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MQA Question

MQA song and indicator color relationship?​

MQA InformationColorText
MQAGreen■MQA
MQA StudioBlue■MQA Studio/MQA.
MQA RendererMagenta■OFS

MQA playback process?​

  • The playback process of MQA is divided into two parts, called MQA Decoder and MQA Renderer respectively;
  • MQA Decoder: mainly does pure digital output, such as: USB output and SPDIF output; (for example, HiByMuisc Android/iOS app plays MQA files over USB)
  • MQA Renderer: Decodes MQA Decoder signals, mainly some USB decoder devices; (for example, HiBy FC3 / HiBy FC5)
  • Full Decoder = (MQA Decoder + MQA Renderer): It includes two processes: MQA Decoder and MQA Renderer; (for example, all music players of HiBy R6PROII, etc.\HiBy FC4)
  • File browsing, other lists display the MQA icon: 
    A、歌曲的后缀名称是否包含 .MQA 或者 .mqa 字串；
    B、Meta 信息中是否包含于 MQA Decode 标记；
    C、扫描过程是否打开了 MQA 解码；
    以上三个条件综合；
  • Whether the playback interface displays the words MQA / MQA Studio and icons, decode the song to determine whether it is an MQA song;
  • The playback interface will display the original sample rate information of the MQA song (i.e. ORFS), which can be tested through the MQA standard UI Test file;
  • When playing an MQA song, the fast forward and fast regression format and sampling are the first to display the information of the original song file. After normal decoding to MQA, MQA related information will be displayed;
  • When testing MQA with USB decoding, please use HiByMusic player or Roon to perform relevant tests and ensure that the test results comply with the UI Test file output information;
  • The sound plug-in and MSEB\EQ\PEQ etc. are not effective for MQA;
  • HiByMusic supports MQA and needs to display MQA information when using the HiByLink function;
  • When playing an MQA file, the filter needs to select the filter that has the least impact on the audio data;

How do samples displayed under the top status bar when playing an MQA file? (Android player)​

  • When analog output (usually plugging in headphones\LineOut, etc.), the top output sampling rate will become 8/16 times the song sampling rate; (for example, R5II displays 384k/352.8k; R6PROII displays 768k/705.6k)
  • When digital output (usually without headphones\LineOut, etc.), the top output sampling rate is 2 times display (96k/88.2k) (coaxial output, USB output)

What is the relationship or difference between MQA and OS/NOS of Darwin architecture?​

  • Judging from the data stream output after MQA processing, MQA performs upscaling operations (but since MQA does not provide his technical implementation details, we are not very clear about his approach), and the results after MQA upscaling will be displayed in the output information bar of HiBy Music APP;
  • The OS of Dawin architecture is upscaling, while NOS does not upscaling. Since OS/NOS switching is the user's active action, we did not display the sampling rate after OS;
  • The two upscaling of MQA and Darwin OS are not the same thing: one is the upscaling process expanded by the official MQA file (details are unknown), and the other is Darwin's OS supersampling, which can be used to refer to the structure diagram of the corresponding device;

About HiByMusic (iOS/Android mobile version) Purchase instructions for using MQA:​

    1. HiBy account login to bind mobile phone number If you log in with a previously registered account or a third-party account with WeChat, QQ, or Weibo, you need to bind your phone and subscribe to the MQA support service; if you register a new HiBy account with a version 5723, you can log in directly and then subscribe to the MQA service.
    1. MQA Purchase If you have Alipay or WeChat installed on your phone but are not logged in, you will jump to the login interface when you pay, and you can purchase it after logging in; If Alipay or WeChat is not installed on your phone, the QR code will pop up and use another mobile phone WeChat or Alipay to scan and purchase;
    1. MQA service binding and unbinding device Binding: After the purchase is successful, as long as you log in to the account that purchased the MQA service under the HiByMusic application on a device, the device will be bound by default. (Although the device is logged out) Number of devices that support login: one account supports up to 4 devices to use at the same time; Unbinding: It is generally used to log in to a single account under 4 Android devices HiByMusic applications. When logging in, it will prompt that you can no longer use MQA to purchase services. At this time, you can select the corresponding device to be unbinded under device management;
    1. Use of MQA function After subscribing to the MQA function, select MQA file playback and directly output the current display 2x output; the playback interface has an MQA logo display;
    1. MQA decoding recognition: After turning on this switch under File Scan, the MQA information of the file will be identified during updates. After the update is completed, the MQA logo will be displayed in the list; (Note: When this switch is turned on, the update speed will be slightly slower than when this switch is turned off. If this item is not turned on, the MQA file will not display the logo in the list after scanning the file)
    1. MQA additional expansion multiple function: A certified USB device that supports MQA is required. On the basis of obtaining the Seaweb Music 2x expansion, an additional expansion multiple can be obtained, depending on the performance of the device. For example, HiBy FC3 can achieve up to 8x expansion output. (The FC3 light is purple, and the output samples can be seen on the Lotoo PAW S1 machine: 352k and 384k) Connect to devices that support MQA Renderer, such as HiBy FC3, to play MQA under HiByMusic application, and the indicator light is not red:
  1. The playback gain value in the settings needs to be adjusted to the maximum
  2. Do not select the software volume in the APP setting volume mode

About Tidal (Windows Client) Using MQA:​

  • USB Exchange Mode must be turned on;
  • If the device supports MQA Full Decoder (all HiBy's music players, as well as FC4 (ESS9219C)), it doesn't matter if the Pass Through MQA switch is turned on;
  • If the device only supports MQA Renderer (HiBy FC3, HiBy FC5), then the Pass Through MQA switch must be turned off, and Tidal needs to complete the MQA Decoder process;

When connecting to the computer DAC IN, MQA is played. Why is the word MQA not displayed or the MQA color mark is not displayed?​

  • Please enable exclusive mode output on the computer;
  • Increase the volume to maximum, as adjusting the volume will destroy the MQA audio stream data;

Why is the word MQA or MQA color identification displayed when using the HiBy Music APP (iOS/Android) through USB output?​

  • For Android version of HiBy Music APP, please enable exclusive mode;
  • Increase the volume to maximum, as adjusting the volume will destroy the MQA audio stream data;
  • Check whether there are plug-ins in the plug-in list, and remove them when enabled;
  • Check whether the fixed sampling rate is enabled, and if enabled, it will be turned off;

Why does the MQA word or MQA color mark appear on USB output using HiBy player (non-Android)?​

  • Increase the volume to maximum, as adjusting the volume will destroy the MQA audio stream data;

MQA supports devices and software?​

  • MQA Decoder:Hibymusc Android/IOS app
  • Mqa renderer ： hiby fc3 / hiby fc5
  • Full Decoder: All HiBy's HiFi Music Player: HiBy R6PROII / HiBy Partial USB Decoder: HiBy FC4