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Integration with TIDAL Masters / MQA

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Nuno Vitorino

This would provide integration with an MQA software decoder or direct MQA playback of TIDAL Masters

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Activity Newest / Oldest

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Nuno Vitorino

Status changed to: Live

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Nuno Vitorino

I'm happy to report that MQA Software Decoder is now fully implemented and certified. This enables non-MQA DACs to play Masters up to 24/96 and MQA Renderer/Decoder DACs to play up to 24/384. The MQA Software Decoder is included in release 2.3 which will be available to install on the 6th February.


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Obsydian

Excellent news and thank you to the team


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Obsydian

Installed yesterday all fine and rather quick. Sounds great, only open questions where the MQA flags are very small and there is MQA, MQA Studio, also on some albums it seems the tracks are still caching as greyed but play shortly after pressing the track


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Lucarco

A really good integration


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Gianfranco

Great outcome!


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Obsydian

I have become OCD at checking for updates daily


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Mikey P

MQA support would be great!


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Santos

Looking forward for this new update!


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Santos

I hope is coming soon


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Paul N

Any updates for this yet?


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Nuno Vitorino

It's currently undergoing QA testing to be released on version 2.3


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Paul N

Awesome! Thanks.


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Obsydian

And I had just cancelled my Qobuz sub and keeping Tidal


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Chris H

Hi Nuno. Do we have a release date for 2.3 yet?
Many thanks.


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MikeT

I am confused by the proposed update. Will it do just the first unfold of the file which would allow any DAC to play it but not at the full unfold (giving an unspecified but lesser quality) or will it do a complete unfold so any DAC can play the file at maximum quality?


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Étienne Dubreui

That would be great as I could sell my Lumin mini and have one integrated unit


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ja.kub. sz

I too would like Tidal and MQA integration (full Innnuos unfolding), sooner then later. It's a big deal to some (not so much me), but if it was promised, it would be welcomed and kind of expected.


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Nuno Vitorino

Please note that this feature is about the MQA software decoder for innuOS. This is being developed now and it's not on innuOS 2.1.0. On innuOS 2.1.0, only passthrough mode is supported so only DACs with a built-in decoder will be able to play flac. This was tested with a simple Meridian Explorer2. Other DACs do require the first unfold to be done in software. If that's the case, the DAC will not support MQA in 2.1.0. Once this feature is implemented then all DAC will support playing MQA.


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Marco

Nuno I am using a fully MQA compliant Mytek Liberty and as I said some MQA albums on tidal play as MQA and some, such as moving pictures by Rush just play as 16/44 PCM. Same for two other users I am in contact with - we all have full MQA decoding DACs


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Nuno Vitorino

I'll contact you via Support to check via remote session.


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Marco

Thank you Nuno I have some free time Monday?


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danfoord

I use an NAD D 3045, which when playing Tidal masters with a direct USB connection from an iPad plays MQA, but when playing from my InnuOS MKII via USB it does not - am I missing something?


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Marco

Dear Nuno and team - at least 3 users on the facebook group who have MQA DACs (all different DACs) are experiencing the same issue - SOME MQA Tidal tracks play back correctlly in MQA but some do not and only play as 16/44 PCM. For example, not one of the Tidal Masters albums by the band Rush play back in MQA. I reported this when beta testing but this is still the case in the final 2.1 release. Could we please have an update on this issue? I even contacted Tidal to see if they could provide support but they said Innuos must provide support for this issue. As I said, at least 3 of us have this issue and we all have different MQA DACs, so the issue is likely not with our setup, but with Sense.


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Nuno Vitorino

Can you contact Support and provide the steps to reproduce? We'll test that and check what the issue is.


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Nuno Vitorino

Make sure the software volume control is set to 100% so that the output is bit-perfect to the DAC too.


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Marco

Yes have done so but was told you’re having trouble reproducing the fault. Can you confirm that the MQA albums by Rush play ok for you and in MQA at Innuos HQ as they only play in 16/44 PCM for the three of us with this issue on the Facebook group


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Nuno Vitorino

Hi, yes I tried with a Meridian Explorer2 and that came up with Green light showing it's indeed MQA.


