Review by Warren
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Pretzel Logic [Hi-Res CD (MQA x UHQCD)] [Limited Release]Steely DanMQA... 'Very Superlicious'
The ultimate edition...period!! If you've got a system capable of bringing out what it offers then there is no match for 352.8k/24b MQA...period!!
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Cosmo's Factory [Hi-Res CD (MQA x UHQCD)] [Cardboard Sleeve (mini LP)] [Limited Release]Creedence Clearwater RevivalMQA ...takes you back...
This review stands for all the MQA CCR albums... Nothing else compares to these editions... Take a ride back in time and into the studio with J Foghety and crew....
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Regatta De Blanc [Hi-Res CD (MQA x UHQCD)] [Limited Release] [Cardboard Sleeve (mini LP)]The PoliceMQA the Luv of my Audio Life
Well here we are again ..this review stands for all of The Police MQA albums...absolutely stunning !!! The 3 dimensional 'life' like quality is truly amazing...These 352.8k/24b MQA UHQCDs make the SACD versions that I have (which use the same transfers,but at a lower resolution) sound like standard CDs in comparison... keep them coming CD Japan..!!
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This Is The Moody Blues [Hi-Res CD (MQA x UHQCD)] [Cardboard Sleeve (mini LP)] [Limited Release]The Moody BluesMQA... OMG!!!
OMG OMG OMG !!! This MQA edition is absolutely blowing me away ...I have the 2007 SACD versions of the complete albums which sound great but this is a whole different story...the clarity,detail,soundstage are all just jumping out of the system(Oppo UDP 205 into a pair of Adam S3H's)..vocals fill the room,acoustic guitars sound so'Acoustic',Drums and Bass so tight, and thunderous when appropriate.....wow!! I have been listening to these tracks for 40 years and it feels like the first time!!!
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Special Edition - J.J.Cale Best [Hi-Res CD (MQA x UHQCD)] [Cardboard Sleeve (mini LP)] [Limited Release]J.J.CaleMQA #1
More of a 'sampler' than a 'best of' as the track selection is rather odd, however it would be impossible to actually have a 'best of' from J.J. anyway as he was not a singles focused artist... 'Cocaine' would be his most well known song and is rightfully included here beside the 'Gems' that all the other tracks are....J.J. managed make almost every song he recorded sound timeless and so intimate ,I would struggle to name my favorites because they all are. This MQA edition is absolutely f#*kn amazing, bringing out all the artistry that JJ and Audi Ashworth bought to the recording process.Nobody has made records that sound the way JJ's did and now we can here a 'sample' of that at its best.I have the recently issued SHM album remaster series which sound great but this just goes way beyond and makes you want those albums in MQA....JJ..we miss you!!
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12 Gold Bars Vol.1 [Hi-Res CD (MQA x UHQCD)] [Cardboard Sleeve (mini LP)] [Limited Release]Status QuoMQA Brings It !
The essential compilation that covers all you need to know about the 'Quo' It is however straight ahead 'rock n roll' both in its musical style and recording quality with most tracks having very little in the way of hidden 'detail' that the MQA high resolution format can reveal(with the exception of 'Living on an island" which sounds glorious)....But none of that matters as its a fantastic album sounding the best I've ever heard it and I'm totally thrilled to have it back in my collection after long ago wearing out my old LP copy purchased in 1980...so yes MQA 'brings it' and R'n'R will never die!!!
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Pet Sounds [Hi-Res CD (MQA x UHQCD)] [Limited Release]The Beach BoysAttention !!....mono
Ok if you Like 'mono' HD Tracks has it at 192k stereo Cd Japan is a great source of material...but sometimes somebody gets it wrong as is the case here...pointless having such a great recording in mono
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THE BEST OF BLONDIE [Hi-Res CD (MQA x UHQCD)] [Cardboard Sleeve (mini LP)] [Limited Release]BlondieFan 'bloody' tastic !!
A great compilation...inc the long version of 'heart of glass' MQA really bringing out the details in the mix I'm running the Oppo 205 into Adam S3H powered monitors and recently upgraded stands and cables on my system to Thrax 'Blue' power cables and Tellurium Q 'ultra black' XLR interconnects which are now past the 300 hour mark and have really opened up... MQA is da bomb !! I wish everything I listened to was MQA !!
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Brothers And Sisters [Hi-Res CD (MQA x UHQCD)] [Limited Release]The Allman Brothers BandMQA Wins Again
MQA Clear winner again!!... No trace of 'digital edge' to be found here.This was very warm recording to start with,but now it sounds like the master tape is rolling across the tape head right in front of me with Greg Allman and Dicky Betts sitting either side of me listening to what they've just recorded.... I have around 50 MQA titles now from from various suppliers and all but 2 (where inferior masters were used) completely outshine their non MQA counterparts. My audio chain is the Oppo UDP205/MIT Matrix 6 Balanced connectors/Adam S3H powered monitors resulting in a very hi resolution system,which completely disappears with these 352k/24b MQA discs leaving you with nothing but the music!! and aint that the point!!
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Tubular Bells [Hi-Res CD (MQA x UHQCD)] [Limited Release]Mike OldfieldMQA ...Definitive Version Period
This is it folks ,look no further... 352k/24b MQA there is nothing better. all you need now is a true hi res system,a good room,a comfy chair,a set of ears,and a hour to yourself...tell the wife you'll help with the cleaning later cause right now you've got a date with the 70s... those bells are right there in the room with you...happy listening...go MQA
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The Definitive Collection [Hi-Res CD (MQA x UHQCD)] [Limited Release]Stevie WonderMQA... 'Very Superlicious'
Very Superlicious...at 352k/24b MQA the clavinet driving 'Superstition' fills the room with its funky,juicy vibe leaving you no choice but to give up guitar and learn the keyboard!! Although as a compilation this album misses out some of the IMO more essential tunes in Mr Wonders catalog its still worth the price of admission for the stunning sound of the tunes you will recognize.Its a pity the 2 disc version was not offered in MQA. Please Please Please more MQA titles !!!
