PR Project] Listening to ani-songs in the rumored music format "MQA!　Part 2: What do you need to enjoy "MQA"? (Equipment)

Navigator：Kenji Nomura

Kenji Nomura is an AV writer active in a wide range of genres, including headphones. He has a deep knowledge of high-resolution sound sources, and is a supervisor for an ani-song label. He also appears regularly as an advisor in the "KAIUN Hi-Res" corner of TBS TV's Kaiun Ongakudo.

Interviewer: Takeshi Kamata

Chief editor of Akiba Research Institute. He is also the editor-in-chief of the sister site "Price.com". He has a deep knowledge of PCs, home appliances, and AV devices, but for some reason he is also an anime fan, watching more than 100 anime titles a year.

The situation surrounding "MQA" is expanding in terms of both playback devices and distribution.

Kamada: In the last issue, we talked a lot about the "MQA" codec. In the process, we were able to understand the merit of MQA, which is that the file size is small even though it is a solid high-resolution audio format. This time, I would like to ask you what kind of equipment is needed to enjoy MQA.

Nomura As I mentioned last time, in order to listen to MQA as a high-resolution audio source, you need to have the appropriate equipment, but in fact, you can listen to MQA as a music CD without any modification. That is the interesting point of MQA. The MQA codec files currently available on e-onkyo music are recognized as 48kHz/24-bit "FLAC" format by the software of the player that plays them, so as long as the player can play FLAC, they can be played as is. However, of course, in this case, the sound quality is only in the music CD class. If you want to listen to MQA files as a high-resolution sound source with better sound, you need to prepare compatible playback software or hardware.

Kamada: I see. So it is possible to play back CD-level FLAC files on ordinary high-resolution players. Then, what is the current status of MQA-compatible players for high-resolution sound sources?

Nomura: There is still very little hardware that supports MQA, and as of now (as of September 2017), the main USB-DAC products for PCs are sold by MERIDIAN and MYTEK in the UK, which developed MQA. However, the MQA codec is not that special, and whether the player side supports MQA is purely a matter for the licensee, so it should be possible to support it through software updates, etc. Therefore, I believe that the number of MQA-compatible products will increase in the future.
On the other hand, today's high-resolution playback is being driven more by portable digital audio players (DAPs) than by PCs, and when we look at the MQA playback environment from the perspective of DAPs, we find that the company operating e-onkyo music, which is promoting MQA in Japan, is Onkyo & Pioneer Music Inc. All portable players and smartphones sold under the ONKYO and Pioneer brands are currently compatible with MQA playback. Specifically, the ONKYO DP-X1 and DP-S1, the Pioneer XDP-100R, XDP-300R, and XDP-30R, and the ONYKO GRANBEAT DP-CMX1 high-resolution smartphone are all MQA compatible DAP products.

Kamada: In addition to these models, Sony's recently announced "Walkman" is also MQA-compatible. This was great news for MQA, wasn't it?

Nomura Yes, the new NW-ZX300 high-resolution Walkman model and four models in the A40 series (NW-A47, NW-A46HN, NW-A45HN, and NW-A45), which went on sale on October 7, are officially MQA-compatible. The current "WM1" series models are also scheduled to support MQA via software update, so all current high-resolution Walkman models will support MQA this fall. In this way, the MQA playback environment is expanding rapidly.

MQA-compatible devices prepared for the day. The top row is MERIDIAN AUDIO's Prime Headphone Preamp (top left) and Explorer2 (top center). Bottom row, from left to right: Walkman "NW-A40" and "NW-ZX300" (Sony), "GRANBEAT" (ONKYO), "XDP-30R" (Pioneer), and "DP-S1" (ONKYO)

Kamada: After all, it is significant that a major Sony "Walkman" series supports MQA. With the move by Sony, it seems likely that this trend will spread to other manufacturers, doesn't it?

Nomura: Yes. I think that DAP products made by Chinese and Korean manufacturers, which do not yet support MQA, will also gradually support MQA in the future. This trend may be similar to the situation with DSD, which is also a high-resolution sound source, although in a slightly different direction. DSD was a somewhat special format compared to linear PCM sources such as FLAC and WAV, which are the mainstream of high-resolution music sources. However, as a result of manufacturers' efforts, players that support DSD playback are now quite common. I believe that the number of players who support DSD playback will increase in the future. Also, on the label side, Warner Music is starting to distribute 300 titles in MQA format every week, and new movements are emerging, so there is a possibility that MQA will expand rapidly in the future.

Kamada: It is encouraging to see new developments on the part of both manufacturers of playback players and labels that distribute music.

Introducing the Latest Devices for Enjoying MQA

Kamada By the way, there are several MQA-compatible players here. From your point of view, which products would you recommend for people who want to enjoy MQA from now on?

Nomura: The easiest way to get started would be with a compact player such as the ONKYO DP-S1 or the Sony A40 series. They are reasonably priced and are a good introduction to high-resolution music, including MQA. Again, I think the small file size of MQA would be an advantage. Most entry-level products in this class have an internal memory capacity of 16 GB, so if you add high-resolution sound files, you will have to worry about memory capacity to a certain extent. In this respect, MQA, which requires only about 1/3 the file size of FLAC and other formats, has the advantage of being able to store more files.

Kamada: So light users, who often purchase entry-level players with small memory capacity, are more likely to enjoy the benefits of MQA with its small file size. On the other hand, what about the sound quality of these entry-level players?

