I think the upsampling capabilities improve the sound of CD quality (16-bit, 44.1 KHz) files I stream from Tidal, and I noticed (and appreciated) that the upsampling setting seems to be ignored when I play MQA files so I don’t have to turn off upsampling to listen to the files as intended through my MQA-capable DAC. But, I’d rather not upsample 24-bit files as they are already Hi-Res FLAC files and I’m wondering if Audirvāna Studio developers would consider creating a setting that would allow upsampling to be applied to CD-quality files but not files that are already Hi-Res? Thanks!
Just use custom settings in upsampling preferences, choose anything you want for any sample rates
Done from iPhone not sure pict will be clear…
2 Likes
I had 3.5 then Studio when it came out and never tried looking to see what “Custom” did - almost embarrassed to admit it but very glad I posted the question/request and appreciate you for helping me out @RunHomeSlow. Thank you!
1 Like
I set up a Custom filter so that r8brain upsampling is only applied to the Red Book sampling rate of 44.1 khz, which made them sound much better. But then I noticed that MQA files coming in at that sampling rate (whether 16/44.1 or 24/44.1khz) were also being upsampled and no longer shown as MQA files on the output of Audirvana (input to my NAD amp’s DAC). Is there any way to set the upsampling’s “custom” settings to ignore frequencies if the file is MQA?
Don’t bother with MQA files… they will all disappear soon 
MQA is dead…
1 Like
You’re probably right, of course - it’s just too bad that there aren’t more filters on the “Custom” utility. For instance, MQA or not, 24 bit files are being upsampled if they are 44.1, even if my intent in using the filter is to only upsample 16/44.1 (CD quality) material. All first-world problems to be sure, I just thought since this is now a subscription and the team is constantly updating it, maybe making the upscaling choices more robust could be part of the roadmap. You never know if you don’t ask! Thanks again, RHS!
You can just apply a filter to upsample only 16/44 to whatever you want…
You can’t upsampling mqa i think since i don’t use them, nothing can be change with mqa, that was the goal with them, so if you can upsample, mmmm bug! Or just because they are no more mqa??
You have picture of that?
Can you post the Debug information here. Or otherwise at least the custom upsampling settings and the DAC settings where the MQA handling is set.
Hi Jacob, I’m going to try to do so here.
Photos of UI first, then one debug file while running with upsampling activated only for 44.1 files (to 88.2) and then a second debug file taken with upsampling deactivated. Song chosen is a 16-bit, 44.1 KHz MQA file played from Tidal.
Audirvana Studio 2.6.2 (20602) (Upsampling Deactivated)
macOS 14.1.2 with 8GB physical RAM
Connected account of : David Johnson
NETWORK
Status: available
SIGNAL PROCESSING:
Polarity Inversion:
Globally: OFF
Per track: ON
Effects plugins NOT ACTIVE
UPSAMPLING:
r8brain not in use
r8brain filter parameters
Bandwidth = 99.5%
Stop band attenuation 218dB
Phase minimum phase
AUDIO VOLUME:
Max allowed volume: 89.5754
Replay Gain: None
SW volume control: OFF
LIBRARY SETTINGS:
Sync list: 0 folders
iTunes/Music library synchronization: not synchronized
Library database path: /Users/david/Library/Application Support/Audirvana/AudirvanaDatabase.sqlite
Local audio files fingerprinting
Tracks with no MBID: 264
Remote Control server:
Listening on 127.0.0.1 on port 54914
ACTIVE STREAMING SERVICES
TIDAL: Connected as HiFi Plus
=================== AUDIO DEVICE ========================
Active method: Local
Max. memory for audio buffers: 2048MB
Local Audio Engine: CoreAudio
Exclusive access: ON
Integer mode: ON
Use max I/O buffer size: ON
Actual I/O buffer frame size: 512
Preferred device:
NAD NAD USB Audio
Model UID:NAD USB Audio:17AE:000D
UID:AppleUSBAudioEngine:NAD:NAD USB Audio:2100000:1
Currently playing in Integer Mode:
Device: 2ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 16bits little endian Signed Integer, 4 bytes per frame 44.1kHz
Active Sample Rate: 44.1kHz
Hog Mode is on
Bridge settings:
Sample rate limitation: none
Sample rate switching latency: none
Limit bitdepth to 24bit: OFF
Mute during sample rate change: OFF
Selected device:NAD USB Audio
Manufacturer: NAD
Model name: NAD USB Audio
Model UID: NAD USB Audio:17AE:000D
UID: AppleUSBAudioEngine:NAD:NAD USB Audio:2100000:1
USB Vendor ID: 0x17ae
USB Product ID: 0x000d
ID 0x57
8 available sample rates up to 384000Hz
44100
48000
88200
96000
176400
192000
352800
384000
Audio buffer frame size : 14 to 4096 frames
Current I/O buffer frame size : 512
Volume Control
Physical: No
Virtual: No
Max volume alert: Enabled
MQA capability
Auto-detect MQA devices: Yes
MQA Decoder device
DSD capability: DSD via PCM 1.1
Device audio channels
Preferred stereo channels L:1 R:2
Channel bitmap: Ox3, layout:
Channel 0 mapped to 0
Channel 1 mapped to 1
Audio channels in use
Number of channels: 2
Use as stereo device only: No
Simple stereo device: Yes
1 output streams:
Number of active channels: 2, in 1 stream(s)
Channel #0 :Stream 0 channel 0
Channel #1 :Stream 0 channel 1
Stream ID 0x58 2 channels starting at 1
24 virtual formats:
2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 32 little endian Signed Float 384kHz
2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 32 little endian Signed Float 352.8kHz
