" In fact, many of the sounds of the natural world, an understanding of which confers important survival benefits, have no frequencies. Examples include crackling leaves, snapping twigs, the sounds of wind, rain, and running water. "
Hey Beef, can you record crackling leaves and snapping twigs?
It seems to me if you can record those and wind, rain, running water, they would have frequencies. I think MQA is fine for streaming, but to read Harley, you would think it is another sign of the apocalypse.
I am going to have to borrow my buddies Explorer DAC, he somehow has two. He offered, and I wasn’t interested. Maybe between the first and second unfolding the miracle happens.
You are of course right, that basing this decision on Tidal seems a bit frivolous, but let me try to explain:
I love music and I love a great music system. I have a pretty amazing theater in my basement (see sig below) - its fabulous but it’s not as fabulous for music as it is for video (low ceilings, large speakers placed in the corners of the room, etc.). I’ve always known that a serious 2-channel music system was in my future but I have always been underwhelmed.
SACD came out a long time ago (18 years to be precise) and obviously never caught on. DVD-Audio the same. And even if they were both commercially successful, which they are both far from, the thought of buying the White Album again (LP, tape, CD, etc.) seemed awful.
That’s where streaming came in. Obviously we all love the convenience but I’m not buying a fabulous system for sub-CD quality (which itself is now 35 years old). Tidal FLAC streaming was a big step in the right direction - this gets us back to 1982. At some point I have to make a call and dive back in - seeing the light at the end of the tunnel to get 1999 quality now via streaming feels like that time to me.
That all being said, I’m close to pulling the trigger anyway - there is now a big open space in my family room that seems to be getting bigger every time I look at it!
I spoke too soon, Tidal has added a separate setting for Masters in Quality. I spent the whole weekend listening to Masters untouched at 16/44. Most of my listening was casual, reading, cooking, but last night I paid attention to Eric Bibb’s “Migration Blues”. It is the recording not the MQA that makes it so good. I was hearing everything I thought was there due to the partial unfold.
I already did some checking. It is still hanging up between Masters and 16/44 files. If I had the spare cash, I would go to the trouble of getting Quboz[sp?]. Tidal’s player is bug ridden. They are trying, but so far, no success. I will continue supplying them with Logs and anything else they ask for, to solve this problem.
IF YOU HAVE TIDAL CHECK YOUR SETTINGS! LAST UPDATE CHANGES DEFAULTS!
@Em2016: "...here is a post today by Charles Hansen regarding MQA. Just one data point to consider but an interesting one..."
Wow . . . Very bold statement (a little rivalry / bad blood here?). I guess one might argue the point as well on how much is known about Charles Hansen, but I have always thought highly of his opinions. Why isn't this being discussed more thoroughly?
Because they are in Korea and it’s not always easy.
Okay I get that. It just seems that you have mentioned several times that you are emailing them for an update and then we don’t hear back from you. So you mentioned on Sept 29th that you were emailing them. It’s been at least 3 days since that email went out. Presumably they have responded in that time? Any wisdom as to where we are?
Jaiello, the Bridge and MQA, are only two of the many things Paul has to deal with.
He only implementing MQA because his customers asked for it. I think Paul, like many of us, are not completely sold on MQA. Give me a hi-rez file playing in JRiver, over MQA at least with the Tidal player, and partial unfold.
Tidal is having problems making it work. I have been working with them for almost a month, sending logs, doing route tracing.
I’m just saying lighten up, it will get done. Unless you want to fly to Korea on your dime, realize they apparently have more work than they can handle. And that is why the new Bridge 3 is being designed in house. You pestering Paul won’t get it done any quicker. Except for you and the guy waiting to buy, nobody probably wants it done more than Paul.
What other companies do you have direct access to? These days Charles Hanson has been around, so pretty much him and Paul. Try calling Sony, or Marantz, you will most likely talk to a customer service rep, that doesn’t even work directly for the company.
It’s coming, have a cocktail, or burn one, and just r e l a x.
I just noticed, you have a REALLY nice system. Just put a SACD in the DCS, and who needs MQA?
jeffstar, I appreciate your points but I am pretty sure I was not asking you for why PSA can’t get this done. I really can’t understand why people feel it is necessary to come to Paul’s aid in answering questions. He is a big boy. He should be able to answer for himself. And it’s more than just me that wants this so it’s not just two guys.
jeffstar, I appreciate your points but I am pretty sure I was not asking you for why PSA can’t get this done. I really can’t understand why people feel it is necessary to come to Paul’s aid in answering questions. He is a big boy. He should be able to answer for himself. And it’s more than just me that wants this so it’s not just two guys.
I didn’t say you were only two that want it, just the two who may want it done even more than Paul. We speak up, out of great respect for Paul. We care about him, he does so much for the audiophile community. The daily posts, the Ask Paul series. Would you rather have him working, or reassuring you every three days. I was hoping that you would get that we have greater access to the head of a company, then most audio manufacturers. That could change, as I imagine being asked, kind of like a little kid tucking on their Dad’s coat, has to get old.
Audiophiles, myself included can be some of the most impatient people I know of. I used look out the window when I knew a new component was coming. It didn’t get here any faster.
Just cut him some slack. I’m sure as soon as he has an update he will post it.
jaiello, I would have to agree with Jeff. And I’m going to come to Paul’s defense as well, despite the fact (or actually because of the fact) that he puts out more content on a daily basis, and responds personally in a timely manner FAR beyond ANYONE I know, including clients, suppliers and family…full stop.
Read your post objectively and think about any other company whose products you own. Do you do this with them, and expect this sort of response from the owner/president/creator of the products?
"Okay I get that. It just seems that you have mentioned several times that you are emailing them for an update and then we don’t hear back from you. So you mentioned on Sept 29th that you were emailing them. It’s been at least 3 days since that email went out. Presumably they have responded in that time? Any wisdom as to where we are? "
If he knew, he would very likely let us know that day.
This is why, for example, Roon will not respond to ANYTHING until they know for sure something is coming out within 24 hours. They learned their lesson. People begin expecting some fairly amazing stuff. What do you do/did you do for a living? Imagine the tables turned. Just sayin’. The fact that Paul is perhaps a bit nuts with regard to customer communication, is, I think reason enough to cut him some slack.
Would you be so impatient if he had NOT shared any information in advance, as most manufacturers do?
I’m not defeatist of nature but I think it’s dead, for the MQA with roon and PS
This is really getting depressing - its been a while - I’m still waiting to pull the trigger (though to be honest I am also waiting for my family room to be painted, which somehow takes an insane amount of time).