Is this MQA news a big deal?

Interesting. The MQA version of Fairytales doesn’t sound right to my ears. I don’t have the vinyl to compare. Her vocals sound like she is singing slightly diminished intervals. Very fragile slightly dissonant harmonically thin voice. Piano sounds a bit off too.

Apart from that I totally don’t understand all the hooopla?

@elizabeth,+1
I believe MQA is the 21st century version of Dolby. Just another way to get people to believe audio manipulation is supposed to result in 'better sound'.

B

Walkmans will ruin music!! Not even close. CD’s will replace record albums!!!.... panic! It did not. Mp3 files will destroy the music industry! Did’nt happen. Not even Napster ruined music, although it did allow music sharing and musical artists and record companies scrambled a bit. Streaming music will kill audiophile sound. Nope.
MQA will ruin Hi-Fi.... really???

Here's a summary of issues surrounding MQA that agrees with both of you and makes an essential point: there was no need for MQA in the first place. The author has spent serious time with the issue.

www.computeraudiophile.com/ca/reviews/mqa-a-review-of-controversies-concerns-and-cautions-r701/

Find that 4k, streaming, and MQA all share a single purpose: copyright control.