I just got the KEF LS60 (that 30% discount right now was really appealing).
Anyways:
- I have a big collection of things in Roon…mostly CD rips
- (things like Toshiba Black Triangle editions of things, Japanese CD’s etc…I’ve done my best to gather the best ‘version’ of certain albums in CD format)
- For more modern things, I have a lot of FLAC 192/24 digital versions
- Some, but not much 192/24 vinyl rips.
I also have Tidal…and where I think things get interesting.
- In Tidal…if I pick the MQA version of a song ‘Come As You Are’ by Nirvana) and then play the non MQA version…the difference is literally night and day.
- The soundstage is much bigger.
- In the opening of this song, the bass drum kick that comes on early hits way harder, with a lot more punch.
- Next, take 'Ni**gas in Paris’ from Watch the Throne by Jay-Z and Kanye
- When I play this in Tidal the non MQA version – it almost sounds like it’s just a compressed MP3, less sound stage / separation, less “stereo” feel.
- When I play the MQA version, it just sounds very different, bigger, better.
So what is the deal with MQA – is it really just some EQ happening that’s giving things a bit more of a modern / warmer sound?
(‘modern’ – to me this is like the new Giles remaster of Sgt. Peppers vs the Toshiba Black Triangle – many swear by the Black Triangle, honestly, of the many many of those I have – I don’t think they sound that good, I much prefer more (what I am calling ‘modern’) interpretations)
I read somewhere that the reason mqa often sound better just has to do with them being closer to the original master. It should technically be lower quality since there is compression involved but the fact that they are coming from very specific masters directly from studios, they can sound better than lossless copies that came from lesser sources.