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John Harris

This comment is hugely important for those NOT using software MQA decoding because they have a DAC that can handle all 3 unfolds (MQA Decoder). I was having trouble getting MQA passthrough to work and the culprit was the fact that I had my Innuos volume set to 95. I was only getting up to 48khz when it was like this. Immediately after raising volume to 100, My outboard DAC/Amp switched to MQA studio and I was getting the full 24/192. Thanks for calling this out Nuno!


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John Harris

This is a very important comment for those using outbound DAC's with full MQA decoding. I originally had my Innuos volume set at 95 and couldn't understand why my dac/amp wasn't getting MQA Studio for a specific Tidal Album that was available in MQA Studio 24/192. My Integrated Amp was only showing 48khz. I realized I still had my Innuos volume set to 95. I raised to 100 and it immediately switched and showed full MQA Studio on my dac. Thanks for calling this out Nuno!


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Obsydian

Using the latest 2.0.1 release with a Zenith MK2 and Naim Nova I only get Tidal rate 16/44, Sense app is showing the Master flag, am I doing something wrong or is the app not decoding, unfolding MQA media.


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Nuno Vitorino

We only provide passthrough at the moment, no software decoding. This is what is currently being implemented. Right now you need an MQA compatible DAC to unfold MQA.


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Tiago Lopes

Status changed to: Testing

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Tiago Lopes

Status changed to: Live

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Nuno Vitorino

Status changed to: Testing

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Claude Ostiguy

wonderful!


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Marco Cinnirella

Would greatly welcome an update on this


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John Hudson

I have consistently found that Qobuz streaming sounds better than MQA from Tidal
which to me sounds louder, flatter and less dynamic. That said I will continue to subscribe to both for best selection and the continual ability to make comparisons. I would certainly value its integration.


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bendee

MQA YESYESYES Please!


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Jeff Spagat

Yes... MQA. I can't purchase Innuos until then.


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R

Is your reason why you won't buy your server now because like Huw, you are currently using a system that uses MQA to listen to Tidal or other MQA sources, and you are therefore require MQA? Is your issue different? In Huw's case, there happens to gear that can take advantage of MQA. But that reason alone doesn't even justify NEEDING MQA.

Let's just suppose that about 95 percent of the comments about Qobuz vs Tidal MQA are correct and that there is a sonic advantage to Qobuz over Tidal's MQA. You can find such claims all over the Internet. I've heard such comments from audio resellers, and from consumers who have tried both. It's actually the prevailing attitude that Qobuz sounds superior. If that is true, even if you have already purchased a lifetime subscription to Tidal, when viewed up against the additional cost of a music server, the cost adding Qobuz if it improves sonic performance, seems justified, and I don't understand why the requirement for the sonically less superior Tidal/MQA always is a deal breaker. Why wouldn't you want to improve the sonics of the streaming music itself first and foremost.

You may have a very good reason that I don't understand, and if so, I'd be curious to know it. Have you purchased a ton of MQA music files? Perhaps you have committed your entire non-streaming digital library to MQA source material?

But, if you are streaming, then it becomes more difficult to understand why you would postpone getting a quiet music server, which immediately improves your digital playback? if you are streaming music via Roon, couldn't you still stream via Qubuz and Roon?

What am I not taking into account? There must be some logic to your refusal to buy your server now. I don't work for Innuos. I just wonder the reasoning for postponing your purchase? It's not as if you wouldn't have a huge library available of digital streaming available to you via Qobuz.

No, I don't work for Qobuz either. In all humility, I just want to understand your position. Can you enlighten me? I must be missing something.


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Ted Woods

It's easy: 1. because Quobuz is not available where I live and 2. because Quobuz's catalogue is missing many of the titles I find available on Tidal.


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Eduardo Gavin

Clear and simple.


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Eduardo Gavin

I have both. Let people choose what they prefer, instead of making a lecture on what is right for everybody, thanks.


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Huw

Late to comment but yes MQA is very important to me . I play my Zen Mini 3 through a Meridian 218 zone controller into Meridian DSP 5200 SE speakers. Both the 218 and the speakers re MQA enabled. I use ROON integration.


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Claude Ostiguy

If I understand, this integration will unfold MQA Masters file, and send it out to reclocker, MScaler and DAC…that is awesome, I look forward to this feature! Claude O.


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Staszor Pipaszor

Hi, is there any expected date of tidal integration? Is it 2022?


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Adrian Musson

I've been using Qobuz with my Innuos server buy intend to switch to tidal after using it in their recent trial offer. The only thing stopping me is that I've become used to the Qobuz integration with Innuos.....

