There are two other factors to consider here. The first is technological and involves filtering philosophies. As background to this article I spoke to a number of different manufacturers about their implementation and understanding of the MQA process. My conversation with Thierry Heeb at CH Precision was, not surprisingly, particularly interesting. During our discussion, we exchanged subjective versus theoretical views on MQA replay and I suggested that in some ways, the spectral shift in MQA reminded me of XRCD, just without the murky roundness and sluggish timing that afflicted the JVC discs. Heeb pointed out that there are certain common theoretical factors underpinning the two different formats. Further, there is a significant similarity in approach to the filters used by the MQA encoding and the CH Precision spline filters employed by the D1.5 for decoding. This technological congruence might well play into just how well the D1.5 replays MQA discs – and might also suggest/explain greater variation with other players and other filter constructs.
Secondly, I’ve referred several times, to the consistent shift in spectral balance, weight and overall warmth that’s evident when playing MQA discs. Once familiar with that balance shift, it was easy to adjust the speaker position to accommodate the extra weight and substance, converting it to energy and presence, lifting the performance another notch. Am I suggesting you nudge your speakers every time you play an MQA disc, or optimise their position for MQA replay – to the detriment of standard CD? Of course not. But being aware of the issue might well suggest a small, overall adjustment, in the same way that system attributes can be balanced between analogue and digital sources. Either way, if you find the increasing number of MQA discs sounding dull, sluggish or shut-in, it’s a point worth considering.
Is the MQA advantage sufficient to make me ditch an existing machine and buy a new one? Not unless that existing machine needs changing anyway. But, is it big enough to make me take an upgrade option to an existing machine seriously? Or opt for an MQA encoded disc over the standard version? Definitely.
It has been almost impossible to isolate the influence of MQA from other, material/mechanical factors, such as the photo-polymer interface and the alloy used for the pit layer itself. Some (possibly even all) of these differences might be down to additional care taken in the mastering and production of these premium discs – not always a given. But discs carrying MQA encoding do deliver consistently enjoyable results. Normal caveats apply – especially the ones around the fact that these results reflect a limited number of discs and a single machine replaying them – but along with the UHQCD innovations with which it is so often paired, MQA contributes to a musically significant and welcome lift when it comes to CD replay. Not exactly a new dawn, but definitely a new lease on life!
For any of you who will be in Munich for the High-End Show and want to hear what I’ve been hearing, CH Precision has invited me to make a series of multi format presentations, comparing results across various vinyl and digital discs on a D1.5-based system. I’ll be bringing along some of the examples mentioned here, so you can reach your own conclusions – both about the differences themselves and the way I’ve described them. There’s nothing quite like a reality check…
