TIDAL "Master"? Is this MQA on TIDAL?

[Gyp48]

How did your Meridian Explorer 2 DAC workout? I have found with mine the volume through the Tidal app is not sufficient even with the volume on my Mac set on high. This was not a problem streaming Tidal via Chrome. Any thoughts besides buying a better headphone amp with its own volume control?

[[email protected]]

How did your Meridian Explorer 2 DAC workout? I have found with mine the volume through the Tidal app is not sufficient even with the volume on my Mac set on high. This was not a problem streaming Tidal via Chrome. Any thoughts besides buying a better headphone amp with its own volume control?

 

 

Hi:

 

I am using the E2 line out to my speaker rig, so cannot comment on the headphone output from the Explorer2.

 

Tidal was giving trouble (crashing) earlier today, but now works fine.

 

Listening to Mark Knofler's Shangri La... love the taught bass and clarity. Having too much fun right now to do any A/B testing.

[musickid]

HELP NEEDED.......

My modimultibit dac is set at 16/44.1 as it always has been since joining tidal hifi. my listening catches a slight difference between master and hifi. others keep saying that when playing master mqa their dac automatically changes sampling setting. in my case i have to manually adjust it in audio midi set up on imac. do i leave it 16/44.1 cd quality or manually change it to 24/96 quality for masters albums? i am lost here. finally what in the world is passthrough mqa? if the software won't decode mqa and my dac clearly is not tasked to do this what is the point of the passthrough and do i leave it on or off? thanks to all

[musickid]

QUICK EDIT: set to exclusive mode i am now getting 32/96 listening to soul brothers by ray charles. does this sound correct????? the passthrough mqa remains the part i don't get here.

[wklie]

I think MQA passthrough is only for MQA DAC owners.

 

If your DAC is not MQA certified, you should disable MQA passthrough.

[musickid]

if software decodes mqa why the need for an mqa dac???

[TubeDriver]

I think the Tidal decoded MQA files do not all sound as good as their normal 16/44 files. Maybe my ears are borked or maybe my DAC is having some weird issue with the decoded files? At least some of the MQA files sound significantly worse, although others may not (Natalie Merchant TiggerLilly sound terrible, Fleetwood Mac Rumors sounds good).

So I am sitting here thinking the sounds on the Master version of Natalie Merchant TigerLilly "Seven Years" actually sounds slower than the Tidal 16/44 version. So I look at the time stamp on the two versions

 

Tidal 16/44 = 5 minutes and 30 seconds

 

Tidal Master MQA = 5 minutes 35 seconds

 

Is that to be expected? Where are the extra 5 seconds coming from?

[ShawnC]

if software decodes mqa why the need for an mqa dac???

 

If I understood the technology correctly a non MQA DAC will receive up to 96 decoded from the software. If you don't use the software it's 44.1. If you have a MQA DAC it further unfolds the signal up to whatever the DAC is capable of. Or you can bypass the software and have your MQA DAC do it all. I could be wrong.

[Ggeorg]

But if I stream via AirPlay i get only 44khz??

[TubeDriver]

But if I stream via AirPlay i get only 44khz?

 

Make sure Tidal has exclusive access or your OS can up/down sample the Tidal stream.

[fabiodeluca]

I think the Tidal decoded MQA files do not all sound as good as their normal 16/44 files. Maybe my ears are borked or maybe my DAC is having some weird issue with the decoded files? At least some of the MQA files sound significantly worse, although others may not (Natalie Merchant TiggerLilly sound terrible, Fleetwood Mac Rumors sounds good).

So I am sitting here thinking the sounds on the Master version of Natalie Merchant TigerLilly "Seven Years" actually sounds slower than the Tidal 16/44 version. So I look at the time stamp on the two versions

 

Tidal 16/44 = 5 minutes and 30 seconds

 

Tidal Master MQA = 5 minutes 35 seconds

 

Is that to be expected? Where are the extra 5 seconds coming from?

 

I had exactly the same experience: some MQA tracks sound better other worse

[TubeDriver]

Many of the MQA Master versions sound recessed, compressed. Someone threw a blanket over my speakers? Jeez, compare Alanis Morissete's "Unplugged" track 1 "You Learn".

