justins prepares to be impressed
DETAILS

PRODUCT

Pioneer XDP-100R

ORIGIN

China

TYPE

Portable hi-res digital audio player

WEIGHT

198g

DIMENSIONS

(WxHxD) 76 x 129 x 13mm

FEATURES

● Supports: DSD/DSF to 1-bit/11.2MHz; PCM to 24-bit/384kHz; MQA (via update)

● Storage: 32GB internal plus micro SD x2 (SDXC) up to 200GB each

DISTRIBUTOR

Pioneer UK

TELEPHONE

0208 8363524

WEBSITE

pioneer-audiovisual. eu/uk

I own an iPhone but it can’t store half of my digitised music collection or play any of my hi-res DSD, FLAC and ALAC music. I could use a workaround app but I’d need to carry an external DAC and a mains charger to replenish the phone’s battery, which is rapidly drained when playing hi-res music. All this is reason enough to own a separate Digital Audio Player (DAP), never mind the fact that devices like the XDP-100R are built from the ground up.

Pioneer’s first hi-res DAP is compatible with just about every hi-res audio format on the planet including DSD 11.2MHz and 24-bit/384kHz FLAC/WAV. Its claim to fame, though, is that it’s the first portable player that’s able to handle Meridian’s revolutionary Master Quality Authenticated (MQA) lossless format. MQA uses a technique called origami to fold a master recording into a file comparable in size with a CD-quality recording. As well as the benefit of much smaller file sizes than FLAC, MQA is backwards compatible with the FLAC format and can be played at better-than CD quality on any compatible device.

Since the same file can play back in either MQA or FLAC format, music providers don’t need to store multiple versions of the same track, in fact by switching to MQA it reduces the storage needed while offering a better quality product. It’s early days yet for MQA, but at CES in January it was announced that classical label and online download store 2L (2l.no) has become the first company to start selling downloads. Also in the pipeline are the likes of 7digital, Onkyo Music, HQM (Japan) and Tidal, who are all expected to sell or stream MQA tunes in 2016.

So the XDP-100R can play MQA in FLAC format, but to play MQA files at MQA quality current samples will require a firmware update, which is expected very soon. The player runs on the Android operating system, which provides easy access to Google’s Play music store. Both Tidal and Onkyo Music come pre-installed, along with Spotify and Qobuz, so you can start listening via wi-fi(subscription dues paid, of course) to relatively high-quality streamed music or purchase and download hi-res music directly (no PC required) from the Onkyo Music app.

The player has 32GB of internal memory – a paltry amount for hi-res albums (even MQA) – but two microSD card slots facilitate a further 400GB of storage – a not insignificant hidden cost of over £200.

Physically, the rigid machined aluminium body design bears more than a passing resemblance to Astell&Kern’s slew of hard-edged monoliths. Uniquely though, Pioneer provides removable ‘bumpers’ that protect the top-mounted headphone jack (which doubles up as a line out) and micro-USB on the bottom. The top bumper also makes a useful handle for what is not the most ergonomic of machines. Low-profile power and transport buttons are tricky to select without line of sight. More impressive is the volume knob, which is nicely engineered and offers 160 steps (but you can’t really hear anything below 50, so make that 110 steps). It’s quicker to change volume by pressing the + and – icons onscreen, but the button is handy if the screen is switched off.

The XDP-100R does just about everything you could want from a portable player

Under the bonnet is ESS Technology’s flagship Sabre ES9018K2M DAC and Sabre 9601K amp. The DAC and amp boards are separated from the CPU circuit to minimise the possibility of noise, while the analogue circuitry is consolidated around the headphone jack. Each device has an independent local power supply, allowing for closed loop circuit design and (unlike your average smartphone) audio signals are completely isolated from other blocks to keep them pure.

Running on Android and boasting a 720 x 1,280-pixel resolution screen 4.7in across, the player can also be used to view stills and video. I watch some HD music videos on Tidal and am very satisfied with the level of detail, colour fidelity and sharpness. Harnessed from Pioneer’s expertise in audio networking, the XDP-100R boasts audiophile features such as lock range adjust, digital filter, up sampling to 384kHz, real-time DSD conversion to 5.6MHz and something called Club Sound Boost. High precision mode (2.8 or 5.6MHz) improves signal-to-noise ratio, but drains the battery in the process.

