I’m brand new to streaming. Just got Tidal and Node2i 4 days ago, and i’m in the "comparing to CDs & LPs" phase. I’m noticing a few things. The albums on Tidal are sometimes EXACTLY the same as the CD. But sometimes they are the same master, but a couple dB louder, and thus more compressed/limited. I have 3 CDs of one album that are 3 different masterings (1985,2001,2009). Tidal has the 2001 & 2009 masters available. The 2001 sounds exactly the same, but Tidal’s version of the 2009 master is about 2 dB louder than the 2009 CD.
As for MQA, it seems like the highs are a bit soft and squishy sounding. I was expecting better sounding transients from MQA, but they sound less exciting instead.
I have heard several 70-80’s rock tracks that are simply crushed. I pull out my old vinyl to A/B with Tidal, and sometimes it’s better, and sometimes it’s worse, but the new versions are always more compressed. MQA isn’t worth a damn to me if the dynamics have been squashed.
As for MQA, it seems like the highs are a bit soft and squishy sounding. I was expecting better sounding transients from MQA, but they sound less exciting instead.
I have heard several 70-80’s rock tracks that are simply crushed. I pull out my old vinyl to A/B with Tidal, and sometimes it’s better, and sometimes it’s worse, but the new versions are always more compressed. MQA isn’t worth a damn to me if the dynamics have been squashed.