Fitzcaraldo215
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I believe the requirements for full MQA Master Certified (I may have jumbled the name) requires everything to be MQA-authenticated from the encode ADC to the decode DAC, which requires it be "unmolested" all the way.
Yes. I understand that. But, it is also supposed to play music just fine with a non-MQA DAC. Stuart claims this sounds better than a non-MQA mastered version of the same file into the same DAC because the MQA file contains PCM signal which has been de-blurred, compensating for the original ADC. Please correct me if I am wrong.
Here is my understanding. At 44k sampling, an MQA/PCM file with either 16 or 24 bit depth can be played straightforwardly into a conventional, non-MQA DAC, as we know. Also, the Tidal software app is supposed to provide the - call it what you will - decoding, origami unfolding, etc. into higher sampling rate PCM suitable for a non-MQA DAC. If Tidal's software can do it, other software, codecs, etc. could easily follow. That is what is potentially exciting but also potentially a trouble spot.
However, AFAIK, playback of an MQA file via a non-MQA DAC lacks two things that full MQA Certified playback via an MQA DAC has: (1.) deblurring per MQA specs incorporated into the playback DAC's filtering (but deblurring for the ADC has already been done and is contained in the signal), and, (2.) a little light that lights up in one of two colors saying "Authenticated".
The latter is, of course, an essential and AWESOME, gee whiz feature that will amaze your friends. I had a Theta Digital DAC once that had a little light that turned on whenever I played an HDCD. Gosh, what a thrill to see that little light go on. Yeah, right, like you would not believe.