Considering how sophisticated the player is, Pioneer has done a good job of making it straightforward to use. Two features in particular help. One is that you can quickly press a button to hide the album artwork if it clashes with any metadata. The other is that you can swipe up or down to scroll through the control screen, so that accessing the playlist and adjusting the versatile EQ controller is easy. Standalone mode turns off wi-fi, Bluetooth and the LCD to cut off all electromagnetic signals beside audio.

Copying music over is a simple drag and drop process on a Mac, while PC users get the benefit of something called X-DAP Link app. Battery life is between 10 and 15 hours depending on the types of file and how much tinkering you do.

CONNECTIONS

Sound quality

Listening to Spring from Vivaldi’s Four Seasons (a 2.8MHz DSF file) using Oppo’s PM-2 headphone (HFC 402) immediately confirms that this is a highly accomplished performer. The player draws out the subtler harpsichord that is often lost on less able players and blends it adeptly with the lower registers of the many strings. When the higher register of the main violin builds on top with great intensity there’s none of the shrillness that an inferior player exhibits. Instead you have a terrifically balanced ensemble of instruments that’s highly detailed but not overly polished, retaining a pleasing sense of texture as together the hardware and music deliver a wonderfully emotional rendition.

It’s also a pleasure to listen to something like Van Morrison’s Ballerina from Astral Weeks (a 24/192 FLAC) and hear all the warmth and delicacy of the percussion acting as the perfect foil to the twanging bass and enchantment of Van at his vocally mesmerising best. I’m not a huge jazz fan, but Ornette Coleman’s sax on a 192 FLAC of Lonely Woman is exquisitely presented and perfectly anchored to the drums and lightly tapped cymbals that gradually build. It’s as coherent a soundfield as you could wish for. There’s no noise or hiss to mar the action and as I listen to it repeatedly I become totally hooked. You really can’t ask for more from a portable player.

There’s more sax enjoyment with Henry Mancini’s Pink Panther Theme (a 24/96 FLAC), and again there’s none of the grating raspiness exhibited by inferior players. The double bass is perfectly timed as the triangle pings deftly and the piece as a whole is quite simply a winning slice of easy listening.

The player’s knack for resolving finer detail doesn’t come at the expense of the overall soundstage. Over on Tidal, New Order’s True Faith pulls me in thanks to a keen sense of attack from the synth and Peter Hook’s bass guitar. Bernard Sumner’s vocals sit a little further back in the mix than I’ve heard elsewhere, but the presentation is authoritative and assured. Also on Tidal, a remastering of The Beatles’ A Day In The Life is quite a thrill with John Lennon’s voice proving utterly beguiling against the guitars and drums.

There’s more headroom with streamed content than hi-res files, which requires you to listen at maximum volume to music stored on the player if you’re in a noisy environment. Switching over to Tidal or Spotify from stored music, you will need to temper the volume by about 10 steps or so.

Conclusion

The Pioneer XDP-100R does just about everything you could want from a portable player. With MQA playback assured, it’s easily the best sub-£500 hi-res portable especially for those who also want to listen in to hi-res streaming services.
 
Andrewjvt said:
Thought u guys might be interested in this as it will be able to decode m q a format:

Pioneer brings all of its hi-fi expertise to the burgeoning world of portable hi-res audio. Adrian Justins prepares to be impressed DETAILS

PRODUCT

Pioneer XDP-100R

ORIGIN

China

TYPE

Portable hi-res digital audio player

WEIGHT

198g

DIMENSIONS

(WxHxD) 76 x 129 x 13mm

FEATURES

● Supports: DSD/DSF to 1-bit/11.2MHz; PCM to 24-bit/384kHz; MQA (via update)

● Storage: 32GB internal plus micro SD x2 (SDXC) up to 200GB each

DISTRIBUTOR

Pioneer UK

TELEPHONE

0208 8363524

WEBSITE

pioneer-audiovisual. eu/uk

I own an iPhone but it can’t store half of my digitised music collection or play any of my hi-res DSD, FLAC and ALAC music. I could use a workaround app but I’d need to carry an external DAC and a mains charger to replenish the phone’s battery, which is rapidly drained when playing hi-res music. All this is reason enough to own a separate Digital Audio Player (DAP), never mind the fact that devices like the XDP-100R are built from the ground up.

