The encoding is different from the file type. So FLAC, ALAC, WAV, AIFF, etc are all file types that a music file can be saved as. This is independent of the resolution and bit depth. The file types I mentioned above are ubiquitous, and most all audio players and DACs support these file types. Furthermore, there are audio file translator applications that can take a FLAC file and make it into a WAV file, etc.
Before I get slammed by the community, let me say that what I posted in the first answer to the OP is a simplification of the terms and concepts in digital. I am sure someone can find something not quite right about my response, but more or less, it is accurate.
As for the difference between the (lossless) compressed file types of ALAC and FLAC versus the uncompressed file types of WAV and AIFF, a lot has been debated on this. I listened and could not discern a difference. I chose AIFF in the end for my music collection for more theoretical reasons. In order to compress a file, with or without quality loss, the original file needs to undergo compression by means of a compression algorithm that finds way to make the file size smaller. When the music will be played, this compression needs to get undone in reverse. My way of thinking is, storage is cheap and plentiful, I would just rather that the files avoid this extra step. In short, I just don't require the space saving of the FLAC and ALAC. I chose AIFF as I am a mac user, and this is the native mac uncompressed audio file format.
As for the sound of the Tidal MQA files, I have not listened closely enough yet. I have a Tidal HIFI membership, and I use Roon to stream the music to my PS Audio DAC. Roon and PS Audio do not yet have a full MQA unfolding implementation. I can bypass Roon for now and get the MQA unfolding with my DAC, but I like Roon, and the regular CD resolution files from Tidal sound great on my DAC. Once Roon offers an update, I will be happy to listen to more of the Tidal masters!
Hgeifman, don't worry what file type you purchase for now. FLAC is fine. You can try another later if you like, but for all that I can tell, lossless is lossless, and the files are good.
Have fun!