 

Tidal Hifi = typical close miked recording

Tidal Master = blanket over speaker sound. Vocal is recessed and mushed into the bass line.

 

Note: This is not music I normally listen too, I am just picking out various albums from the Master list. So, I really don't know whar AM sounds like but I certainly know which version I prefer.

 

 

I had exactly the same experience: some MQA tracks sound better other worse

[jhwalker]

Many of the MQA Master versions sound recessed, compressed. Someone threw a blanket over my speakers? Jeez, compare Alanis Morissete's "Unplugged" track 1 "You Learn".

 

Tidal Hifi = typical close miked recording

Tidal Master = blanket over speaker sound. Vocal is recessed and mushed into the bass line.

 

Note: This is not music I normally listen too, I am just picking out various albums from the Master list. So, I really don't know whar AM sounds like but I certainly know which version I prefer.

 

I'm hearing exactly the opposite for the content I'm listening to; i.e., the "Masters" sound much more lively / present / realistic than the HiFi version - or even my locally streamed high resolution equivalents!

 

For example, "Buena Vista Social Club" Tidal Master vs. 96/24 "true" hi-res file streamed locally - no contest, the Tidal Master thoroughly spanks my local hi-res version

 

Similarly for Madonna's "True Blue" and several others I've compared to my downloaded hi-res versions: the Tidal Master versions sound "better" - to me, at least, so much so I went ahead and bought an MQA-capable DAC to see if the hardware version is even better.

[fabiodeluca]

I'm hearing exactly the opposite for the content I'm listening to; i.e., the "Masters" sound much more lively / present / realistic than the HiFi version - or even my locally streamed high resolution equivalents!

 

For example, "Buena Vista Social Club" Tidal Master vs. 96/24 "true" hi-res file streamed locally - no contest, the Tidal Master thoroughly spanks my local hi-res version

 

Similarly for Madonna's "True Blue" and several others I've compared to my downloaded hi-res versions: the Tidal Master versions sound "better" - to me, at least, so much so I went ahead and bought an MQA-capable DAC to see if the hardware version is even better.

 

I agree with both of you: some (the majority) are (slightly) richer (I.e. Break on through, first track of The Doors album) with voice clearer an less recessed....others, like the Alanis Morissette album mentioned by TubeDriver, are definitely better in the non Master version.

 

This opens a tremendous dilemma in the audiophile world

[Toolonginexile]

So for the newbies out there....is there any benefit to the remaster if you are NOT using an MQA dac (myteck/meridian/roon) or a DAC that resolves over 16/44?

[[email protected]]

How did your Meridian Explorer 2 DAC workout? I have found with mine the volume through the Tidal app is not sufficient even with the volume on my Mac set on high. This was not a problem streaming Tidal via Chrome. Any thoughts besides buying a better headphone amp with its own volume control?

 

I tried the headphone out to my LCD-2F, playing MASTERs on Tidal via Passthrough to the Explorer2. I found the sound quality to be high, and the volume is more than needed (60% is fine).

[TubeDriver]

As I said, it seems to be variable between different albums. Did you listen yet to the two albums I mentioned?

 

I listened to the BVSC in Masters version and the normal HiFi and for what its worth I agree that the Masters version sounds better. Vocals still sounds slightly recessed but also more focused and easier to follow.

 

I'm hearing exactly the opposite for the content I'm listening to; i.e., the "Masters" sound much more lively / present / realistic than the HiFi version - or even my locally streamed high resolution equivalents!

 

For example, "Buena Vista Social Club" Tidal Master vs. 96/24 "true" hi-res file streamed locally - no contest, the Tidal Master thoroughly spanks my local hi-res version

 

Similarly for Madonna's "True Blue" and several others I've compared to my downloaded hi-res versions: the Tidal Master versions sound "better" - to me, at least, so much so I went ahead and bought an MQA-capable DAC to see if the hardware version is even better.

[Pat Case]

Hi:

 

I am using the E2 line out to my speaker rig, so cannot comment on the headphone output from the Explorer2.

 

Tidal was giving trouble (crashing) earlier today, but now works fine.

