Signal path for MQA

Since you appear to be using an MQA capable DAC when you play MQA content Roon does its part and unfolds the content and sends it on to your DAC to render it. Roon does not “think” it knows what your DAC is doing, it “knows” that your DAC is doing the required MQA rendering. When Roon unfolds MQA content and sends it to a DAC that is NOT MQA capable it also “knows” that MQA rendering will NOT be done so it does not show it.

Take this MQA album:

CSN%20Album

When played to an MQA capable DAC you get this Signal Path:

and when played to a DAC that is NOT MQA capable you get this Signal Path:

My understanding is that both Signal Paths are showing bit perfect transmission from Roon to the DAC but the MQA Capable DAC’s Signal Path shows Enhanced instead of Lossless because Roon knows the MQA Capable DAC will be rendering the content per MQA’s guidelines.

You can always tell Roon your MQA capable DAC has no MQA capabilities and then you will get a Lossless Signal Path with any rendering.

Tim

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