Are we close to getting tidal integration?


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Martin Andrews

Just wondered if there is a ETA for the Tidal integration as it’s been 5 months.


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bendee

Just splashed out a small fortune on a Zenith mk3 and find I can only stream Tidal at 44.1 so this integration is essential.


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mitcho

looking forward to this. Quobuz is not available to a lot of owners including myself.


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Pedro Peralta

Espero que o mais brevemente possível o meu ZENmini MK3 esteja pronto para tal. Obrigado


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Daynie

First of all: Thank you for Innuos 2.xx. The device is so much better now. I am happy that there is no need to use the squeezebox or iPeng app anymore.
Most of DACs don't come with MQA, so I strongly appreciate a software first pass for Tidal just like apple devices do. I'm using the internal DAC of my Devialet D200 and it can play hires by using an iPhone directly with Tidal master. Would be great if my ZEN mk2 could do so either without the need of an external MQA-DAC.
Thank you.


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Nuno Vitorino

Status changed to: In Progress

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Andreas Trapp

What about other streaming services?


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Andreas Trapp

First tidal integration than MQA but definitely the MQA should come sooner or later


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Mike Malec

Cannot play Hi Rez files on Tidal . 44 is the highest . Qobuz will play HiRez


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Nuno Vitorino

Merged with: Tidal Hirez

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Nuno Vitorino

Merged with: Include MQA first unfold.

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Irwin Winkler

Will purchase a Zen Mk3 when this feature is available.


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Humberto Bravo

Definitely MQA and Tidal Connect


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Siteri Sándor

I would appreciate more to integrate HQplayer as a NAA. People with non oversampling dacs like me eould appreciate too. Like a Roon player.

As for MQA integration: I would be happy, because on second hand market, my Innous device would be more valuable.


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James Wright

Not interested in MQA at all. CD quality streaming is sufficient for me. However Tidal Connect integration is what i really want to see. The ability to use the Tidal App to control Tidal via Innuos is of more use to me.


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Helder Goodlife

Fully agree! I have exactly the same need.


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ja_kub_sz

Agreed, I am still not terribly familiar with Tidals MQA tracks, but this is what I'm really looking forward to, and have purchased a MQA DAC.

I would FIRST want Tidal integration, then SECOND MQA support.

But, sooner is always better then later.


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Theodore Woods/Chadjitheodorou

Although not a huge fan, I'd rather have MQA sooner rather than later...


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Christian Schwanekamp

This would be the first time to use the High Resolution Streaming Option with my ZEN Server. Waiting hard for it. And of course, we pay extra for MQA, so I would like to use it. 😉👍👍👍


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Tommaso Perissinotto

Looking forward to it


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Claude Ostiguy

I believe MQA integration is a good step forward, decoding internally would allow my Chord M Scaler and Hugo TT2 to contribute to the quality of the processing. Thank you


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Mike Malec

I have had this problem since day one with my Zen mini and your app. Very disappointing since I am paying for HiRez and cannot use it .


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Nuno Vitorino

Merged with: Full Tidal Masters and MQA support please

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Marco Cinnirella

I read recently you were having second thoughts about eventually providing support for Tidal Masters and MQA. I would like to strongly request that you reconsider, and that you do committ to this as part of your road map. MANY competing brands offer support for Tidal Masters and MQA, including Arcam, Audiolab, Aurender, Bluesound, Cambridge Audio, Cocktail Audio, Lumin, Matrix Audio, Moon, NAD, Nova Fidelity and many others. You say that MQA is controversial but this does not stop Tidal having more subscribers than Qobuz. Nuno I stuck with Innuos because in email and forum correspondence with me you told me full Tidal Masters/MQA support was on the roadmap, but now it seems like you are no longer committed to this?


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Tinear1

Will this fix the issue with everything being passed to my DAC at 44.1k no matter the native higher resolution file?


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Marco Cinnirella

why not just pass through MQA untouched bit perfect rather than provide a software decoder? Or is a software decoder needed to pass through Tidal MQA streams intact to a DAC ? Is the reluctance to do this because you would need some kind of MQA licence/approval from MQA? Please explain why you changed the status from "planned" to "under review" ? This seems like a change from what was promised originally.


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Nuno Vitorino

Status changed to: Under review

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Nuno Vitorino

Status changed to: In Progress