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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?  
larry5729
gdnrbob
4,506 posts
 
@bkepke,
Nice first post and welcome to Audiogon!
Also, nice system.
I asked Ken Forsythe of MQA if he could compare an MQA and non-MQA file for me. He gave what I thought was a valid answer: He couldn't do this because he could not guarantee that the non-MQA file came from the same master as the MQA file
Though it sounds reasonable, I have some reservations.
If MQA is superior, why not have comparative MQA and non-MQA tracks available for comparison?
Second, is asking this question to someone from MQA is kind of like that Robert Klein skit on Hair Club for Men:
'I wouldn't lie to you for a very good reason- I am President of the company'.
'WHAT POSSIBLE MOTIVE COULD I HAVE'?


Bob
bkepke
3 posts
 
Thanks. Good point Bob. Why didn’t I think of that? 😊 Likely because I was so gobsmacked by the sound quality that I was removed from the analytic plane. 😇 I will ask that at next MQA demo. Certainly once MQA has the 1st gen. master, they could easily make simple FLAC files at CD or hi-res resolutions to compare with the MQA file. 
larry5729's avatar
larry5729 OP
1,016 posts
 
bkepke,

I did not realize there was a Bel Canto room at the 2019 RMAF?  I looked for them in the directory and was unable to see them listed as an exhibitor.  I really wanted to meet with them.  I wonder if you were referring to the 2018 show?

I wanted to go with the Bel Canto eOne streamer, but triple the price of a Bluesound was a budgetary concern.  I had just purchased a pair of REL S3 SHO's and adding another $1,600 would have really upset my wife.  I wonder how many of us have a wife factor to contend with?
bkepke
3 posts
 
Larry
Bel Canto wasn't there. I said it was 2018 where I had them do the MQA vs. non-MQA demo. See 1st line of my 2nd paragraph.

Here is a high praise review for the e.One Stream at HiFi News:
https://www.hifinews.com/content/bel-canto-eone-stream-network-bridgedac
tinear123
241 posts
 
I don't know about over or under rated but MQA sounds good on my equipment.
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