Is it possible to get MQA digital output by adding an adapter board to a MQA DAC?

It seems that I'm the only one who has the real listening experience on MQA digital output so far. Just hope other community members can share the similar experiences.

Ian
Tidal has many tracks from the same master source in both formats, PCM and MQA. In example, Diana Krall ‘s Temptation is available as PCM and as 96 kHz MQA, so one can easily compare. I did and found that MQA sounds a little better.

However, most MQA tracks are differently mastered to “emphasize” MQA advantage and actual difference is obscured. Nevertheless, whenever track is available as MQA, that is what I prefer to listen.
 
...curious about Markw4's opinion on MQA.

For the record, I haven't heard MQA decoded. If I had a Topping D90 MQA version, presumably the shortcomings of D90 would still color the sound. Why bother with MQA in that case, is the way I see it.

IIRC I did hear an MQA file that wasn't decoded. IIUC undecoded MQA files are supposed to sound like a normal CD? Again IIRC, the file sounded worse than a normal CD. If it matters I could try to find the file and play it again to refresh my memory.
 
I was curious how you feel about completely decoded (unfolded) MQA because you referred to a book about an exotic form of spectral analysis in another thread. The MQA people are also into non-standard spectral analyses and matching non-standard anti-aliasing and reconstruction filters.
 
Noticed that. They seem to be trying to tie all sorts of science together make their invention work, and to justify it in the marketplace. However, if MQA doesn't sound right undecoded then they should say some people may notice that. Have to see what it sounds like decoded on a really good dac before making a judgment about whether it does what they claim in terms of perceptually equaling hi res.
 
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Tidal has many tracks from the same master source in both formats, PCM and MQA. In example, Diana Krall ‘s Temptation is available as PCM and as 96 kHz MQA, so one can easily compare. I did and found that MQA sounds a little better.

However, most MQA tracks are differently mastered to “emphasize” MQA advantage and actual difference is obscured. Nevertheless, whenever track is available as MQA, that is what I prefer to listen.
If your DAC has an apodizing setting, when you listen to high sample rate PCM, do you usually prefer the apodizing or the steep roll-off setting?

The reason I'm asking is that an apodizing filter makes the impulse response and especially the preringing shorter, like MQA but less drastically. That's assuming the recording has not been apodized during mastering, otherwise an apodizing filter on the playback side only makes the impulse response longer.
 
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If it matters I could try to find the file and play it again to refresh my memory.
No need to look for somewhere buried MQA sample. 2L label offers test tracks in various formats, including 352.8 kHz/24, DSD 256 and MQA original resolution (whatever that means), ready for comparison. Links open web player, but player has context menu with download option.

2L test tracks

IMO, there is no point to evaluate MQA without proper decompression. Tidal has one month free trial. Their application will perform 1st MQA decoding step, resulting with 96 kHz/24 PCM that can be reproduced with any DAC. My impression that MQA sounds a little better than CD is based on listening with MQA capable DAC, that does full MQA decoding.

I accept that MQA is only smart lossy compression algorithm + marketing game, but Tidal with MQA makes affordable Hi-Res source with large music selection. I would prefer Qobuz, but it isn’t available in my country.
 
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I have the same question to you: if applicable, do you prefer the apodizing setting or a steep setting when playing back high sample rate PCM?
I think I’m in the same boat with you, not noticing much difference between filters. 🙂
My DAC (Gustard X16) has only 3 filters available and apodizing is not among them. For what is worth, I prefer L fast filter for regular CD format.
 
It seems that I'm the only one who has the real listening experience on MQA digital output so far. Just hope other community members can share the similar experiences.

Ian
I am using Matrix X-Sabre Pro MQA with Windows PC(some modifications for audio) and Tidal MQA sounds better than nonMQA(I have also comparison to DSD files). Lately I started to make Raspberry music server and by USB, MQA files are decoded properly(but not sounding so good as from PC), but when I use i2s/HDMi connection (using Aliexpress R19 card for test purposles only), there is no MQA. What is your hardware solution for MQA, to use i2s/HDMi connection to DAC, with Volumio/Moode?

Greetings from Poland,
Wojtek