Agreed! Now we are getting somewhere. MQA does not guarantee anything in regards to sound quality, one way or the other.
Exactly! And MQA plays an extremely small role in the final result. Assuming MQA uses the best mastering available, it comes down to how well you like how their filters work compared to others using the same mastering.
But is this really an informed opinion? I think most argue that MQA is crap because it serves no real useful purpose and is a money and control grab. If the mastering are what really matter why does MQA even exist? How does it help the consumer? It’s crap because it does not help the consumer. It helps Bob Stuart and the record labels.
I personally don’t like the filtering choices MQA makes so it is crap to me on multiple fronts.
Agreed, but then we should all practise what we preach, shouldn’t we?
You don’t care about the master as long as it sounds good? I’m not a native English speaker, but isn’t that a contradiction in terms? How can a listener not care “about the master” and do care about how the master “sounds” at the same time? As I said, English isn’t my mother tongue, but it seems to me that the “it” in that statement isn’t very clear…
Of course nobody here “needs” to explain anything if he or she doesn’t want to. But people who’re taking part in a discussion like this usually WANT to be understood, don’t they? That’s why we’re asking them questions if there’s something we don’t understand. It’s a sign of respect!
I’m loving the fact Some anti MQA people are muting this thread now we can just discuss things more calmly.
So recording matters, studio equipment and instruments matter, talent really matters and often doesn’t need much of the former. Mastering is the final polish to the sound based on the delivery format. (The blues originated from poor people playing cheap instruments reflecting their experience)
So, mastered for iTunes may be very different for masters for CD. MQA is the final polish to get the very best delivery. IMHO
This is not about High Res either as so much new music is being released as 24/44 48 in MQA and the sound quality is exemplary.
This shows me, that with modern recording techniques perhaps super high res streams are not necessary.
That doesn’t mean people won’t choose to do this as it’s a preferred methodology, I mean, people, still produce vinyl for their many supporters.
Bring it on, I say… as many formats as you like. Perhaps an MQA master for vinyl?
Vinyl is also about more than music, it’s about art, tangibility, statement and fashion trends. Also precision equipment to play the music on is engineering art and there are some very impressive examples out there.
It’s still lossy and compromised but if it touches the listener emotionally, then that’s all to the good.
MQA, some call lossy by their definition, sounds amazing to me on so many recordings, so I reserve the right to champion it as others my champion vinyl or tape.
The fact that the mention of MQA in the listening thread caused such vitriol that the mods had to start a new (not very visible) thread to accommodate the mention of a fully supported format in Roon, speaks volumes to me…
When you say “talent”, do you mean the musicians? Why should talented musicians be less interested in the quality of their recording, their studio equipment or the instruments they play on? Just because someone is a world-class pianist, doesn’t mean that he doesn’t benefit from a world-class grand piano! I actually think it’s the other way round. If you can’t play the piano, you don’t need a Steinway…
Yes, but the blues evolved, and that’s a good thing. Just because someone is good enough to make good money with his music and can afford high-quality instruments, doesn’t mean he’s less talented…
I never said that, great talent has to come first and great equipment will surely help that of course. Just putting things in order. Of course musicians want access to the best equipment available. Unless it’s John Shuttleworth as he does like a Casio keyboard for authenticity
I’m pretty sure there are a lot more people who buy SACDs than people who buy MQA downloads or MQA formatted CDs… It doesn’t make sense to compare MQA streaming with SACD purchases! MQA is definitely a niche market, too. The vast majority of people don’t even know what MQA is (the same is true of SACDs, of course)…
We are in a niche market for sure but MQA CD is very big in Japan. Physical sales are falling most everywhere else, it’s a change we all will have to get used to. I only buy CD’s direct from artists now, but that is declining across the world. I hear this from touring artists who now wonder how they can fund tours and albums… What can we sell? they ask.
People can only buy so many T-shirts, hoddies etc. Many have embraced vinyl as it’s something new to sell, but the upfront costs and transportation is high and so the product is expensive, restricting sales.
Like it or not, streaming is the future and it’s up to us to go to gigs, support live music and artists or see this whole art form die a slow death.
This depends on the musical genre. There are still fewer people who stream jazz and classical music than people who buy CDs and vinyl… (I’m 49 and I don’t know anyone my age who doesn’t have a CD player and/or a turntable…)
I sold my $3000 Classe CD player around 12 years ago since ripped music to hard disk sounded better than from cd. I also purchased DSD music around 10± years ago which also sound better than rebook. I mainly listen to jazz and most of the new jazz I listen to isn’t on vinyl, so when MQA came out and more and more albums are produced using MQA, I sold my tt setup last year.
Nope, fro two reasons, 1 It’s a single
2, why would I when they have gone to the trouble to create such a great recording and he is virtually playing in the room.
If the MP3 is great, then that’s good, but I don’t have access to it either.
I’m not a native English speaker, but isn’t that a contradiction in terms? How can a listener not care “about the master” and do care about how the master “sounds” at the same time? As I said, English isn’t my mother tongue, but it seems to me that the “it” in that statement isn’t very clear…
now we can just discuss things more calmly.