Nomura For example, in the case of advanced models such as ONKYO's DP-X1A and its sister models, Pioneer's XDP-100R and XDP-300R, depending on the earphones you use with them, you may notice some differences in sound quality between FLAC and WAV, which we will call "full high-resolution," and MQA. I think you will be able to hear some differences in sound quality between FLAC, WAV, etc. and MQA, depending on the earphones you use. However, if you take the time to compare and listen to them, you will be able to hear the difference. On the other hand, if you use an entry-level model such as the ONKYO DP-S1 or Sony A40 series, it is highly likely that you will not notice as much of a difference in sound quality as you would with a high-end model. If we focus on DAP listening, the fact that we do not feel much difference in sound quality between full high-resolution FLAC or WAV and MQA, which requires only about 1/3 of the file size, may support the usefulness of MQA. In layman's terms, if you are mainly listening to DAPs, whether you choose FLAC or MQA depends on your preference and how you use it.

Kamada: I see. On the other hand, there are only a few "USB-DAC" products that can be connected to a PC, but I think that the number of compatible devices is still small. It seems that the hurdle for this type of product is a bit higher.

Nomura: Today, the environment for enjoying Irezo sound sources, not just MQA, has shifted from PCs to DAPs and smartphones, so the development of new devices is basically focused on mobile devices. It may take a little more time to update chips and software to support MQA, since it will be expensive to do so. As for stationary hardware, network players and Blu-ray recorders, for which new models are released almost every year, may become MQA-compatible sooner than expected.

Kamata So, it seems that if you want to enjoy MQA, you would have to use a small dedicated player like this one, right?

Nomura That's right. One more thing I am interested in is MQA-CD. MQA-CD can be played as a music CD when played on an ordinary CD player, but if the optical or coaxial digital output from a CD player is connected to an MQA-compatible DAC or other device, it will be possible to enjoy MQA high-resolution sound. Although the full-scale spread of MQA-CDs is still in its infancy, there are already two types of MQA-CDs on the market. One is a CD-standard disc that is decoded using the MQA method. In addition, a dual-layer disc that combines MQA-CD and SACD has been released under the "2L" label. The only difference is that the encoding is MQA, but the standard itself is the same as the CD itself, ensuring backward compatibility. I think this is a very simple and interesting proposal. Ripping is also possible, and playback is also possible with MQA-compatible USB DACs.

Kamata By the way, do you have any suggestions on what kind of headphones I should buy in order to enjoy MQA sound?　Is it a "high-resolution" product after all?

Nomura Maybe you don't need to worry so much? (laugh) Of course, cheap headphones with poor bandwidth characteristics are no good, but if the headphones are of good quality, you can listen to high-resolution sound quite beautifully, so I think you should use whatever headphones you like.

Kamada Rather, if you want to enjoy better sound, you should choose the player side, right?

Nomura Yes, that's right. After all, when you are in the class of ONKYO DP-X1A or Pioneer XDP-100R and XDP-300R, you will clearly feel the quality of MQA sound (compared to MP3, AAC, and other compressed sound sources). However, the difference may be quite subtle, and if you are always listening to MQA high-resolution sound sources and occasionally listen to a compressed source, you may feel a sense of discomfort. It's just like when you always listen to MQA high-resolution sound sources and sometimes listen to compressed sound sources, you may feel a sense of discomfort. After all, the difference in sound is more enjoyable and easier to listen to when the sound is good. In that sense, MQA has a sound that is clearly high-resolution 24-bit data in the mid-range. The mid-range is the most important part, and you can clearly hear the difference between 16-bit and 24-bit data for vocals, violins, and other stringed instruments, so in that sense, I think MQA is quite good.

How much difference is there in sound between MQA and FLAC?　Actual Listening Test

Kamada: Now let's listen to the MQA sound using the actual equipment provided (PC + USB DAC). What would you like to hear as the sound source?

Nomura Let's compare the sound with around "ID-0" by Sasaki Saka, the opening theme of the TV anime "ID-0." I have prepared two versions, FLAC and MQA, so I hope you can compare them and feel the difference. If there is little difference in sound between the full high-resolution FLAC and MQA, it means that the MQA sound is as good as the full high-resolution FLAC.

Kamada (Listening with headphones for a while) Yes, yes, I see.

Nomura What do you think?　Did you notice the difference?

Kamada Yes, I did. There are some differences, but they are both sufficiently high-resolution. The sound has a high enough breadth and resolution, and is very powerful. However, compared to FLAC, I got the impression that the vocals are clearer on MQA, or that the sound below the vocals is more extended.

Nomura That's right, MQA has a feeling of condensation in the mid-range, and I think that's why it sounds that way. I think MQA has a clearer sound, as if the vocals and main instruments have been brought one step forward.

Kamada Both have good sound, but the MQA might have a stronger impact on the songs.

Nomura It's hard to explain, but I think it sounds like a filter has been applied to make the high-resolution sound even clearer.

Kamada But it's not just a don-shari sound. It has depth, or depth. It's a high-resolution sound after all.

Nomura MQA uses a unique sound origami technique to secure a proper amount of 24-bit information, and the clarity of not only the mid and high frequencies, but also the low frequencies, makes it a solid high-resolution recording. Echo noise, which obscures the rise of the sound, has been cut, so some people may find it rather clear. Because of these characteristics, MQA sounds rather easy to listen to outdoors. MQA actually has these advantages as well.

Kamata I see. Indeed, MQA is easy to understand, and I could understand the feeling that the sound is good. Since the file size is so small, it seems to be especially beneficial for entry-level users of high-resolution music.

Nomura I think so. MQA is a codec that hits a very good point.

In the next installment of this series, we will invite anime song artist Sasaki Saka as a guest to talk about MQA sound with Kenji Nomura. Please look forward to it!