Question - Tidal MQA quality without an MQA-capable DAC

[Deckard01]

UAPP or Hiby player apps. I prefer the first (small fee) but the second works (free)

Thanks, I knows about these apps, I just would prefer the Tidal app instead with it's UI and not third party for bit-perfect

 

[LDfades]

Thank you for the information and for linking such useful resources. After reading up on MQA, I see now that the encoding is done through a lossy origami process, and the dynamic range cannot be restored to the original quality.

After some consideration, I’ve decided to switch to Apple Music (AM), which provides a student discount and has an extensive lossless library. The only bit-perfect playback AM supports is through an external DAC/Amp connected to an iOS device. It seems that the AM app on Android, Mac OS, and Windows cannot bypass OS resampling. My current setup is iPhone 15 Pro Max – Fiio K7 – Hart 4.4 TRRS Balanced Cable – Hifiman Ananda Nano. Many online sources claim that IOS external DAC playback is bit-perfect and not resampled.

Sidenote – Some FLAC songs on Tidal and AM seem to be different masters provided by the same artist. I’ve read online that the artists simply provide the same masters to all online streaming services (ignoring MQA for Tidal) and that any/all lossless streams should sound identical regardless of the service. However, I’ve noticed that certain FLAC-only songs on Tidal are of lower spec quality than the same song on AM (and vice versa). For example, Natsutourou by Hachi on Tidal has a max quality of 16-bit 44.1 kHz FLAC; on AM, the highest quality available is 24-bit 96 kHz FLAC. My guess is that Hachi (vTuber artist) provided Tidal with a CD quality master first, then worked with Apple to provide a hi-res remaster of the same song. Why would the artist intentionally provide a lower-resolution FLAC file to Tidal if she already had the original hi-res FLAC? Just something interesting I’ve noticed. While I can’t tell the difference between the two tracks, I do prefer streaming on AM just knowing it’s most likely a higher quality master.

How are you connecting iPhone to the FiiO K7? (I'm new to all this and researching my own setup currently)

 

[WillBrink]

Received an eMail today by Tidal:
On 24th of July, one year after offering HiRes FLAC, Tidal drops MQA and 360 reality audio.

Many of their tracks are still MQA as of a month ago. Is that actually audible?

 

[Nutul]

This following statement of mine would need investigation for sure (I cannot remember correctly) but... the MQA thing should offer redbook quality if not unfolded, and that would make it "lossless", since no MQA crap is supposed to enter the audio chain at this early stage.
Now, not talking about hi-res lossless, but this 16/44.1 is, IMHO, lossless nevertheless.

 

[Jimbob54]

Many of their tracks are still MQA as of a month ago. Is that actually audible?

I'd say likely not for most. If you like tidal as a provider, don't worry about it.

 

[Andro]

I suspect that the presence of some MQA tracks at Tidal contributes to the perception that Hi-Res music is better than CD. I clearly hear this effect myself because statistically speaking, an average Hi-Res Tidal track does sound better to me than an average CD. However, assuming that just 20% of CD tracks are still MQA but 0% Hi-Res are MQA, it means 20% of all CD track sounds worse than any Hi-Res track, which is sufficient to create a strong bias against CD.
Obviously, MQA tracks do not sound good on non-MQA capable DAC.

However, I have yet to find any, just one perfectly recorded CD album that sounds as good as best half of Hi-Res tracks. I can't explain why but it's a fact.

 

[Nutul]

(...) I can't explain why but it's a fact.

You just cannot make such a statement. It simply is not a fact. It may be a fact to you, but still, not a fact, Facts are another thing.

 

[threni]

I can't explain why but it's a fact.