2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 32 little endian Signed Float 192kHz
2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 32 little endian Signed Float 176.4kHz
2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 32 little endian Signed Float 96kHz
2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 32 little endian Signed Float 88.2kHz
2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 32 little endian Signed Float 48kHz
2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 32 little endian Signed Float 44.1kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer aligned low in 32bit 384kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer aligned low in 32bit 352.8kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer aligned low in 32bit 192kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer aligned low in 32bit 176.4kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer aligned low in 32bit 96kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer aligned low in 32bit 88.2kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer aligned low in 32bit 48kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer aligned low in 32bit 44.1kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 16 little endian Signed Integer 384kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 16 little endian Signed Integer 352.8kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 16 little endian Signed Integer 192kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 16 little endian Signed Integer 176.4kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 16 little endian Signed Integer 96kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 16 little endian Signed Integer 88.2kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 16 little endian Signed Integer 48kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 16 little endian Signed Integer 44.1kHz
32 physical formats
2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer aligned low in 32bit 384kHz
2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer aligned low in 32bit 352.8kHz
2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer aligned low in 32bit 192kHz
2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer aligned low in 32bit 176.4kHz
2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer aligned low in 32bit 96kHz
2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer aligned low in 32bit 88.2kHz
2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer aligned low in 32bit 48kHz
2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer aligned low in 32bit 44.1kHz
2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 16 little endian Signed Integer 384kHz
2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 16 little endian Signed Integer 352.8kHz
2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 16 little endian Signed Integer 192kHz
2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 16 little endian Signed Integer 176.4kHz
2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 16 little endian Signed Integer 96kHz
2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 16 little endian Signed Integer 88.2kHz
2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 16 little endian Signed Integer 48kHz
2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 16 little endian Signed Integer 44.1kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer aligned low in 32bit 384kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer aligned low in 32bit 352.8kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer aligned low in 32bit 192kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer aligned low in 32bit 176.4kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer aligned low in 32bit 96kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer aligned low in 32bit 88.2kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer aligned low in 32bit 48kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer aligned low in 32bit 44.1kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 16 little endian Signed Integer 384kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 16 little endian Signed Integer 352.8kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 16 little endian Signed Integer 192kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 16 little endian Signed Integer 176.4kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 16 little endian Signed Integer 96kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 16 little endian Signed Integer 88.2kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 16 little endian Signed Integer 48kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 16 little endian Signed Integer 44.1kHz
Local devices found : 3
Device #0: ID 0x5b SONY TV *30
Manufacturer: SNY
Model UID: 4DD9057A-0000-0000-011E-010380905178
UID: 4DD9057A-0000-0000-011E-010380905178
Model name: SNY SONY TV *30
Device #1: ID 0x57 NAD USB Audio
Manufacturer: NAD
Model UID: NAD USB Audio:17AE:000D
UID: AppleUSBAudioEngine:NAD:NAD USB Audio:2100000:1
USB Vendor ID: 0x17ae
USB Product ID: 0x000d
Model name: NAD USB Audio
Device #2: ID 0x51 Mac mini Speakers
Manufacturer: Apple Inc.
Model UID: Speaker
UID: BuiltInSpeakerDevice
Model name: Apple Inc. Mac mini Speakers
UPnP
UPnP devices found : 5
Device #0: ID 0x0 : HK_Allure
UID: uuid:FF31F002-BB78-BE9D-A0A5-7249FF31F002
Location: http://192.168.35.27:49152/description.xml
Manufacturer: Linkplay Technology Inc.
