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Tidal and MQA

I am a computer novice who could use some help. I have been streaming Tidal via their desktop app to get the MQA Masters music. It sounds really good and according to cnet the Tidal software only does 1 unfold of the 3 needed to get the full MQA effect. I stream to a Cary 200t dac via usb. The incoming and outgoing signal never changes from 44.1. The music to my ears sounds much better but I expected to see 24/96 at the least. Any thoughts??

128x128jr96aolcom
erik_squires
15,791 posts
 
I'm not sure the level of MQA support. I've read Tidal users getting 96/24 but not sure exactly the app.

Some work may need to be done to ensure you aren't outputting via the Windows mixer. Usually to get higher / bit perfect output from Windows you have to do something to make it exclusive, or use a special driver.

Best,

E
jr96aolcom's avatar
jr96aolcom OP
28 posts
 
Thanks all I stumbled into figuring this out. I was listening to remastered non MQA at 44.1 and it sounded very good. Then I was able to figure out the settings quagmire and was able to turn on the Tidal MQA software. My DAC started showing 88.1 and 96k and believe me on most material it sounded very good. With an MQA DAC and realizing those last 2 unfolds could be pretty impressive

Regards

JB
audiofreak32's avatar
audiofreak32
281 posts
 
Anytime I have heard Tidal, it sounded noticeably "compressed" when compared to taking a hi-res (24-96k or 24-192k) WAV/FLAC right from a HD into a decent DAC.
erik_squires
15,791 posts
 
Hey @audiofreak32

How old is your DAC?

I ask because a number of modern DACs handle Redbook a lot better than they used to.  Schiit, Mytek, etc.

I simply don't have this problem at all.

Best,

E
audiofreak32's avatar
audiofreak32
281 posts
 
My DAC is about 2 years old I think... Eastern Electric tube DAC, last/latest version.  I would never stream Tidal (or stream anything for that matter), on my system, but the multiple times I have heard Tidal playing on various systems, the sound was disappointing.  The majority of these systems were many times more expensive than my rig.
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