MQA on the Ropes? Files for the US Equivalent of Chapter 11

(April 8, 2023) In a recent statement, MQA says it has filed with the UK court system for the Appointment of Administrators, the equivalent of filing for Chapter 11 in the United States.

The statement reads: “Following the recent positive reception to MQA’s latest technology (SCL6), there has been increased international interest in buying MQA Ltd. At the same time, MQA’s main financial backer is seeking an exit. In order to be in the best position to pursue market opportunities and expedite this process, the company has undergone a restructuring initiative, which includes entering into administration and is comparable to Chapter 11 in the US. During this process, MQA continues to trade as usual alongside its partners. We won’t be commenting further while negotiations take place."

This announcement has generated massive speculation, including the potential end to the technology's relevancy in the streaming audio space. As it stands, MQA is divisive, with as many detractors as fans. While it's difficult to read into the company's statement, it appears that MQA is fighting to stay relevant (whether as a whole or as part of what it is today). Though, the company's status and its ability to proclaim itself as a definitive must-have standard have never looked shakier.

We'll have more details as they become available.

 

[NBPK402]

We will see what happens now.

 

[AudiocRaver]

I changed my Tidal subscription to HiFi level a couple years ago and have not missed MQA at all.

 

[NBPK402]

I am a veteran so I have the upper level for I believe 50% off.

 

[ddude003]

Thank you for your service @NBPK402... Does your new DAC do MQA?

I had a trial of both Tidal and Qobuz that overlapped for a few weeks... I thought Qobuz sounded a little cleaner for a lack of a better word... After reading about what MQA does, I just had to say no to broken small signals... Hopefully Tidal will march on without MQA tied around their necks... And, of course, it will be fun to see what happens with the possibility of M&A with MQA...

 

[Grayson Dere]

WOW! I did not see this coming! Thanks for the news, Todd

 

[Todd Anderson]

I changed my Tidal subscription to HiFi level a couple years ago and have not missed MQA at all.

Wayne!!! What’s up???

 

[AudiocRaver]

Hey, Todd, not much, staying out of trouble, sometimes just barely.

 

[Sonnie Parker]

I'm saving 10 bucks per month myself on HiFi... as they advertise, HiFi is "just pure sound"... no fake stuff.

 

[DanDan]

Hup..... Atmos Next!

 

[JStewart]

Hup..... Atmos Next!

Blasphemy.

 

[AudiocRaver]

I'm saving 10 bucks per month myself on HiFi... as they advertise, HiFi is "just pure sound"... no fake stuff.

Sure works for me! "Better than lossless"??????? Imposserous!

Hup..... Atmos Next!

Afraid DanDan might be right, ATMOS music is coming fast. Some mix engineers are advising to start with an ATMOS mix and then reduce it to stereo. At least Dolby TrueHD only claims lossless, not "better than."

Gotta get my height speakers unboxed and hung.

 

[JStewart]

Afraid DanDan might be right, ATMOS music is coming fast. Some mix engineers are advising to start with an ATMOS mix and then reduce it to stereo. At least Dolby TrueHD only claims lossless, not "better than."

Gotta get my height speakers unboxed and hung.

I think I misunderstood. I took DanDan’s post to mean he was hoping Atmos would follow MQA and make an exit.

Which is it @DanDan ? Are you in or out on Atmos?

 

[JStewart]

Sure works for me! "Better than lossless"??????? Imposserous!

Nice to have you around again, Wayne!

 

[AudiocRaver]

Beg pardon all, ATMOS on the brain, having just watched a bunch of YouTubes about it.

To be sure, I am very happy with two-channel, having experienced very engaging SS&I (soundstage & imaging), at its best very immersive, pretty hard to beat even by adding surround and height channels. Perhaps many of those chasing "immersion" by ATMOS baptism (sorry, couldn't resist) have yet to squeeze all that is available from a great two-channel setup.

But I can see the point of ATMOS or DTS-X music. In the hands of the right mixer, a Steven Wilson type maybe, there could be some real listening fun to be had.

Edited for clarity.

 

[DanDan]

I hope and expect that Atmos for Music will fail, just as Q Sound, Quad, MQA, etc. etc. have. But who am I? Elliot here..... WORD

 

[AudiocRaver]

I definitely do not care for the way ATMOS is suddenly being forced on so many music producers, with Dolby having approval rights over mix rooms and mix engineers. Sounds like a good way for Dolby and apple and the other streamers to make a lot of money and for the rest of us to have to listen to a bunch of poorly done mixes.

 

[Todd Anderson]

I'm not a fan either, Wayne. If we're talking movies, I'm all for immersive sound. But this definitely wreaks of license fees

 

[ddude003]

I'm with Wayne on this... Maybe its just the ML ESLs... I have started turning down the side and back speakers for movies at 7.1 and use the ESLs to get some amazing Holographic SS&I... When I listen to _Stereo_ Music I often have to look around the room and even and over my shoulder and remind myself that it is only 2.1... The only thing that even comes close is some headphones playing Binaural...