Pioneer’s first hi-res DAP is compatible with just about every hi-res audio format on the planet including DSD 11.2MHz and 24-bit/384kHz FLAC/WAV. Its claim to fame, though, is that it’s the first portable player that’s able to handle Meridian’s revolutionary Master Quality Authenticated (MQA) lossless format. MQA uses a technique called origami to fold a master recording into a file comparable in size with a CD-quality recording. As well as the benefit of much smaller file sizes than FLAC, MQA is backwards compatible with the FLAC format and can be played at better-than CD quality on any compatible device.

Since the same file can play back in either MQA or FLAC format, music providers don’t need to store multiple versions of the same track, in fact by switching to MQA it reduces the storage needed while offering a better quality product. It’s early days yet for MQA, but at CES in January it was announced that classical label and online download store 2L (2l.no) has become the first company to start selling downloads. Also in the pipeline are the likes of 7digital, Onkyo Music, HQM (Japan) and Tidal, who are all expected to sell or stream MQA tunes in 2016.

So the XDP-100R can play MQA in FLAC format, but to play MQA files at MQA quality current samples will require a firmware update, which is expected very soon. The player runs on the Android operating system, which provides easy access to Google’s Play music store. Both Tidal and Onkyo Music come pre-installed, along with Spotify and Qobuz, so you can start listening via wi-fi(subscription dues paid, of course) to relatively high-quality streamed music or purchase and download hi-res music directly (no PC required) from the Onkyo Music app.

The player has 32GB of internal memory – a paltry amount for hi-res albums (even MQA) – but two microSD card slots facilitate a further 400GB of storage – a not insignificant hidden cost of over £200.

Physically, the rigid machined aluminium body design bears more than a passing resemblance to Astell&Kern’s slew of hard-edged monoliths. Uniquely though, Pioneer provides removable ‘bumpers’ that protect the top-mounted headphone jack (which doubles up as a line out) and micro-USB on the bottom. The top bumper also makes a useful handle for what is not the most ergonomic of machines. Low-profile power and transport buttons are tricky to select without line of sight. More impressive is the volume knob, which is nicely engineered and offers 160 steps (but you can’t really hear anything below 50, so make that 110 steps). It’s quicker to change volume by pressing the + and – icons onscreen, but the button is handy if the screen is switched off.

The XDP-100R does just about everything you could want from a portable player

Under the bonnet is ESS Technology’s flagship Sabre ES9018K2M DAC and Sabre 9601K amp. The DAC and amp boards are separated from the CPU circuit to minimise the possibility of noise, while the analogue circuitry is consolidated around the headphone jack. Each device has an independent local power supply, allowing for closed loop circuit design and (unlike your average smartphone) audio signals are completely isolated from other blocks to keep them pure.

Running on Android and boasting a 720 x 1,280-pixel resolution screen 4.7in across, the player can also be used to view stills and video. I watch some HD music videos on Tidal and am very satisfied with the level of detail, colour fidelity and sharpness. Harnessed from Pioneer’s expertise in audio networking, the XDP-100R boasts audiophile features such as lock range adjust, digital filter, up sampling to 384kHz, real-time DSD conversion to 5.6MHz and something called Club Sound Boost. High precision mode (2.8 or 5.6MHz) improves signal-to-noise ratio, but drains the battery in the process.

Considering how sophisticated the player is, Pioneer has done a good job of making it straightforward to use. Two features in particular help. One is that you can quickly press a button to hide the album artwork if it clashes with any metadata. The other is that you can swipe up or down to scroll through the control screen, so that accessing the playlist and adjusting the versatile EQ controller is easy. Standalone mode turns off wi-fi, Bluetooth and the LCD to cut off all electromagnetic signals beside audio.

Copying music over is a simple drag and drop process on a Mac, while PC users get the benefit of something called X-DAP Link app. Battery life is between 10 and 15 hours depending on the types of file and how much tinkering you do.

CONNECTIONS

Sound quality

Listening to Spring from Vivaldi’s Four Seasons (a 2.8MHz DSF file) using Oppo’s PM-2 headphone (HFC 402) immediately confirms that this is a highly accomplished performer. The player draws out the subtler harpsichord that is often lost on less able players and blends it adeptly with the lower registers of the many strings. When the higher register of the main violin builds on top with great intensity there’s none of the shrillness that an inferior player exhibits. Instead you have a terrifically balanced ensemble of instruments that’s highly detailed but not overly polished, retaining a pleasing sense of texture as together the hardware and music deliver a wonderfully emotional rendition.

