MQA Playback with Node 2i and a non-MQA External DAC?

Answered

RedmondBill

• December 08, 2020 01:39

I was confused after reading this:

https://support1.bluesound.com/hc/en-us/articles/115006191908-Why-Isn-t-My-External-DAC-Playing-MQA-

If I have Tidal HiFi, and am using Tidal Connect to my Node 2i -- I know the Node's analog output will have "full MQA playback."

I know if I turn on "MQA External DAC" and feed coax/optical to an external DAC capable of full MQA support, I'll also get "full MQA playback."  Please correct me if this is wrong.

But -- if I am connecting the Node to an external DAC that is NOT capable of MQA decoding, via coax or optical -- is it possible at all to get "full MQA playback?"  Such as, does the Node 2i (with "MQA External DAC" turned off) still performs the Tidal unfolds, and output a decoded signal over the digital output?

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• Official comment

  

  Tony W.

  Product Support Manager

  • December 08, 2020 14:51

  But -- if I am connecting the Node to an external DAC that is NOT capable of MQA decoding, via coax or optical -- is it possible at all to get "full MQA playback?"  Such as, does the Node 2i (with "MQA External DAC" turned off) still performs the Tidal unfolds, and output a decoded signal over the digital output?

  Your Bluesound NODE will decode MQA on a single unfolding of up to 24/96 on an external DAC that does not support TIDAL. So - you will be able to play TIDAL content. Depending on the content though you will max out at 24/48 or 24/96 at best.

  It will still sound great though
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  garthg

  • January 08, 2021 03:47

  What is 24/48 and 24/96?  What's the best?  Can you explain what that is?

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  Tony W.

  Product Support Manager

  • January 08, 2021 13:45

  Hi Garth

  www.mqa.co.uk does a great job of explaining this for you

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  garthg

  • January 08, 2021 20:30

  Thanks, it appears my MHDT DAC is not MQA certified, so I think I'm in the same boat as the OP.

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  shay

  • January 18, 2021 17:36

  So if my extrnal dac is not MQA. it make a difference if i choose in bluesound MQA via coxcial?

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  Victor Lopatin

  • October 18, 2021 11:28

  I connect MQA certified external DAC Topping E50 to my Bluesound Note (2021) using Optical cable in accordance with: https://support1.bluesound.com/hc/en-us/articles/115006191908-Why-Isn-t-My-External-DAC-Playing-MQA-

  But E50 do not receive MQA encoded signal from the Node.

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  Victor Lopatin

  • October 18, 2021 13:05

  I receive OFS and original sampling rate on my E50 connected to MacBook with same Optical cable. When I play MQA file on the Node with connected with optical cable E50, E50 shows original sampling rate with PCM indicator, if I pause the file and switch Node to external MQA DAC mode, then, when I resume playing the file, E50 shows OFS and original sampling rate. But next song, E50 shows half the sampling rate and no MQA related indicators. In BlueOS app  MQA indicator also disappears!

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