Model name: HK_Allure
Device #1: ID 0x0 : RX-V685
UID: uuid:9ab0c000-f668-11de-9976-78dd12ff5dac
Location: http://192.168.35.111:49154/MediaRenderer/desc.xml
Manufacturer: Yamaha Corporation
Model name: RX-V685
Device #2: ID 0x0 : SoundTouch 300
UID: uuid:BO5EBO5E-F00D-F00D-FEED-9070658B194F
Location: http://192.168.35.149:8091/XD/BO5EBO5E-F00D-F00D-FEED-9070658B194F.xml
Manufacturer: Bose Corporation
Model name: SoundTouch 300
Device #3: ID 0x0 : Bose Soundbar 700
UID: uuid:56a3e4fc-d9d0-9c8b-b06f-ba6c62c96062
Location: http://192.168.35.108:8091/56a3e4fc-d9d0-9c8b-b06f-ba6c62c96062.xml
Manufacturer: Bose
Model name: Bose Soundbar 700
Device #4: ID 0x0 : Media Room TV
UID: uuid:23456789-1234-1010-8000-94DB56EF8918
Location: http://192.168.35.193:52323/MediaRenderer.xml
Manufacturer: Sony Corporation
Model name: MediaRenderer
Chromecast
Chromecast devices found : 6
Device #0: Bose Soundbar 700
ID: d65ca727f66ad39e11e9e13d48224999
Model name: Bose Soundbar 700
Device #1: XBR-55X810C
ID: dd440e473f793a71def2f5a37d470333
Model name: BRAVIA 4K 2015
Device #2: CCA Office
ID: bca541669cac450c1666e86233240152
Model name: Chromecast Audio
Device #3: CCA C100
ID: 4baa50daddeeb0b3c7215cd9b22fc0a6
Model name: Chromecast Audio
Device #4: Media Room TV
ID: b2fc26aa334b04f598d84e9cd5783ba5
Model name: BRAVIA VH1
Device #5: XBR-75X940E
ID: f0985babe391c0a2f898983732587ae9
Model name: BRAVIA 4K GB
Audirvana Studio 2.6.2 (20602) Upsampling (Custom)
macOS 14.1.2 with 8GB physical RAM
Connected account of : David Johnson
NETWORK
Status: available
SIGNAL PROCESSING:
Polarity Inversion:
Globally: OFF
Per track: ON
Effects plugins NOT ACTIVE
UPSAMPLING:
r8brain custom frequencies
r8brain filter parameters
Bandwidth = 99.5%
Stop band attenuation 218dB
Phase minimum phase
AUDIO VOLUME:
Max allowed volume: 89.5754
Replay Gain: None
SW volume control: OFF
LIBRARY SETTINGS:
Sync list: 0 folders
iTunes/Music library synchronization: not synchronized
Library database path: /Users/david/Library/Application Support/Audirvana/AudirvanaDatabase.sqlite
Local audio files fingerprinting
Tracks with no MBID: 264
Remote Control server:
Listening on 127.0.0.1 on port 54523
ACTIVE STREAMING SERVICES
TIDAL: Connected as HiFi Plus
=================== AUDIO DEVICE ========================
Active method: Local
Max. memory for audio buffers: 2048MB
Local Audio Engine: CoreAudio
Exclusive access: ON
Integer mode: ON
Use max I/O buffer size: ON
Actual I/O buffer frame size: 512
Preferred device:
NAD NAD USB Audio
Model UID:NAD USB Audio:17AE:000D
UID:AppleUSBAudioEngine:NAD:NAD USB Audio:2100000:1
Currently playing in Integer Mode:
Device: 2ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24bits little endian Signed Integer, 8 bytes per frame 88.2kHz
Active Sample Rate: 88.2kHz
Hog Mode is on
Bridge settings:
Sample rate limitation: none
Sample rate switching latency: none
Limit bitdepth to 24bit: OFF
Mute during sample rate change: OFF
Selected device:NAD USB Audio
Manufacturer: NAD
Model name: NAD USB Audio
Model UID: NAD USB Audio:17AE:000D
UID: AppleUSBAudioEngine:NAD:NAD USB Audio:2100000:1
USB Vendor ID: 0x17ae
USB Product ID: 0x000d
ID 0x57
8 available sample rates up to 384000Hz
44100
48000
88200
96000
176400
192000
352800
384000
Audio buffer frame size : 14 to 4096 frames
Current I/O buffer frame size : 512
Volume Control
Physical: No
Virtual: No
Max volume alert: Enabled
MQA capability
Auto-detect MQA devices: Yes
MQA Decoder device
DSD capability: DSD via PCM 1.1
Device audio channels
Preferred stereo channels L:1 R:2
Channel bitmap: Ox3, layout:
Channel 0 mapped to 0
Channel 1 mapped to 1
Audio channels in use
Number of channels: 2
Use as stereo device only: No
Simple stereo device: Yes
1 output streams:
Number of active channels: 2, in 1 stream(s)
Channel #0 :Stream 0 channel 0
Channel #1 :Stream 0 channel 1
Stream ID 0x58 2 channels starting at 1
24 virtual formats:
2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 32 little endian Signed Float 384kHz
2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 32 little endian Signed Float 352.8kHz
2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 32 little endian Signed Float 192kHz
2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 32 little endian Signed Float 176.4kHz
2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 32 little endian Signed Float 96kHz
2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 32 little endian Signed Float 88.2kHz
2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 32 little endian Signed Float 48kHz