It’s also a pleasure to listen to something like Van Morrison’s Ballerina from Astral Weeks (a 24/192 FLAC) and hear all the warmth and delicacy of the percussion acting as the perfect foil to the twanging bass and enchantment of Van at his vocally mesmerising best. I’m not a huge jazz fan, but Ornette Coleman’s sax on a 192 FLAC of Lonely Woman is exquisitely presented and perfectly anchored to the drums and lightly tapped cymbals that gradually build. It’s as coherent a soundfield as you could wish for. There’s no noise or hiss to mar the action and as I listen to it repeatedly I become totally hooked. You really can’t ask for more from a portable player.

There’s more sax enjoyment with Henry Mancini’s Pink Panther Theme (a 24/96 FLAC), and again there’s none of the grating raspiness exhibited by inferior players. The double bass is perfectly timed as the triangle pings deftly and the piece as a whole is quite simply a winning slice of easy listening.

The player’s knack for resolving finer detail doesn’t come at the expense of the overall soundstage. Over on Tidal, New Order’s True Faith pulls me in thanks to a keen sense of attack from the synth and Peter Hook’s bass guitar. Bernard Sumner’s vocals sit a little further back in the mix than I’ve heard elsewhere, but the presentation is authoritative and assured. Also on Tidal, a remastering of The Beatles’ A Day In The Life is quite a thrill with John Lennon’s voice proving utterly beguiling against the guitars and drums.

There’s more headroom with streamed content than hi-res files, which requires you to listen at maximum volume to music stored on the player if you’re in a noisy environment. Switching over to Tidal or Spotify from stored music, you will need to temper the volume by about 10 steps or so.

Conclusion

The Pioneer XDP-100R does just about everything you could want from a portable player. With MQA playback assured, it’s easily the best sub-£500 hi-res portable especially for those who also want to listen in to hi-res streaming services.

Phew! Yet another format, pity there aren't any albums available in it yet that I'd want to buy and none used to review the player. By the time they become readily available the price of this thing might have fallen a bit and make it worthwhile considering.
 

Andrewjvt

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Jun 18, 2014
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Al ears said:
Andrewjvt said:
Thought u guys might be interested in this as it will be able to decode m q a format:

Pioneer brings all of its hi-fi expertise to the burgeoning world of portable hi-res audio. Adrian Justins prepares to be impressed DETAILS

PRODUCT

Pioneer XDP-100R

ORIGIN

China

TYPE

Portable hi-res digital audio player

WEIGHT

198g

DIMENSIONS

(WxHxD) 76 x 129 x 13mm

FEATURES

● Supports: DSD/DSF to 1-bit/11.2MHz; PCM to 24-bit/384kHz; MQA (via update)

● Storage: 32GB internal plus micro SD x2 (SDXC) up to 200GB each

DISTRIBUTOR

Pioneer UK

TELEPHONE

0208 8363524

WEBSITE

pioneer-audiovisual. eu/uk

I own an iPhone but it can’t store half of my digitised music collection or play any of my hi-res DSD, FLAC and ALAC music. I could use a workaround app but I’d need to carry an external DAC and a mains charger to replenish the phone’s battery, which is rapidly drained when playing hi-res music. All this is reason enough to own a separate Digital Audio Player (DAP), never mind the fact that devices like the XDP-100R are built from the ground up.

Pioneer’s first hi-res DAP is compatible with just about every hi-res audio format on the planet including DSD 11.2MHz and 24-bit/384kHz FLAC/WAV. Its claim to fame, though, is that it’s the first portable player that’s able to handle Meridian’s revolutionary Master Quality Authenticated (MQA) lossless format. MQA uses a technique called origami to fold a master recording into a file comparable in size with a CD-quality recording. As well as the benefit of much smaller file sizes than FLAC, MQA is backwards compatible with the FLAC format and can be played at better-than CD quality on any compatible device.

Since the same file can play back in either MQA or FLAC format, music providers don’t need to store multiple versions of the same track, in fact by switching to MQA it reduces the storage needed while offering a better quality product. It’s early days yet for MQA, but at CES in January it was announced that classical label and online download store 2L (2l.no) has become the first company to start selling downloads. Also in the pipeline are the likes of 7digital, Onkyo Music, HQM (Japan) and Tidal, who are all expected to sell or stream MQA tunes in 2016.

