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Tidal has started streaming MQA encoded albums

My Tidal app updated and - voila! - there's about 30,000 MQA Master tracks available to stream for Tidal's HiFi subscribers.

It appears the MQA decoder is in the app so the listener can enjoy MQA without buying any hardware as long as the DAC can handle 24/96. 

First impressions are very good either using Tidal's app for MQA or listening thru Roon and getting a 24/48 (non-"unfolded") MQA file.

Then again, it could be my DAC filters better at 24/48 & 24/96 than at 16/44.

dbtom2
ahendler
416 posts
 
Tidal is not internally decoding the MQA files. You need an outboard dac with MQA decoding for it to give you master quality. By the way MQA files are either 24/96 or 24/88 files without the lower bits which are used for MQA encoding
Alan
rello
311 posts
 
using Explorer 2.  the 2L recordings decode to MQA (really sounds good) but all other albums do not decode and play at the wrong speed (much faster) 
ahendler
416 posts
 
Rello
Something is wrong
All the MQA albums on Tidal are lighting up the blue light on the Meridian
There is no speed change
Alan
rello
311 posts
 
ahendler...I'll check if I have the latest Explorer 2 firmware.  Are you using MAC OS?  what version?  thanks 
aberyclark
1,355 posts
 
Only the Tidal desktop app decodes mqa. You have to let Tidal take over your computer audio interface and make it exclusive to Tidal ( when youvquitvTidal computer goes back to settings you had before) Plus choose to let app decode the mqa. You can pass thru if you have an mqa Dac.

Mqa does not not work with mobile or web browser yet. It does work with Bluesoynd Node 2 ( node will decide mqa or you can pass thru)

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