The Promise — and Reality — of Master Quality Authenticated Audio
When MQA (Master Quality Authenticated) first appeared a decade ago, it promised nothing less than to save recorded music. Created by Bob Stuart and his team at Meridian Audio, MQA was envisioned as a revolution — a way to bring studio-approved sound directly to listeners, preserving every nuance of the artist’s intent while making high-resolution streaming efficient enough for the real world.
Today, in 2025, the debate over MQA’s value continues. With lossless streaming now mainstream and hi-res formats like FLAC 24-bit, ALAC, and DSD dominating audiophile circles, many wonder: does MQA still matter? Let’s unpack the story — and its place in modern music.
A Brief History: From Meridian Labs to Global Streaming
Meridian Audio has long been a pioneer in digital sound. The British company created the first digital active loudspeakers, the first audiophile-grade CD player, and even the Meridian Lossless Packing (MLP) system used for DVD-Audio and Blu-ray. So when Bob Stuart introduced MQA at CES 2015, the hi-fi world took notice.
The idea was bold: encode master-quality audio in a smaller, stream-friendly file without losing the essence of the studio master. Within a year, major players like Warner Music Group, Onkyo, Pioneer, Mytek, and streaming services such as Tidal and 7digital adopted the format. Tidal even introduced Tidal Masters, bringing millions of MQA-encoded albums to subscribers.
Why MQA Was Created
Digital audio, despite its precision, has always suffered from one persistent issue: time smearing — microscopic timing errors that blur transients and dull the sense of realism.
Traditional PCM formats like CD (44.1 kHz / 16 bit) may measure perfectly but often sound sterile.
MQA was designed to fix that. By controlling every stage — from studio mastering to listener playback — MQA sought to preserve time coherence and deliver a sound that feels more analog, more alive.
It also tackled another problem: authenticity. MQA files carry a digital “seal of approval,” confirming that the music was approved by the artist or producer and hasn’t been altered downstream.
The Technology: Folding Time and Space
At its core, MQA is a sophisticated audio origami. It “folds” high-resolution data into a smaller container (usually FLAC) using psychoacoustic modeling and advanced noise shaping. The process can shrink a 24-bit / 192 kHz file from 135 MB to about 45 MB — roughly one-third of its size — without perceptible loss in quality.
Here’s how decoding works:
- Core Decode (Software) — Apps like Tidal, Roon, or Audirvāna can perform the first “unfold,” giving playback up to 24 bit / 96 kHz.
- Hardware Rendering (DAC Level) — MQA-certified DACs, such as AudioQuest DragonFly, Fiio M11 Pro, iBasso DX320, or Mytek Brooklyn, perform the final unfold to full hi-res resolution, restoring the original 192 kHz detail.
This hybrid approach allows compatibility across systems — from smartphones to reference-grade setups — while keeping files lightweight enough for streaming and downloads.
How MQA Differs From Hi-Res FLAC
While FLAC and ALAC are lossless codecs, they don’t define how the audio was captured or mastered. A poorly made FLAC file can sound worse than a well-produced 320 kbps MP3.
MQA, however, goes beyond compression. It embeds metadata and temporal correction, shaping the playback chain to mirror the original studio conditions. The goal isn’t just fidelity — it’s authenticity.
That’s why albums encoded in MQA often carry a recognizable tonal “ease”: smoother highs, clearer instrument placement, and reduced digital harshness.
MQA in the Streaming Era
When Tidal integrated MQA into its HiFi tier in 2017, it became the first mainstream service to offer studio-approved audio. For years, MQA was Tidal’s sonic signature.
However, by 2024, the market shifted. Apple Music and Amazon Music launched lossless hi-res streaming without MQA. Some manufacturers began prioritizing open standards like FLAC.
Yet MQA’s influence remains visible. The “authenticated master” concept it introduced is now common across the industry — with even Apple labeling some tracks as “Apple Digital Masters,” a direct echo of MQA’s ethos.
How to Listen to MQA in 2025
Despite rumors of decline, MQA playback remains easy and relevant:
- Tidal Masters still features tens of thousands of albums in MQA, accessible via the HiFi Plus tier.
- Download stores such as 2L, Onkyo Music, and HighResAudio continue to sell MQA files (around €20–25 per album).
- MQA DACs and renderers — including Meridian’s own systems, TEAC NT-505, iFi Zen DAC V3, and others — remain highly regarded for transparent decoding.
- Software players like Roon, Audirvāna, and Tidal desktop app include the core decoder for partial unfolding.
In short, MQA listening has never required exotic equipment — just the right player and compatible hardware if you want full hi-res playback.
The Controversy
No discussion of MQA is complete without mentioning its critics.
Skeptics argue that MQA is a proprietary system, limiting openness in an otherwise free ecosystem. Some engineers claim that its compression introduces artifacts, and that lossless FLAC is “good enough.”
Supporters counter that MQA’s focus on time-domain accuracy produces a natural, lifelike sound that objective metrics can’t fully capture.
The truth likely lies somewhere in between: for well-produced recordings and transparent gear, differences are audible — though subtle.
What MQA Gave the Industry
Even if MQA eventually fades, its impact on the audio landscape is undeniable:
- It raised awareness of true studio-quality listening.
- It pushed streaming services to adopt hi-res standards.
- It inspired the “verified master” concept now adopted by major platforms.
In that sense, MQA’s mission — to reconnect listeners with authentic sound — succeeded
Final Thoughts: The Legacy Lives On
MQA may not have conquered the world, but it changed the conversation. It reminded both engineers and fans that digital music isn’t just numbers — it’s time, emotion, and intent.
Whether you’re streaming from Tidal, spinning a vinyl record, or exploring spatial audio on Apple Music, the goal remains the same: to feel music as it was meant to be heard.
And that philosophy — the pursuit of authenticity — will continue long after the last MQA file is played.