So the XDP-100R can play MQA in FLAC format, but to play MQA files at MQA quality current samples will require a firmware update, which is expected very soon. The player runs on the Android operating system, which provides easy access to Google’s Play music store. Both Tidal and Onkyo Music come pre-installed, along with Spotify and Qobuz, so you can start listening via wi-fi(subscription dues paid, of course) to relatively high-quality streamed music or purchase and download hi-res music directly (no PC required) from the Onkyo Music app.

The player has 32GB of internal memory – a paltry amount for hi-res albums (even MQA) – but two microSD card slots facilitate a further 400GB of storage – a not insignificant hidden cost of over £200.

Physically, the rigid machined aluminium body design bears more than a passing resemblance to Astell&Kern’s slew of hard-edged monoliths. Uniquely though, Pioneer provides removable ‘bumpers’ that protect the top-mounted headphone jack (which doubles up as a line out) and micro-USB on the bottom. The top bumper also makes a useful handle for what is not the most ergonomic of machines. Low-profile power and transport buttons are tricky to select without line of sight. More impressive is the volume knob, which is nicely engineered and offers 160 steps (but you can’t really hear anything below 50, so make that 110 steps). It’s quicker to change volume by pressing the + and – icons onscreen, but the button is handy if the screen is switched off.

The XDP-100R does just about everything you could want from a portable player

Under the bonnet is ESS Technology’s flagship Sabre ES9018K2M DAC and Sabre 9601K amp. The DAC and amp boards are separated from the CPU circuit to minimise the possibility of noise, while the analogue circuitry is consolidated around the headphone jack. Each device has an independent local power supply, allowing for closed loop circuit design and (unlike your average smartphone) audio signals are completely isolated from other blocks to keep them pure.

Running on Android and boasting a 720 x 1,280-pixel resolution screen 4.7in across, the player can also be used to view stills and video. I watch some HD music videos on Tidal and am very satisfied with the level of detail, colour fidelity and sharpness. Harnessed from Pioneer’s expertise in audio networking, the XDP-100R boasts audiophile features such as lock range adjust, digital filter, up sampling to 384kHz, real-time DSD conversion to 5.6MHz and something called Club Sound Boost. High precision mode (2.8 or 5.6MHz) improves signal-to-noise ratio, but drains the battery in the process.

Considering how sophisticated the player is, Pioneer has done a good job of making it straightforward to use. Two features in particular help. One is that you can quickly press a button to hide the album artwork if it clashes with any metadata. The other is that you can swipe up or down to scroll through the control screen, so that accessing the playlist and adjusting the versatile EQ controller is easy. Standalone mode turns off wi-fi, Bluetooth and the LCD to cut off all electromagnetic signals beside audio.

Copying music over is a simple drag and drop process on a Mac, while PC users get the benefit of something called X-DAP Link app. Battery life is between 10 and 15 hours depending on the types of file and how much tinkering you do.

CONNECTIONS

Sound quality

Listening to Spring from Vivaldi’s Four Seasons (a 2.8MHz DSF file) using Oppo’s PM-2 headphone (HFC 402) immediately confirms that this is a highly accomplished performer. The player draws out the subtler harpsichord that is often lost on less able players and blends it adeptly with the lower registers of the many strings. When the higher register of the main violin builds on top with great intensity there’s none of the shrillness that an inferior player exhibits. Instead you have a terrifically balanced ensemble of instruments that’s highly detailed but not overly polished, retaining a pleasing sense of texture as together the hardware and music deliver a wonderfully emotional rendition.

It’s also a pleasure to listen to something like Van Morrison’s Ballerina from Astral Weeks (a 24/192 FLAC) and hear all the warmth and delicacy of the percussion acting as the perfect foil to the twanging bass and enchantment of Van at his vocally mesmerising best. I’m not a huge jazz fan, but Ornette Coleman’s sax on a 192 FLAC of Lonely Woman is exquisitely presented and perfectly anchored to the drums and lightly tapped cymbals that gradually build. It’s as coherent a soundfield as you could wish for. There’s no noise or hiss to mar the action and as I listen to it repeatedly I become totally hooked. You really can’t ask for more from a portable player.

