Aurender upgrades Tidal - MQA -Only for A10 and 20 - lesser models not worth their time

@audioman58,

Perhaps you should conduct a thorough research before you shoot down N100H which is a only a streamer, there is no internal DAC aboard N100H for MQA decoding unlike Aurender A10.

In addition to A10, couple of my Mytek DAC’s and uber expensive Meridien Ultra DAC fully decodes the MQA files at the moment.

"MQA decoding is hardware dependent on the DAC being used and so while the file is encoded in MQA, it is in a standard PCM "wrapper" or container file. The file can be either 16 bit or 24 bit (depending on the provenance of the original master file) and is either a 44.1kHz or 48kHz sampling rate, dependent on the A/D conversion and mastering sampling rate of the the original file.
In order for an MQA file to be properly decoded, it needs to be used with appropriate DAC hardware that carries an MQA certification. Otherwise it will just play back as a standard PCM file (capable of supporting either of the specs mentioned above). A user with a non-MQA DAC will still receive some of the benefits of MQA encoding, namely reduction of temporal blur, but the MQA decoding process is tailored for the DAC architecture and is only supported by MQA certified DACs"

Hope this helps!

@audioman58,

As lalitk posts above, all Aurender music servers are capable of MQA file playback and displaying MQA content. Currently, Aurender music servers (including the A10) will send the necessary bit-perfect information to MQA certified DAC hardware with Full Decoder technology for the best possible MQA experience .

As the A10 is Aurender's ONLY music server that also contains a certified, MQA Full Decoder DAC, the Aurender Conductor App can only display MQA Decoding status when used with the A10. Otherwise, the MQA file or stream is sent to the DAC hardware and an MQA certified DAC with Full Decoder technology will provide the decoding status.

My Aurender music server has a tab for all albums coded with MQA.  When I stream them to my non-MQA DAC, the DAC displays 48khz and sounds very good.  

MQA is software. Months ago, MQA files would be unfolded on a computer so what Lalitk mentioned above isn't completely true. There are benefits of unfolding MQA files even if you don't have a MQA supported DAC. I didn't go with Aurender products when I auditioned many similar products years ago. I initially went with the Auralic Aries and they had software for MQA over a year ago but pulled it. Then I moved up to the PS Audio directstream with bridge II. The bridge II firmware had an upgrade yesterday to handle MQA with Tidal. So it is possible to include MQA in streaming units

@rbstehno,

Thank you for your feedback. If you would’ve read my post carefully, nowhere I said that MQA is a hardware. All I was trying to reiterate is MQA encoded files requires MQA certified hardware to properly decode the max embedded resolution.

Do you consider Perfect Wave Bridge II a software or hardware upgrade? Is your PS Audio Directstream DAC capable of decoding MQA files without PW Bridge II from an external source like a streamer or computer?

Are you able to operate Bridge II independently and stream/decode MQA files?

N100 or N100H is a independent cache digital music player designed specifically to stream digital files, including MQA files just like your Bridge II in tandem with a outboard DAC. Without Bridge I or II, directstream is simply a DAC.

What operator should be looking for is one box solution - streamer / DAC to enjoy MQA and other digital files, like A10 or directstream with power Bridge II.

IMO, PS audio has taken a smart approach of ’modular’ design to keep their DAC’s relevant with future software / hardware upgrades.