Can someone tell me why Tidal MQA shows as 96Khz when using a non-MQA DAC?

If you use PC to stream MQA and let PC App to do the 1st unfold, you will get 96/24. If you have MQA DAC, it will unfold the rest to 192/24. 

For Windows I found the perfect article.


https://inspiringheadphones.com/are-you-getting-the-best-out-of-tidal-hifi/
If you have an MQA capable DAC use the eclusive, and MQA passthrough settings.

BTW, I just tried the suggestions in that article, though finding the settings was a little weird, but I can confirm that I'm getting either 44.1 or 88K depending on what I'm listening to.

I imagine the MQA pass through also works.
Best,
E

You Tidal PC app will do 1st unfold for you. So if you have a HiRes DAC, ot will show 96/24 or 88/24. If you have a MQA DAC, it will do the 2nd unfold to 192/24, 176/24 for you. Remember anything above 44.1khz is a lossy but it's beyond your hearing limit above 22khz. If you have a MQA DAC, you can do doirect through and let the DAC to unfold everything. The 1st unfold will take some PC CPU power. Which one is better, let your ears tell you.