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MQA-CD - Affordable playback, but it's too late. (Patreon)

Published:
2024-01-31 22:04:15
Imported:
2024-03

Content

After spotting a £80 MQA-CD decoder I thought I’d have to give this Hi-res audio format one more spin. I managed to locate some of the discs I’d bought to make a relatively popular, yet unsatisfactory video about this format in 2018 and tried it out again.

https://youtu.be/5QS9Sc8J91Y

The original video proved to be rather frustrating as it generated enough confused venom-filled audiophile diatribes to fill a good size septic tank. I suspect though by this point nobody, not even them, will care a jot about MQA as it’s a company and format that appears destined to become another minor footnote in audio history.

MQA-CD releases dried up with impeccable timing - just as affordable decoder hardware appeared on the market.

This video is a bit late as there’s been a winter illness affecting the household since the day the last Patreon video was posted on here. This is why my voice sounds off in the video. But I hope you’re all doing well, take care.

Files

MQA-CD - Affordable playback, but it's too late*

In 2018 I had the discs but couldn’t get a cheap MQA-CD decoder. In 2024 I found a decoder for £80, but what happened to the discs? * For the format itself...and for my old ears to get any benefit from it. MERCHANDISE Techmoan Merchandise is available from https://nerdkeyz.etsy.com/ SUBSCRIBE http://www.youtube.com/user/Techmoan?sub_confirmation=1 SUPPORT This channel can be supported through Patreon https://www.patreon.com/techmoan *******Patrons usually have early access to videos******* OUTRO MUSIC Over Time - Vibe Tracks https://youtu.be/VSSswVZSgJw AFFILIATED LINKS/ADVERTISING NOTICE All links are Affiliated where possible. When you click on links to various merchants posted here and make a purchase, this can result in me earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network & Amazon. I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to AMAZON Sites (including, but not limited to Amazon US/UK/DE/ES/FR/NL/IT/CAN

Comments

CURTISSCOTT

I was actually enthusiastic when I 1st heard about MQA. And then I heard MQA. At this point in time, it's pretty obvious that MQA was a new term for "The Emperor's New Clothes". It's been DEBUNKED & quite brilliantly I might add: https://youtu.be/pRjsu9-Vznc

CURTISSCOTT

I also wanted to point out that I have a bit of a conflict of interest with schemes like MQA. This is because I've worked for years developing a proprietary process (Spectrelayer) to improve audio - but my philosophy is quite different from the MQA/"Audiophile" crowd. You see, the claim you will constantly heard made is how the "magic" process allows you to hear the MUSIC RELEASED BY THE STUDIO in unparalleled clarity. Very early on, I realized that the PROBLEMS with the audio were baked into the studio releases. I explain it this way on the main website: "You might think that I would sing the marketing-song of sonic purity & fidelity to the original recording in order to market Spectrelayer. After all – isn’t that what all of those other companies say about their processes? Well, there is a certain logic to that marketing approach. However, Spectrelayer’s claim is that it makes a better sounding audio file than the original release. The “rumor” is true: Spectrelayer alters the sound (so much that the waveform is visibly different when examined in a DAW)! That may seem like the ultimate sonic heresy at the altar of the self-proclaimed “audiophile”. BUT, the gigantic fallacy that almost everyone falls prey to is the presumption that the studio engineers chose all of the optimum settings as they recorded, mixed & mastered the sound in the first place! If you think audio engineers have halos & always choose the best possible mix parameters out of the ocean of permutations – then I can’t out- dogma you -nor will I try. Spectrelayer uses machine hearing to make innumerable continuous adjustments during post-mastering & Spectrelayer’d audio sounds DIFFERENT – BETTER than the version the record label had originally slated for release. And, most listeners agree that Spectrelayer sounds remarkably better than the original source or pre-Spectrelayer’d version. But if you analyze the waveforms Spectrelayer creates, – the so called “purists” may cry “foul”! Vastly different EQ curves! Different dynamics! A relocated noise-floor (sometimes higher depending on the source quality); -And a complete disregard for the -1dB ceiling so many services advocate! But, let me ask: “Where were the purists while the loudness war was destroying the music in the 1st place?”, eh? Perhaps they were too enamored admiring the shine of some engineer’s halos – to notice what their ringing ears were telling them at the end of the mix? The purists will likely tell you that Spectrelayer introduces types of tonal coloration & even distortion (gasp). And (being brutally honest), by showing you charts, graphs & numbers – they’ll be able to technically PROVE IT (but, not with listening comparisons)! And HERE’s the critical distinction: WHY does Spectrelayer sound so much better to most ears – even when certain statistics & technical measurements may accuse the methodology of the process? It’s because Spectrelayer’s benefits far outweigh any detractions – by magnitudes (Yin vs. Yang). I once considered myself a “purist” – ever watching the noise-floor & signal THD levels, IM distortion & never ever let the digital peak level hit the 0dB marker (Oh! The humanity!); -& don’t gasp too loudly, but I think I derided the artifacts of a noise-gate opening on several occasions! But, then I heard what certain machine’s speculate humans prefer to hear based on how the human brain perceives audio, -& those intelligent algorithms nailed it! And, as a sonic purist; – That’s humbling. You see, there are now (2) very different approaches to making great sound. The conventional involves ultra-tight control of every aspect of the recorded signal. It’s very “left-brained” & mathematically solid. It has an elegant beauty that appeals to the perfectionist part of every audio engineer. And that philosophy has made fantastic recordings possible and is absolutely necessary because the better it is executed – the better the next approach works. See, there is an emerging body of tech (which builds upon the former) – intelligent algorithms that work with multiple parameters at once while treating the signal with a “brute-force machine-philosophy” concluding that “the end justifies the means”. These networks don’t understand nor even care about the sanctity of test signals if the style-template & processing schema suggests that such needs to be adjusted to “sound better”! This drives conventional engineers to nail-biting. Trying to follow the logic of a network that can control countless parameters as sonic processing nodes spring into and out of existence dynamically – is like trying to track a scurry of squirrels. “Orthodoxy was violated…”, observes some purist. “Yes, -but did you hear that fantastic output compared with the input?”, replies someone with ears (Because, if it sounds better, – it sounds … better)! Often, some critical comment about “Spectrelayer’s sound” is simply addressed by adjusting the playback EQ slightly – usually as easy as adjusting the bass or treble bands a bit. So, remember this: “The pursuit of the perfect is the enemy of the good.” – General George Patton. And I think the quote from a decorated war general is apt here. Because, despite the casualty of an occasional “purist’s audiophile religion”, – Spectrelayer, has not only won the loudness war – but has allowed some of its casualties to be brought back from the dead using its AI! Furthermore – & more importantly: Spectrelayer makes most recordings sound better – even if they were not casualties of the loudness war! And you don’t need to take my word for it! Hear it for yourself! And like any technology, -Spectrelayer is constantly improving which means that a shortfall today may be addressed tomorrow. If you’re an engineer who has suggestions – PLEASE send a message: Hear for yourself on the Spectrelayer YouTube Demo site: https://youtu.be/mLhbOygKkOM