HFH21 wrote:

You're right.  MQA is funded and handled by Lenbrook/Bluesound.   The MQA stream is in addition to FLAC, rather than in place of it as was the case with Tidal. The same will be true when we launch a 24-bit stream. Lenbrook may want to do an MQA version, but we'll still do a 'normal' version as well. 

That probably won't be for a while, though, as very little of what we play is available in any format better than 16-bit/44.1k.  We won't adjust our playlist to favor the random-ish assortment of high resolution files that are available, and it doesn't make sense to offer a "high resolution" stream that's mostly upsampled.  Besides, 16/44.1 can sound damn good if you handle it right.

 Gdokes wrote:
I'd love to think that those fees were always covered by Bluesound themselves and not RP. 
I can't imagine  why RP would have agreed to anything different. MQA was never really going to help "sell" an already very well established RP, however the inclusion of a RP widget in BluOS certainly helps sell Bluesound devices, and if Lenbrook thought that MQA was some sort of  differentiating feature that helped sell their hardware, then it would have been in their best interest to pay whatever MQA licensing fees were involved. 
For RP the issue would come down to encoding their stream, and I'm guessing that was occurring through some sort of proxy server batch encoder funded by Bluesound, as that stream is unique to their devices. Whether or not there remains any grander plan for RP to use MQA in some forthcoming 24-bit stream on Bluesound or otherwise I'm sure is very much in doubt at this juncture, and nobody (not even Bluesound) would be wise to invest anything in it until such time as MQA's likelihood of survival is made clearer. 
The Insolvency Practitioner's plans moving forward are due 8 weeks from the April 3rd initial filing, though they may not be released to the public that quickly.

 kurtster wrote:

I have the Bluesound Node streamer and have been listening to RP and Tidal MQA over the family room Hi-Fi rig.  These versions do seem to sound better, but hard core audio people have hopped on the bandwagon to dump MQA since it has been shown to be a lossy compression.  The MQA people essentially lied about the benefits of their product.  Tidal is dumping MQA in favor of FLACC.  I'm wondering if RP could do the same and perhaps save money on the MQA licensing fees?

 sunybuny wrote: 
Hi.  MQA is a proprietary method of compressing music down to smaller file sizes to use less bandwidth for things like streaming services.  It is licensed and regulated with fees at every possible point for the equipment and playback as well.  A listener may or may not hear the benefits it is supposed to provide.  That depends on your playback equipment , your actual hearing abilities as well as personal preferences (mastering and EQ's).

I haven't heard anything using it so I can't say.  I will say that if you are concerned about higher resolution audio not available by listening to CD's then buying the hi rez files of the songs is going to be the better way to go.  That and you own the music as opposed to renting it.

The wiki ...

 sunybuny wrote:
MQA is selling a "higher compression" of "higher quality" audio... reducing the size to store and transport music.  The premise of the site is that digital music lacks "audiophile" quality.

The problem (I'm guessing) with their offering is that those delivering content need to have it built into their sending and receiving apps...and it looks like they only have a few takers.  Tidal offers it for $10/month extra, with the primary benefit being file sizes ~6X their regular plan.

 ScottFromWyoming wrote:
Thanks Scott.  But what I'm reading an article about it and still can't understand 'what does it do'?

Not unexpected and no great loss to the audio world!

Translated for Americans ;-) Audiophile tech company MQA has declared bankruptcy similar to a Chapter 11.

The appointed administrators now have 8 weeks to submit a plan to creditors, employees, etc...