“MQA is a philosophy”..John Stuart

In the end, we will be led to where ever the music is, because we love our music. :)

I think it's worth having this discussion if we can separate the value (which is arguable) from the process, which is in fact pretty ambitious. 

From a technical point of view, I think it is clear that MQA is "not just a codec" by any sense of the meaning. The full scope of it's ambition, to correct all timing errors in the A/D, D/A chain and to do so using equipment specific data is monumental. 

Benchmark has one of the best explanations, as well as technical criticisms I've ever read about MQA here:

https://benchmarkmedia.com/blogs/application_notes/163302855-is-mqa-doa

The blog puts to rest any attempt to relegate MQA to the world of "mere codecs." 

Is it worth while?  On my MQA capable Brooklyn I leave it off. You should do as suits you best.

Best,


E

Forgot to mention something. IMHO, MQA is about 2 decades too late. With high bandwidth internet and terabyte thumb drives, and DACs that in the last 5 years play Redbook MUCH better than they used to, the pure need for MQA has really diminished a great deal IMHO. 

If this had been introduced a few years after the CD, I am sure it would be the dominant digital standard today. 

In the end, we will be led to where ever the music is, because we love our music. :)

+1, amg56