Tidal says hi-res lossless is coming, elevating questions on its MQA format

Tidal CEO says hi-res FLACs are coming to the service, and this has raised questions on Tidal’s assist for the MQA format.

Throughout an Ask Me Something Reddit session, Tidal CEO Jesse Dorogusker stated that the service would quickly be including the choice to take heed to hi-res lossless FLACs. This new function is ready to be obtainable for the service’s HiFi Plus subscribers, however Dorogusker didn’t give any particulars on when precisely this new function would arrive.

Tidal has all the time supported lossless FLAC streaming at CD high quality, however its better-than-CD high quality hi-res music has come within the type of the MQA format. This format is comparatively controversial amongst Tidal subscribers because it’s not technically a really lossless format in the identical method FLAC is, so audiophiles have repeatedly had issues about Tidal opting to make use of this format as a substitute of one thing extra conventional like a hi-res lossless FLAC file as a substitute.

This information is very fascinating contemplating its timing, as the corporate that oversees the MQA format has lately been going by severe monetary troubles, and this has led many to query whether or not or not Tidal will proceed counting on this format for its hi-res music. Tidal is the one main streaming service to depend on the MQA format, and there are additional issues on the subject of MQA, like the necessity for a DAC or amp that may totally deal with the decoding required to play MQA recordsdata at their highest high quality.

Tidal hasn’t introduced any adjustments with regard to now not supporting the MQA format, but it surely’s value maintaining a watch out to see if the service transitions away from MQA over to hi-res lossless FLACs as a substitute. Although, it does appear unlikely Tidal is ever going to take away MQA playback from its service, contemplating its current catalog of MQA music.