· I hear distortion or noise when I'm playing music
What type of Zone is affected by this problem?
· *Network Zones* are affected.
Does the issue affect all file formats?
· The issue *only affects one file *format.
Which format is giving you trouble?
· Other
Is your device connected directly to the Roon Server via cable or over the network, or is it chained through another device (such as a streamer, Roon Bridge, or Roon Remote)?
· Connected directly to my RoonServer machine
Does the device show up at all in Roon Settings -> Audio?
· The Zone is listed under the wrong protocol
Does the device play audio from another source when using the same connection?
· The device has no problems with another audio source
If the device has multiple output options, do the other options work as expected?
· Multiple output types are affected
Is the device using the latest firmware as per the manufacturer?
· Firmware is up-to-date but the issue remains
Do you have an approximate timestamp of when the issue last occurred?
· Has happened consistently for the last 24 hours
What are the make and model of the affected audio device(s) and the connection type?
· Kef LS50 ii
Describe the issue
MQA files not playing properly
Describe your network setup
Room server wired to Wifi 7 network with 4 nodes. Gigabit internet connection
I have the exact same problem on a Kef LS50ii. Just started to fail to decode MQA files from Tidal when previously was fine. Digital distortion / drop outs, cuts in and out very rapidly.
No change in set up. No firmware update. MQA core decoder has always been enabled.
We’re sorry to see you’re having trouble with your KEF speakers. To help us investigate this faster, can you please let us know whether you recall any trigger for the behavior, such as a KEF software update, a Roon software update, or a settings change?
Could you also please try enabling the MQA decoder in Roon settings for the speakers and let us know whether that has any effect?
If you can, please record a video of the malfunction and upload it to our Media Uploader
That will help us better understand what is happening.
The OP’s screenshot showed that MQA decoding was taking place entirely outside of Roon. There have been no changes to Roon’s MQA support in any recent release. Tidal hasn’t officially supported MQA content since 2024, although they still serve much of their catalog in MQA as they transition to different high-resolution formats.
If you have a different device from the OP, then you’ll very likely require separate troubleshooting steps. If you can share a screenshot of you Signal Path, we’ll split your post into a dedicated troubleshooting thread.
But as you note, Tidal are still supplying streams in MQA.
Which worked a few days ago. And now don’t, purely affecting MQA files. With no apparent change in KEF firmware or roon version.
And my issue is the same as the OP on the same KEF speakers…..
If i disable KEF MQA decoding by telling Roon they have no MQA capability, it is better, but there are still almost constant fractional dropouts. Suggesting the MQA files have changed at Tidals end.
It is so hard to diagnose the issue when you have the stream company, Roon and the endpoint speaker.
mjw
(Father! Father! Resist not! Let us destroy the core! Set us free!)
9
If your setup is the same as the OP, have you also tried switching on Roon’s core decoder?
mjw
(Father! Father! Resist not! Let us destroy the core! Set us free!)
12
Highly unlikely. What you describe is most likely something different to the OP. Dropouts are indicative of a networking issue between Roon server and the endpoint.
You should keep your responses to your Support request.
Ensure Roon is doing the decoding and I’d also disable the Kef DSP options one by one to see if one is the cause.
Also which version of the above mentioned album. The 2011 Remaster? If so, when I applied volume levelling, it applies a -6.7dB to the album. The other version -1.7dB.
With all the Kef DSP I would set Roon to have a certain amount of headroom (default -3dB) or enable Roon volume levelling. The headroom function has a clipping indicator (default is off).
Just to note that i can stream any other fornat at 192/24 without issue. Therefore really not likely to be a newtwork issue. It specifically affects MQA files and MQA files only. And a week ago MQA was working
Speakers wired together
Wireless to network - kef network test shows bandwidth to spare.
Wifi 7 network for 4 months. Speedtest between nodes running at 600+ mbps and Gb internet connection.