2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 32 little endian Signed Float 44.1kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer aligned low in 32bit 384kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer aligned low in 32bit 352.8kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer aligned low in 32bit 192kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer aligned low in 32bit 176.4kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer aligned low in 32bit 96kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer aligned low in 32bit 88.2kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer aligned low in 32bit 48kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer aligned low in 32bit 44.1kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 16 little endian Signed Integer 384kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 16 little endian Signed Integer 352.8kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 16 little endian Signed Integer 192kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 16 little endian Signed Integer 176.4kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 16 little endian Signed Integer 96kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 16 little endian Signed Integer 88.2kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 16 little endian Signed Integer 48kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 16 little endian Signed Integer 44.1kHz
32 physical formats
2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer aligned low in 32bit 384kHz
2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer aligned low in 32bit 352.8kHz
2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer aligned low in 32bit 192kHz
2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer aligned low in 32bit 176.4kHz
2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer aligned low in 32bit 96kHz
2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer aligned low in 32bit 88.2kHz
2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer aligned low in 32bit 48kHz
2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer aligned low in 32bit 44.1kHz
2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 16 little endian Signed Integer 384kHz
2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 16 little endian Signed Integer 352.8kHz
2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 16 little endian Signed Integer 192kHz
2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 16 little endian Signed Integer 176.4kHz
2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 16 little endian Signed Integer 96kHz
2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 16 little endian Signed Integer 88.2kHz
2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 16 little endian Signed Integer 48kHz
2 ch Mixable linear PCM Interleaved 16 little endian Signed Integer 44.1kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer aligned low in 32bit 384kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer aligned low in 32bit 352.8kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer aligned low in 32bit 192kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer aligned low in 32bit 176.4kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer aligned low in 32bit 96kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer aligned low in 32bit 88.2kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer aligned low in 32bit 48kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 24 little endian Signed Integer aligned low in 32bit 44.1kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 16 little endian Signed Integer 384kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 16 little endian Signed Integer 352.8kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 16 little endian Signed Integer 192kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 16 little endian Signed Integer 176.4kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 16 little endian Signed Integer 96kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 16 little endian Signed Integer 88.2kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 16 little endian Signed Integer 48kHz
2 ch Non-mixable linear PCM Interleaved 16 little endian Signed Integer 44.1kHz
Local devices found : 3
Device #0: ID 0x5b SONY TV *30
Manufacturer: SNY
Model UID: 4DD9057A-0000-0000-011E-010380905178
UID: 4DD9057A-0000-0000-011E-010380905178
Model name: SNY SONY TV *30
Device #1: ID 0x57 NAD USB Audio
Manufacturer: NAD
Model UID: NAD USB Audio:17AE:000D
UID: AppleUSBAudioEngine:NAD:NAD USB Audio:2100000:1
USB Vendor ID: 0x17ae
USB Product ID: 0x000d
Model name: NAD USB Audio
Device #2: ID 0x51 Mac mini Speakers
Manufacturer: Apple Inc.
Model UID: Speaker
UID: BuiltInSpeakerDevice
Model name: Apple Inc. Mac mini Speakers
UPnP
UPnP devices found : 5
Device #0: ID 0x0 : RX-V685
UID: uuid:9ab0c000-f668-11de-9976-78dd12ff5dac
Location: http://192.168.35.111:49154/MediaRenderer/desc.xml
Manufacturer: Yamaha Corporation
Model name: RX-V685
Device #1: ID 0x0 : HK_Allure
UID: uuid:FF31F002-BB78-BE9D-A0A5-7249FF31F002
Location: http://192.168.35.27:49152/description.xml
Manufacturer: Linkplay Technology Inc.
