Roon/Tidal - MQA still available?

Music
1

I use Roon w. Tidal, over DCS Vivaldi.

My understanding was that Tidal discontinued MQA in 2024 and replaced it with HiRes FLAC, maximum 192kHz/24bit. However, when i stream music from my Roon library with 352.8kHz/24bit MQA, MQA still shows on my Network unit and my DAC shows 352.8kHz.

Does this mean that files originally coded in MQA are still available in full resolution, or am I missing something here?

2

Tidal did not replace MQA in 2024. They started the replacement then. It was not a simple matter of pressing a button. Cases of MQA titles remaining continue ( sourced from an AI report). The process of replacing huge numbers of tracks may take a long time as replacements may need to be requested from the record labels.

It might help establish if the recording in question is still,available as MQA if you would kindly identify the recording. Tidal users here ( not me) can then see if they can replicate your experience and report back.

I can only conclude that if your Roon library still supplies some MQA tracks from Tidal then this state of affairs should eventually correct itself as Tidal works through their catalogue ( presumably subject to replacements being available).

3

Thanks Pete,
I have not tried to test them all, but I believe pretty much all of the albums from the Norwegian label 2L are 352.8/24 MQA. Patricia Barber´s albums Higher and Clique also.

4

Most of the Tidal files in MQA that I had tagged over the years have been replaced by non MQA versions. Every time one of the remaining MQA versions pops up I get a big smile on my face. A reminder of the best sound my system my provided.

5

AFAIK all of 2L albums are MQA productions and no other versions were released. So there may not be straight versions available to be replaced with high-res FLAC files.

2L were major supporters of MQA.

1 Like
6

Same for Qobuz. Just checked the 2L production ‘Yule’ by Trio Mediaeval. It’s 44.1kHz MQA, expanding to 352.8kHz

7

There were a few 2L recordings that were set to Qobuz apparently erroneously with MQA encoding some time ago and were transferred to their server. Qobuz USA affirmed that they do not support MQA and would remove these. It seems that they remain however and seem to have been added to as my search shows release dates to 2025 ( MQA?). My UK subscription shows many.

It is too late in the evening for me to play one but I may check tomorrow to see how they shape up technically. Presumably those released after 2022 should not be MQA as they postdate MQA’s demise.

8

Q. Roon/Tidal - MQA still avalable ?

A. Yes and also on Qobuz.

  1. 2L records have remastered their entire catalogue to DXD. Old recordings are upsampled, recent are DXD originals. Mentions of MQA are absent on their website.
  2. 352.8 is DXD ( 44.1 x 8). As both enquires cite tracks opening as this I am concluding that the availability may be limited to 2L. I have no evidence of any other labels persuing this path.
  3. MQA and its IP were purchased by Lenbrook in 2022. However some 2L releases sent to Qobuz ( and to Tidal if confirmed) date from later yet are MQA. No doubt there is some kind of arrangement. If not decoded they are 24/44.1 files. Qobuz defines hi-res by bit depth not sample rate so they are listed with the yellow hi-res logo ( there are 2L albums listed without this but I guess this an administrative error on Qobuz’ part).
9

I have loads of lower resolution files, still showing up as MQA. However, on 352.8/24, besides 2L, I only have two Patricia Barber albums: Higher and Clique.

10

The Barber albums date from 1019 or 2021. So they may be replaced by Tidal in due course. However I expect that they will now attract few streams so Tidal may just let them lie ( as it were). Tidal may not even be aware of the MQA encoding. So cross your fingers :wink:.