We have engaged in a good deal of discussion about MQA. But there have only been a few posts about the sound of MQA files - which have been very interesting.
So, which MQA files sound good, which bad, which just different? Which have particularly impressed you?
I think the Doors albums, Jethro Tull, and Neko Case are all enjoyable. But I havenât done direct comparisons.
The Pretenders first album, comparing âPreciousâ the 16/44 is clearly superior, to the point that the MQA version may be a corrupted file.
But one of the best sounding albums on Tidal, that I listen to is the 16/44 of Richard Thompsonâs âAcoustic Classicsâ, just vocals and guitar. It is the rare album where you could believe you were listening to him in a large club, with him playing through microphones. I highly recommend it.
Jeff: +1 - the Thompson CD is awesome. Especially on the DMP. But thatâs for the archaic-hardware-music-format forum ; )
Great-sounding jazz MQA/Masters albums on TIDAL HiFi:
The Modern Jazz Quartet - European Concert, Vol. 1
The Modern Jazz Quartet - European Concert, Vol. 2
The Modern Jazz Quartet - Third Stream Music
Duke Ellington & His Orchestra - Afro Bossa
Brad Mehldau - Blues and Ballads
Brad Mehldau - 10 Years Solo Live
Great-sounding blues MQA/Masters albums on TIDAL HiFi:
Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee - Live at the New Penelope Cafe (Remastered)
Eric Bibb - Migration Blues
There is a spreadsheet available with tidal/mqa albums, not up to date but it can help orientate:
Bootzilla, I think it may have been you posted about the âMigration Bluesâ album, previously.
I have been listening too it ever since, thanks for that. I like the MJQ European concerts, but late at night I could do without the introductions, you are right about the sound though. And the Brad Mehldau files.
I will check out the Sonny Terry album. We may have similar tastes in jazz and blues.
Another good one is John Coltrane âColtrane Plays The Bluesâ.
And we can add Jeff Tweedy " Together At Last"
Bootzilla saidNow you're talking Boot!! Without a doubt, Brad Mehldau is my favorite current jazz artist. I love pretty much everything he's done. Ok, maybe Modern Music is a stretch for me, but it's growing on me. ;)Great-sounding jazz MQA/Masters albums on TIDAL HiFi:
Brad Mehldau - Blues and Ballads
Brad Mehldau - 10 Years Solo Live
I just did a side by side comparison on Blues and Ballads Nonesuch 24/96 download (which is fantastic, BTW), the MQA version, and the Tidal 16/44.1 version. They were pretty much identical to my ears. Thatâs not a bad thing, IMO. Likewise I didnât hear much difference between the MQA 24/44 and the non MQA Tidal 24/44 in 10 Years Solo Live - the few cuts I auditioned, anyway. I think my system is fairly resolving, but the my ears resolving power is up to debate, I guess! I did notice more of a difference in MQA Bowie Ziggy Stardust, which I though was fantastic and more palpable percussion and felt a little more precise in itâs imaging. Not by a big margin, however. I have noticed that, for me, I find the biggest difference in MQA, if at all, in percussion and imaging, FWIW. I like it, in general, but like I said, itâs not a big deal, honestly.
And @jeffstar, youâre totally right about the MQA version of The Pretendersâ âPreciousâ. It sounds horrid! The whole album isnât great, but Precious is the worst. Something is definitely amiss on that one.
This is totally off topic here, but I purchased the 15 LP set of 10 Years Solo Live and, I must say, itâs not as enjoyable as the Tidal streaming file, which was a little bit of a disappointment. I found the vinyl to be slightly noisy and lacking in dynamics compared to the digital. Thatâs in contrast to Mehldau and Chris Thileâs wonderful collaboration, also put out on Nonesuch, that was an amazing vinyl release but the CD was almost unlistenable. Way too shrill for my taste. Thought Iâd throw that out there.
Edit: The MQA version of the MJQ European Concert Vol. 1 is definitely an improvement over the non-MQA. Milt Jacksonâs tones have more bite in the MQA version in addition to better shimmer in the cymbals. Great recording!
EDIT: Ignore! Realized I wasnât paying attention to whether something was MQA or not. My bad!
EDIT TWO: I have a question for anyone who feels like checking - When I play the MQA of the Fagen tune âI.G.Y.â It ALWAYS starts the same way - the first few seconds have what sounds like identical âwobblesâ and a small skip.
Iâve updated to mControlHD 2.3.1, and no change. Is it in the file â or somewhere else? Thanks!
âWhen I play the MQA of the Fagen tune âI.G.Y.â It ALWAYS starts the same way â the first few seconds have what sounds like identical âwobblesâ and a small skip.â
Thatâs also what Iâm hearing, has to be a corrupt file. Fortunately corrupted tidal mqa files are very rare 
Another nice one
I didnât notice it, went straight into the song. Just listened again, heard the pop.Didnât notice the wobbles, but am not in listening seat, but in corner on the desktop, balance skewed to the right.
âMagic and Lossâ is one of Louâs lesser known masterpieces. Well recorded, later in his career he cared about sound quality. For content and live sound âAnimal Serenadeâ is excellent. Antony does a great vocal on âCandy Saysâ and the cello player, whose name I would have to copy off the case does a hot solo. My favorite live Lou.