There’s more sax enjoyment with Henry Mancini’s Pink Panther Theme (a 24/96 FLAC), and again there’s none of the grating raspiness exhibited by inferior players. The double bass is perfectly timed as the triangle pings deftly and the piece as a whole is quite simply a winning slice of easy listening.

The player’s knack for resolving finer detail doesn’t come at the expense of the overall soundstage. Over on Tidal, New Order’s True Faith pulls me in thanks to a keen sense of attack from the synth and Peter Hook’s bass guitar. Bernard Sumner’s vocals sit a little further back in the mix than I’ve heard elsewhere, but the presentation is authoritative and assured. Also on Tidal, a remastering of The Beatles’ A Day In The Life is quite a thrill with John Lennon’s voice proving utterly beguiling against the guitars and drums.

There’s more headroom with streamed content than hi-res files, which requires you to listen at maximum volume to music stored on the player if you’re in a noisy environment. Switching over to Tidal or Spotify from stored music, you will need to temper the volume by about 10 steps or so.

Conclusion

The Pioneer XDP-100R does just about everything you could want from a portable player. With MQA playback assured, it’s easily the best sub-£500 hi-res portable especially for those who also want to listen in to hi-res streaming services.

Phew! Yet another format, pity there aren't any albums available in it yet that I'd want to buy and none used to review the player. By the time they become readily available the price of this thing might have fallen a bit and make it worthwhile considering.

Fair point. Let the early adopters bring the price down for us. Thats exactly what im doing with 4k tv also
 

Andrewjvt

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Meridian have announced a firmware update to all their products. Does this mean other company makes of dacs can have an update or not? The makers of my dac are looking into it.
This mqa thing is really got me interested. If the songs or bands i like are available for download i may convert from cd to download
 

manicm

Well-known member
It's not just a storage issue, it's streaming too. Streaming hires over the internet can be an issue, but MQA promises hires audio at the size of lossless/WAV, and of course consistent sound quality is guaranteed, unlike some dubious hires tracks.
 
manicm said:
The Pioneer will have a firmware update soon to enable mqa playback.

Yes at the moment it is ready but not able. Apart from the fact an upgraded is needed to make it able there is currently nothing around in this format to play. Marketing hype at it's worst.

Just do yourself a favour and get a Questyle or something that will play DSF files right now.

Nobodies really that concerned with storage capacity these days.
 
manicm said:
It's not just a storage issue, it's streaming too. Streaming hires over the internet can be an issue, but MQA promises hires audio at the size of lossless/WAV, and of course consistent sound quality is guaranteed, unlike some dubious hires tracks.

That may be so but this device is primarily designed as a storage based digital media player.
 

cheeseboy

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manicm said:
It's not just a storage issue, it's streaming too. Streaming hires over the internet can be an issue, but MQA promises hires audio at the size of lossless/WAV, and of course consistent sound quality is guaranteed, unlike some dubious hires tracks.

compressed hires audio.... Isn't that kinda defeating the point of it. Also, if they can't sort out hires that's uncompressed, then this really isn't going to help matters. So now we not only have the minefield of if the source track is proper hires or upsampled, but then you have to throw compression in to the mix.

If I'm honest, I'm not really sure who they are aiming this at. The only *real* target audience I can see is the companies as it allows them to add copy protection to their streams. Not sure that this is a solution that come about from the want of the hifi user tbh.
 

Andrewjvt

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cheeseboy said:
manicm said:
It's not just a storage issue, it's streaming too. Streaming hires over the internet can be an issue, but MQA promises hires audio at the size of lossless/WAV, and of course consistent sound quality is guaranteed, unlike some dubious hires tracks.

compressed hires audio....  Isn't that kinda defeating the point of it.  Also, if they can't sort out hires that's uncompressed, then this really isn't going to help matters.  So now we not only have the minefield of if the source track is proper hires or upsampled, but then you have to throw compression in to the mix.

If I'm honest, I'm not really sure who they are aiming this at.  The only *real* target audience I can see is the companies as it allows them to add copy protection to their streams.  Not sure that this is a solution that come about from the want of the hifi user tbh.

 

Its a lossless compression like flac but better and takes the master quality recording straight from the studio.

