MQA is for chumps

Didn't MQA start back when bandwidth was a bit less, and it allowed data transfer with less loss than mp3s?  It had a real reason initially.  Might even be a little valid today with many mobile and internet providers returning to limited data allowances.

I finally broke down and subscribed to Tidal last month, with a decision to set up one or two systems with streaming capability.  I'm still sorting through streamer/ DAC options.  I suspect MQA will not remain a big Tidal item for much longer, so I may get a mix of DACs with and without MQA.  I rarely listen 'critically' these days as others are always home so I cannot really turn it up to a realistic volume.  My son and my wife are enjoying the overall selections, but the music my wife is listening to does not have anything in MQA.

But is there still a place for MQA when bandwidth/ data is limited?  My view is from the US, and I know data can vary around the world.  At my mother-in-law's house in Russia she does not get a reliable enough connection for video calls.  MQA might allow places like that to get higher quality music than otherwise feasible.

I have both Tidal and Qobuz, in most cases I prefer the sound of Qobuz. MQA files on my system sound kind of muddy. 

Once I get my playlists copied over to Qobuz I don't see any reason to keep Tidal. 

How did the industry fall for it? I think Stereophile's John Atkinson was in MQA's pocket.

No he was not.

blaktalon.
True dat. MQA was originally a solution for a problem that quickly vanshed most places and it morphed into a top secret cash extractor.
In Russia they can do their own upsampling, probably better sounding.

I have heard MQA albums that sounded very, very good. Actually much better than CD. I have also heard some that sounded OK. I really don’t fuss about it. Some like it, some don’t. Of all the things I feel are forced down my throat, MQA is the least of my worries. In the digital age I can listen to an analog rig or digital rig. I can steam or listen to CDs or listen to a reel to reel deck.... a great time for audio. I remember when CD’s came to market and I bought one of the first CD players, Sony CDP-101. Analog guys said it was the devil.....hahaha.