Tidal MQA optical out to Chord Qutest

Answered
Madhana

Hi,

I recently bought a Bluesound Node 2i, I like it and I'm getting grips with it!

I mainly use it as a streamer and it is connected to a Chord Qutest via an optical cable and the Qutest is connected to a Naim Supernait 2 using 2 RCA to 4 PIN DIN (Naim) cable. I have a Tidal subscription and trying to compare the Node 2i's builtin DAC with the Qutest. I'm able to play MQA tracks from Tidal but the Qutest always seems to get a 16 bit/44.1 KHz signal in its optical port (red LED through the viewing port). I read in this forum that Node 2i does the first unfold of the MQA file to output a 24 bit/96 Khz PCM signal via its optical output to a 'MQA compliant' DAC. So I'm expecting a 24 bit/96 KHz signal reaching the Qutest, not the 16 bit/44.1 KHz signal which I believe is CD quality.

Can someone please explain whatever happening here is expected? I understand the Node 2i's builtin DAC does the full MQA handling at 24 bit/192 KHz. But if the optical output is only 16 bit/44.1 KHz, I may not be comparing an apple with an apple!

I've enabled 'MQA external DAC' in the Bluesound app. Is there anything I need to do in the Node 2i side (or in the Qutest side)?

Thank in advance!

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Comments

4 comments

Date Votes
  • Seppi Evans
    Hi-Res
    • Edited

    As far as I know the Chord Qutest does not support MQA (unless there has been an updated version) so you would not enable “MQA external DAC”

    The Optical and Coaxial outputs are up to 24/192, really depends on what the source is (ignoring MQA)

    Edit, you may want to download some test files and pop them on a USB memory stick. http://www.2l.no/hires/

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  • Madhana

    Seppi Evans Thank you for your comment.

    After disabling MQA external DAC in the Bluesound app, Qutest seems to be getting a higher bit rate stream, either 88.2 or 96 (I can't say it for certain as the LED is between yellow and solid green, solid green being 96 KHz), not 44.1 KHz. But in this setting the sound quality isn't as good as the quality when MQA external DAC is turned on! Is it possible the Qutest is indeed doing the full MQA processing?! In other words, what is the difference between the output through the Optical and Coaxial with MQA external DAC turned on and without? It is confusing if the Qutest is not MQA compliant, I wouldn't expect it to produce any sound with MQA external DAC turned on.

    Thank you for the hi-res link - I'll try these files later today and update here.

     

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  • Seppi Evans
    Hi-Res
    • Edited

    With MQA external DAC on, no rendering is done at all by the Bluesound Player. FLAC MQA streams can still be decoded by a non MQA DAC but your mileage may vary.

     

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

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  • Sam R.

    Perhaps the content you are playing is in 16/44.1? MQA means as close to original as possible, and many records were originally recorded at 16/44.1. I believe the whole of The Strokes discog was recorded at 16/44.1 (maybe with the exception of their newest album). 

    I'm with Seppi on MQA to non-MQA DACs. Behavior is unpredictable, so hard to draw any conclusions from that test. 

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