Go on the mqa website to learn more.
 

manicm

Well-known member
Andrewjvt said:
cheeseboy said:
manicm said:
It's not just a storage issue, it's streaming too. Streaming hires over the internet can be an issue, but MQA promises hires audio at the size of lossless/WAV, and of course consistent sound quality is guaranteed, unlike some dubious hires tracks.

compressed hires audio.... Isn't that kinda defeating the point of it. Also, if they can't sort out hires that's uncompressed, then this really isn't going to help matters. So now we not only have the minefield of if the source track is proper hires or upsampled, but then you have to throw compression in to the mix.

If I'm honest, I'm not really sure who they are aiming this at. The only *real* target audience I can see is the companies as it allows them to add copy protection to their streams. Not sure that this is a solution that come about from the want of the hifi user tbh.

Its a lossless compression like flac but better and takes the master quality recording straight from the studio.

Go on the mqa website to learn more.

It's actually not lossless.
 

Andrewjvt

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manicm said:
Andrewjvt said:
cheeseboy said:
manicm said:
It's not just a storage issue, it's streaming too. Streaming hires over the internet can be an issue, but MQA promises hires audio at the size of lossless/WAV, and of course consistent sound quality is guaranteed, unlike some dubious hires tracks.

compressed hires audio....  Isn't that kinda defeating the point of it.  Also, if they can't sort out hires that's uncompressed, then this really isn't going to help matters.  So now we not only have the minefield of if the source track is proper hires or upsampled, but then you have to throw compression in to the mix.

If I'm honest, I'm not really sure who they are aiming this at.  The only *real* target audience I can see is the companies as it allows them to add copy protection to their streams.  Not sure that this is a solution that come about from the want of the hifi user tbh.

?

Its a lossless compression like flac but better and takes the master quality recording straight from the studio.

Go on the mqa website to learn more.

It's actually not lossless.

O
Please explain?
 

Andrewjvt

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manicm said:
Andrewjvt, MQA employs compression albeit a sophisticated one, to preserve the high resolution audio but at a smaller size. As far as I know the compression is not reversible ala FLAC.

I cant argue or dissagree but ive read different. I will do more research on night shift.

I thought or believed its just like flac but better?
 

manicm

Well-known member
Al ears said:
manicm said:
Andrewjvt, MQA employs compression albeit a sophisticated one, to preserve the high resolution audio but at a smaller size. As far as I know the compression is not reversible ala FLAC.

And I quote 'MQA uses PCM and is deliverable inside any lossless container', ie flac.

That may be true but go to Meridian's website. It's a 4 step process, and what they do in the 3rd step is anyone's guess except to say they apply special dsp processing and reduce it to a size that of cd i.e. around WAV.
 

cheeseboy

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Andrewjvt said:
....and takes the master quality recording straight from the studio.

But this is another bit I don't get. They seemingly can't do that now, so why would MQA make it any different? (rhetorical question)

/pedeant mode on (sorry!)/ It's also sales blurb as most mastering doesn't take place in the studio, or at least the same studio it was recorded in, so where is the chain in this master quality coming from?

I've no problems with new technology at all, just that this whole MQA strikes me as a but odd with no real answers and lots of sales blurb. Personally i'm more for the open source standards as it makes cross equipment playback much easier and everybody can use it. I don't like to see the closed wall apple approach which is my concern with the way this is going.
 
cheeseboy said:
Andrewjvt said:
....and takes the master quality recording straight from the studio.

But this is another bit I don't get. They seemingly can't do that now, so why would MQA make it any different? (rhetorical question)

/pedeant mode on (sorry!)/ It's also sales blurb as most mastering doesn't take place in the studio, or at least the same studio it was recorded in, so where is the chain in this master quality coming from?

I've no problems with new technology at all, just that this whole MQA strikes me as a but odd with no real answers and lots of sales blurb. Personally i'm more for the open source standards as it makes cross equipment playback much easier and everybody can use it. I don't like to see the closed wall apple approach which is my concern with the way this is going.

If you're not going to stream it then there is no better than recording straight to DSD in my option. Large downloads yes but no 'jiggery pokery' done to the original. What you get is what was recorded.

MQA, unless taken up by most studios in the near future is probably a doomed format. It's been around long enough now but doesn't appear to have taken off.
 

manicm

Well-known member
If DSD made such a late comeback I think MQA has a pretty good chance. And what I like about it is it's a better guarantee of quality than the other formats. Backwards compatibility, in the absence of a MQA decoder, is also attractive. Give it time I say. BTW OnkyoMusic have a few MQA albums.
 

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