How does it work in practice?
Contents
The software on the Volumio Primo is used to select and play tracks. The Primo cannot read MQA, so if MQA is offered, it will play the track in CD quality. The Primo is capable to play FLAC at the quality offered. In the Volumio software, Tidal has an ‘M’ next to a track to indicate high res, so that gives no indication of the actual format.
There are two albums we can use to show that one is MQA and the other FLAC, at the time of writing of this article at least:
- Rush – Clockwork Angels
- Joep Beving – Henosis
There are three versions of the Rush album, all marked MAX. For one album, the bitrate is different, but presumably this is a surround mix.
For reference, the same album is selected at competitor Qobuz, which we know offers all streams in FLAC.
Playback of the Rush album on the Volumio Primo shows that using Qobuz is in 24 bit, 96Khz and using Tidal in 16 bit, 44.1 Khz. This means that Tidal offers this album as a MQA stream.
The Joep Beving album shows that both Qobuz and Tidal playback in a 24 bit, 44.1 Khz stream. Your author knows that this album was previously offered in MQA. In the case of the Joep Beving album, the MQA file seems to have been replaced by a FLAC file. Whether this is an action by Tidal, or a choice by the record label, we do not know.
Conclusion
Tidal scores no karma points with the Alpha Audio editors in the roll out of this change to the HiFi Plus subscription. It is obscure what you will be offered when selecting a MAX track and what the plan is going forward. Will this situation continue? Is there a point in time when all high res content will (also) be offered as FLAC? As a owner of a streamer or a DAC without MQA support, should you consider upgrading your Tidal subscription? If you have consciously invested in a DAC that supports MQA, will you still be able to choose MQA to be offered?
Mind you, this is not a discussion about the pros or cons of MQA. This is about how, as a subscriber to Tidal, you know what you will get for your subscription. We have asked Tidal for clarification. Should that be answered, we will post a follow-up article.