 

Listening to Mark Knofler's Shangri La... love the taught bass and clarity. Having too much fun right now to do any A/B testing.

 

 

I'm not looking to get mobbed here but, in A/Bing Shangri-La, Vilde Frang's Mozart Violin Concertos and John Coltrane's Favorite Things, from Tidal Masters and iTunes through two fairly good desktop monitors, I've yet to experience that "aha" moment. Moving to my main setup, Frang and Coltrane still sound better through my Revel Salons from my Aurender streamer than from Tidal. Haven't tried Shangri-La yet.

 

I thought that there was supposed to be an unequivocal uptick in quality from regular hi res to MQA? Perhaps in order to hear a marked difference, I'd have to use an MQA DAC? Perhaps I need to widen my A/Bing?

[Gyp48]

Thanks for your response. As noted I have been streaming Tidal hifi via Chrome. I realized last night using the desktop Tidal app that I needed to set the volume in the app (dumb user error). Very happy now.

[smileman]

I'm really enjoying the Masters sound quality on some albums (e.g. Endless River).

 

Audio MIDI is showing 24 bit but only offering me 44Hz and 48Hz. I've tried several different albums - Endless River, Headfull of Dreams, Blue - same story for all of them. Shouldn't I be able to switch Audio MIDI to 96Hz (or higher)?

 

I'm using a late-2016 MBP Touch and I've enabled Use Exclusive Mode.

 

I'm just plugging headphones into my Mac right now, although would love to connect my Onkyo DP-X1 (which can decode MQA) to my MBP as a DAC, but my understanding is that it cannot be used this way?

[TubeDriver]

Hmmm.. I am using a 2015 MBP and Audio MIDI is set to 44hz but is does not matter what it is set to because if exclusive access is enabled in the Tidal software, it bypasses or resets Audio MIDI. So my DAC show 24/88 or 24/96 streaming with Masters selections regardless of what Audio MIDI was originally set to.

 

Can you sync up the Onkyo through Wifi with your MBP? If so, that should allow it to be used as a DAC.

 

 

I'm really enjoying the Masters sound quality on some albums (e.g. Endless River).

 

Audio MIDI is showing 24 bit but only offering me 44Hz and 48Hz. I've tried several different albums - Endless River, Headfull of Dreams, Blue - same story for all of them. Shouldn't I be able to switch Audio MIDI to 96Hz (or higher)?

 

I'm using a late-2016 MBP Touch and I've enabled Use Exclusive Mode.

 

I'm just plugging headphones into my Mac right now, although would love to connect my Onkyo DP-X1 (which can decode MQA) to my MBP as a DAC, but my understanding is that it cannot be used this way?

[thequietman]

I had to select force volume on the mac app for tidal to get sufficient volume, otherwise the volume was too low. Also selected my dac as output device in audio midi settings.

[smileman]

Can you sync up the Onkyo through Wifi with your MBP? If so, that should allow it to be used as a DAC.

 

I don't know how to do that, and someone over at Head-Fi said that it lacks the drivers to serve as a DAC: http://www.head-fi.org/t/780642/onkyo-dp-x1-dual-sabre-dacs-balanced-sabre-btl-amp-mqa-dsd-256-android-5/12840#post_13153119

[GrahamJohnMiles]

My Auralic Aries Mini appears to be streaming MQA Masters fine. It shows only 24/44.1 in the Lightning playback information, but this is the folded stream it is sending out to my External Explorer2 DAC. Since the blue light is on, I am presuming the Explorer is doing the final upsampling to 24/96 and sending it to the amp. The Lightning app won't see that since it is downstream processing. Results are varied. Older recordings are better but not arresting. Newer recordings such as The New Cool are tall, wide and dynamic, excellent. Howe Gelb is pretty good too. Without a doubt THE BEST streaming option I have heard to date. Catalog seems to be expanding day by day, with new titles coming in every time I check. The Tidal information is a little confusing. For sure you can play the Masters on any platform BUT, you still need an MQA enabled DAC to get the final Studio quality.

[fabiodeluca]

Please someone listen to Wilson Pickett 'Wicked Pickett' album track 'Everybody needs somebody to love'...two versions (Master and CD) sooooo different....one of the two completely messed up with channel separation....