Model name: HK_Allure
Device #2: ID 0x0 : Bose Soundbar 700
UID: uuid:56a3e4fc-d9d0-9c8b-b06f-ba6c62c96062
Location: http://192.168.35.108:8091/56a3e4fc-d9d0-9c8b-b06f-ba6c62c96062.xml
Manufacturer: Bose
Model name: Bose Soundbar 700
Device #3: ID 0x0 : Media Room TV
UID: uuid:23456789-1234-1010-8000-94DB56EF8918
Location: http://192.168.35.193:52323/MediaRenderer.xml
Manufacturer: Sony Corporation
Model name: MediaRenderer
Device #4: ID 0x0 : SoundTouch 300
UID: uuid:BO5EBO5E-F00D-F00D-FEED-9070658B194F
Location: http://192.168.35.149:8091/XD/BO5EBO5E-F00D-F00D-FEED-9070658B194F.xml
Manufacturer: Bose Corporation
Model name: SoundTouch 300
Chromecast
Chromecast devices found : 5
Device #0: CCA C100
ID: 4baa50daddeeb0b3c7215cd9b22fc0a6
Model name: Chromecast Audio
Device #1: Bose Soundbar 700
ID: d65ca727f66ad39e11e9e13d48224999
Model name: Bose Soundbar 700
Device #2: CCA Office
ID: bca541669cac450c1666e86233240152
Model name: Chromecast Audio
Device #3: XBR-55X810C
ID: dd440e473f793a71def2f5a37d470333
Model name: BRAVIA 4K 2015
Device #4: Media Room TV
ID: b2fc26aa334b04f598d84e9cd5783ba5
Model name: BRAVIA VH1
I think @Antoine is the best one to look at here, but at first glance this seems like a bug. The custom settings do not take MQA into account.
Thanks. For what it’s worth, I also tried a 24/44.1 selection, Lost/Intro, from the Lost at Midnight album from OTR. Same result, with upsampling enabled it was converted to PCM 24/88.2. At least it’s consistent and not an intermittent bug…
@David_Johnson @Jacob
My take is this…
It’s not a bug…. The MQA file contains metadata that tells the playback system/DAC how it is mastered and the sample-rate, etc… this metadata is necessary for the full unpacking of the MQA file… When you tell the Audirvana playback engine to specifically up-sample to a custom bit-depth/sample-rate, the system sees the fundamental sample-rate (1st unfold) of the file and applies the sample-rate conversion to this. (In the case you describe, FLAC MQA 16/44.1)
You are expecting that r8Brain retains the MQA file metadata in the up-sampling algorithm… It is plainly evident that it does not, (nor should it) .… As you can plainly see, when r8Brain is deactivated the MQA file plays as expected…
2 Likes
Maybe ‘bug’ isn’t the right word, but I would expect that Audirvana would pass an MQA file unchanged to a decoder if one is present. Otherwise what is the point of an MQA file and a decoder? Or you can indicate in the custom settings how to handle an MQA file.
But as said above. In a few years there will be just as many questions about an MQA decoder as an HDCD decoder.
As soon as you affect the MQA file by sample-rate conversion, the “Authentication” is broken and the file is no longer a valid MQA file… 
1 Like
What you are asking, is for Audirvana to bypass r8Brain or SoX (being otherwise activated) when it sees an MQA file and then return the sample-rate converter to it’s otherwise active state for playback of non-MQA files… this is a feature request…
1 Like
I would like to point out that I positioned this as a feature request, for all the stated reasons - I think MQA files should be ignored by the upsampling process as soon as Audirvāna recognizes it’s an MQA file. The current options are to either not activate upsampling for use on files that could otherwise benefit from it, or use it but manually deactivate for listening to MQA files. This isn’t consistent with the overall enjoyment that comes from using Audirvāna with my Tidal subscription. Thanks!
1 Like
The salient question is whether a MQA file that has been sample-rate converted loses something in the transition as juxtaposed to the fully un-folded MQA playback on an MQA certified DAC…? There is going to be diminishing returns in regard to MQA product in any event and the rationale to jump through these hoops to accommodate a failing protocol, is questionable.
1 Like
I’m not asking for anything at all. I avoid anything MQA related. Then it’s probably my ignorance.
I have always assumed that Audirvana bypasses all processing when an MQA file is played and an MQA decoder is used. But if that’s not the case, then my apologies.
Nothing to apologize for… It’s a feature in search of a reason to be implemented 
1 Like
Then we’re talking about MQA in general, I assume?
1 Like