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How many of you believe in MQA?

I have recently purchased a Bluesound Node 2i.  The dealer suggested I connect the Bluesound by way of digital coax to a Pro-Ject S2 DAC by way of RCA anologue to my ARCAM AVR550.  However, I found out I will not be able to control my Bluesound with an iPhone, iPad or PC notebook.  The only way to hear MQA completely unfolded is to plug in a computer USB.  This would mean I would have to get up from where I am sitting, go to the computer to change songs and albums.  I believe the Pro-Ject RS2 DAC would work, but not sure what the sales price is or if this is a good option.

The dealer asked me why I wanted to even bother listening to MQA completely unfolded when the DAC sounded better than the DAC inside the Bluesound.  He thinks MQA is way over rated and it may not be around a year from now.  If I hook things up with the Pro-Ject S2 DAC I will be able to hear one unfold which would be at 24 bit/88.2 kHz.  If I do this, I will be giving up the opportunity to hear MQA recordings recorded at 24 bit/96 kHz or 24 bit/192 kHz.  

How many of you are enbracing MQA?  
128x128larry5729
big_greg
6,619 posts
 
Larry, I think you're confused about a couple of things.

First, you shouldn't need a PC in the chain.  You stream music from the Bluesound Node 2 directly to your Arcam or you can run it to the Pro-Ject DAC via a coax cable and connect the DAC to the Arcam.  You may find the Node 2i's DAC is as good or better than the Pro-Ject DAC.  Either way, you should be able to get a full unfold of the MQA files.

The Bluesound app will control streaming from music services like Tidal, Qobuz, Radio Paradise, etc. as well as stream music from your home network if you have files that you have shared on your network.  The DAC just converts digital signals to analog and passes them to the Arcam.  There's nothing to control on the DAC.
gs5556
1,231 posts
 
I personally would not invest in equipment with MQA because I don't want to be tied to what Tidal decides to stream in that format. And lately their new releases in classical is a couple of months behind Qobuz...
2psyop's avatar
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2psyop
1,543 posts
 
Big_Greg is correct. You don’t need the computer. That is why the Node2 was designed as a one-in-all player. The Bluesound is a DAC and streamer all in one. It can be linked to a NAS or your own library of music as well, but one does not have to do this. I was surprised by how good the DAC inside the Bluesound sounded.  I am using a Node 2 for playing non-MQA and MQA material and it sounds fantastic. Not every album sounds good in MQA. Just like the old analog mastered albums, some good recordings, some not so good.

I am not sure I understand the MQA take-a-side argument. It is just another format to try, see how you like it. If not, try something else??? Am I believer?!? In MQA. That makes the format sound like a cult, or UFO, or elves ....which is kind of ridiculous.

Reel to Reel tapes, Betamax, cassette tapes, mini-discs, CD, turntables, aiff, FLAC, wav, streaming .....just another way to listen to music... not the end all, be all for music recording.
gdnrbob
4,441 posts
 
@big greg 
@2psyop .
I use a Bluesound Node and control it with a PC desktop app.
Though you could use an Android or Iphone, too. Either way, there is a computer.
I don't any other way to play music through the Node.
Bob
big_greg
6,619 posts
 
Bob, technically, you're correct as both phones and tablets are "computers".  I have the desktop app on my PC also and can control the Bluesound from there, but it isn't required.  I almost always use my phone or tablet.  In fact, I just downloaded the PC app yesterday.

The interface for the Bluesound has to be run on some kind of device. 

Larry was talking about having to physically go to his computer, which you don't have to do with a phone or tablet (or laptop).
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