âTake No Prisonersâ deserves at least one listen, it is Louâs comedy album. His story of âWalk On The Wild Sideâ is FUNNY!
Lou Reed is one of those artists (also Dylan) I wish I got more enjoyment from. That includes Velvet Underground (who I really dislike). I know many people love his work but try as I might, I just donât like it much. 
wijber - thanks for checking that. Not sure if we know that the MQA file is corrupt, vs. the copy of the file on Tidal, or something else. Also, dunno how you know that âcorrupted tidal mqa files are very rareâ?
Re: Lou Reed, there are songs of his that have just risen above the vast majority of pop and rock. One is âDirty Blvd.â - as good of a hardcore New York song as youâll find, musically and lyrically (in the rock vein):
Pedro lives out of the Wilshire Hotel
he looks out a window without glass
The walls are made of cardboard, newspapers on his feet
his father beats him 'cause heâs too tired to beg
Heâs got 9 brothers and sisters
theyâre brought up on their knees
itâs hard to run when a coat hanger beats you on the thighs
Pedro dreams of being older and killing the old man
but thatâs a slim chance heâs going to the boulevard
Heâs going to end up, on the dirty boulevard
heâs going out, to the dirty boulevard
Heâs going down, to the dirty boulevard
This room cost 2, 000 dollars a month
you can believe it man itâs true
somewhere a landlordâs laughing till he wets his pants
No one dreams of being a doctor or a lawyer or anything
they dream of dealing on the dirty boulevard
Give me your hungry, your tired your poor Iâll piss on 'em
thatâs what the Statue of Bigotry says
Your poor huddled masses, letâs club 'em to death
and get it over with and just dump 'em on the boulevard
Get 'em out, on the dirty boulevard
going out, to the dirty boulevard
Heâs going down, on the dirty boulevard
going out
Outside itâs a bright night
thereâs an opera at Lincoln Center
movie stars arrive by limousine
The klieg lights shoot up over the skyline of Manhattan
but the lights are out on the Mean Streets
A small kid stands by the Lincoln Tunnel
heâs selling plastic roses for a buck
The trafficâs backed up to 39th street
the TV whores are calling the cops out for a suck
And back at the Wilshire, Pedro sits there dreaming
heâs found a book on magic in a garbage can
He looks at the pictures and stares up at the cracked ceiling
"At the count of 3" he says, âI hope I can disappearâ
And fly fly away, from this dirty boulevard
I want to fly, from dirty boulevard
I want to fly, from dirty boulevard
I want to fly-fly-fly-fly, from dirty boulevard
I want to fly away
I want to fly
Fly, fly away
I want to fly
Fly-fly away (Fly a-)
fly-fly-fly (-way, ooohhhâŚ)
Fly-fly away (I want to fly-fly away)
fly away (I want to fly, wow-woh, no, fly away)
amgradmd saidLou Reed is one of those artists (also Dylan) I wish I got more enjoyment from. That includes Velvet Underground (who I really dislike). I know many people love his work but try as I might, I just donât like it much.
badbeef saidAlso, dunno how you know that âcorrupted tidal mqa files are very rareâ?
I referred to Lou Reed because I was fascinated by the track âMagician - Internallyâ which remembered me to my late lover. Four years ago she died after a chronic illness. Played this song on the funeral, lyrics reflecting reality.
âŚincredibly sad. Lou Reed is one of those artists that can really touch people. The Blue Mask is the Lou Reed record that has that power for me.
Bob Dylan as a performer is not for everyone. I even listen to his Christmas album once a year, because I know it was done with all profits going to charity.
But, as a songwriter Bob Dylan is got to be considered one of the top ten songwriters of our generation. And for me, no band did a better job of covering Dylan songs than the Jerry Garcia Band and the Dead. If you are âsmhâ ing go take a look at the songs Dylan has written. If you liked the Bryds, or Manfred Mann, both had big hits with Dylan songs. âKnocking On Heavenâs Doorâ or âSimple Twist Of Fateâ are great songs. He is the most prolific writer of our time. And quality not just quantity.
Hey Beef, how about âPale Blue Eyesâ? It is one of my favorite songs. Lou wrote about the dark side of life, a preppy college kid was never going to be able to relate to " Heroin" or âIâm Waiting For The Manâ. He also wrote some very beautiful songs. If you have Tidal check out " Tell It To Your Heart" or âSunday Morningâ on the album Animal Serenade.
We all have different tastes, and thatâs fine. I am not a person who listens to much classical, but I recognize that Bach was a talented guy. I do have Glenn Gouldâs complete Goldberg Variations, which I enjoy.
jeffstarr said I recognize that Bach was a talented guy.:)
jeffstarr saidYes, as a performing Artist (i.e., listening to his songs/music, performed by him), I can barely get through a whole song (especially the ones that tend to be revered), let alone a whole album.Bob Dylan as a performer is not for everyoneâŚBut, as a songwriter Bob Dylan is got to be considered one of the top ten songwriters of our generationâŚ
A âtalented guyâ, sure.
To each his own.
Regards.