MQA update for Rossini released

Software version 1.10 and network version 368

Updates can be performed from the internet using the Rossini app. Tap, Configuration > Version > Check for Updates

MQA Update for Vivaldi One, Network Bridge & Vivaldi DAC & Upsampler to follow.

Information from original MQA press release

MQA, Master Quality Authenticated, provides a means to efficiently encode and transmit highresolution audio. MQA is based on the axiom that, in audio, high resolution can be moreaccurately defined in the analogue domain in terms of temporal fine structure and lack ofmodulation noise, than by any description in the digital domain, particularly one that relies onsample rate or bit depth numbers.

MQA works by converting the analogue music to digital and back to analogue again. Theconceptual framework models analogue as an infinite sample rate representation, which can beapproximated by a hierarchical chain of downward and upward splines. The MQA encoder takesaccount of and corrects aspects of the original analogue-to-digital and studio preparation chain.Although a listener can enjoy the encoded stream at CD quality without a decoder, the bestresult comes with an MQA Decoder, or a combination of MQA Core Decoder and Renderer,which reconstructs exactly what was heard in the studio.

The MQA Renderer performs sampling reconstruction under song-by-song instruction from theencoder, while at the same time matching and optimising the attached DAC to deliver anauthenticated analogue output.

MQA Decoders include a Renderer which is customised for each built-in digital-to-analogueconverter. Generally, the converter includes an integrated DAC which is not wholly configurableand may have some performance limitations. For this reason, most MQA decoders includeprecompensation for the built-in converter.

dCS does not use IC converters in its DACs; instead the process of reconstructing analoguefrom the digital stream is entirely custom, using specific software and discrete hardware to makea DAC. However, unlike other non-integrated DACs, the dCS is still modelled on reconstructionusing oversampling, filtering and high-speed conversion.

David Steven, Managing Director, dCS states:

“The dCS and MQA teams have been in discussion, development and testing for almost a year.This is a unique and exciting implementation made possible by the flexibility and capability ofour platform, as well as the fact that both companies have aligned philosophies, strong mutualrespect and trust.”

Bob Stuart, Founder & CTO, MQA adds:

“In the case of the dCS Rossini, the MQA and dCS teams were able to work together to developcode which accurately matched the MQA hierarchical ideal reconstruction to analogue. ThisMQA implementation is unique, as it is the first opportunity to enable a DAC which, by providingexact rendering to beyond 16x (768 kHz), matches the desired temporal response with very lowmodulation noise.”