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The Definitive Collection [Hi-Res CD (MQA x UHQCD)] [Limited Release]Diana Ross & The SupremesMQA ...takes you back...
MQA ,Who knew it was capable of time travel,listening to this album at 352k/24b MQA you are transported back to a time of coiffed hairdos and very large eyelashes... The Supremes are there before you,voices blazing larger than life and floating in cavernous and never ending reverb... I have the HD Tracks 192k versions and they also sound real good,but with this disc the 'life' captured on tape is released,the recording space materializes and replaces your listening room. My audio chain is...Oppo UDP205 / MIT Matrix 6 balanced connectors / Adam Audio S3H powered monitors resulting in a very hi resolution system that although reveals the limitations of these recordings thankfully also allows every possible nuance of the performance to be heard...again I wish every album I own was MQA.
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Argus [Hi-Res CD (MQA x UHQCD)] [Limited Release]Wishbone AshAbsolutely Mind Blowing
Again MQA 325k 24b is the most advanced audio I have ever heard...this album although an older style recording really comes alive with an 'in the studio' feel... I have said it before and have no trouble saying it again ..."I wish my entire collection was MQA" !!!!!!
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Avalon [Hi-Res CD (MQA x UHQCD)] [Limited Release]Roxy MusicMQA reveals all!!
This is it folks ..the best source you're gonna get to hear this album!..add to this a true 'hi res'sound system and you're good to go. Please take no notice of the bad press that MQA often receives mostly by people who just dont understand it or dont possess ears or a system that can 'resolve' the difference,Audiophiles should have no problem with the licencing issues ,MQA designers worked hard to bring us groundbreaking technology and its only fair they be compensated for it and the compression aspect is of no concern as with an MQA decoder there is no loss. I am a Musician and I have been listening to 'HiFi' music since my early teens on ever improving sound systems and now operate the Oppo 205(modded) direct into a pair of Adam S3H studio monitors, the resolution is simply 'phenomenal' and it is clear that MQA matched to an good master source outshines the equivent non MQA versions.and is best described as simply far more 'natural' sounding...or as the MQA name states..Master Quality
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Songs In The Key Of Life [Hi-Res CD (MQA x UHQCD)] [Limited Release]Stevie WonderMQA ...all day long...
MQA + 'up to date' Master source = Audio nirvana !!! again I am utterly impressed by this 352k MQA version over my 96k pcm version both which sound like they use the same 2011 master...and again simple describing words such as 'natural' 'open' 'spacious' say it all'''you really do forget you are listening to a 'sound system' and just relax into the music..
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The Velvet Underground & Nico [Hi-Res CD (MQA x UHQCD)] [Limited Release]The Velvet Underground & NicoMQA nails it again
Once again this is the benchmark version hands down!! I have the Japanese SACD and the HD Tracks 192k/24b 45th Anv versions and both are very good however they cannot compete with the 'open natural' sound of the MQA disc,it really feels like your in the studio listening to the playback sessions...remember though this is an album full of distortions and audio glitches,as it was recorded on a budget over a small number of days...not at all'hifi'.Some how MQA still manages to extract the 'magic' from the original master tape!! From my observations so far the MQA discs that feature 352k sample rates appear to be up to date transfers/mastering (2018) Im guessin' specifically done for these MQA reissues and are the best youre going to get period!! Other titles (eg. Deep Purple 2000 master,Queen 2011 masters) are transferred from existing dsd files featuring lower sample rates and older mastering although in the case of the Queen albums not an issue as the 2011 mastering is current enough and the MQA 88k/24b versions outshine their SACD equivalents.
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Machine Head [Hi-Res CD (MQA x UHQCD)] [Limited Release]Deep PurpleMQA rocks,however.....
If you have seen my other reviews on MQA CDs you will know that I am a complete believer ...however as with all audio the 'source' is even more important than the encoding format and with this version of Machine Head the source is an old circa 2000s mastering which was done for the SACD release (which I still have)...So yes the MQA version sounds better than the equivalent SACD version(more open and natural sounding) unfortunately both fall far behind the 40th anv mastering done in 2012 available in 96/24 pcm ..so if you really want to hear this album at its best hunt around for the 40th anv version (mine came in a boxed set) this is the second MQA album(not Japanese issued) I have that uses an inferior master, so even though I really do love what MQA does for digital audio I cannot stress the point enough that only the latest mastering should be used for MQA releases...otherwise whats the point?!
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461 Ocean Boulevard [Hi-Res CD (MQA x UHQCD)] [Limited Release]Eric ClaptonMQA rocks
Another of my fave albums,an through all the formats(LP,CD,Remastered CD,and recently remastered 192k/24b 'HD Tracks' Wav File) since it first took its place in my collection this is by far the most natural sounding version period!...the recent version from HD Tracks is also very good, however being EQ'd a bit in the upper range and non MQA it sounds a little 'aggressive' compared to the MQA UHQCD...and as stated previously in the reviews this less bright sound can be viewed as a little 'flat or muddy' but it is not,its just an accurate representation of the original master tape without the often found 'smiley face' EQ and yes it does vary a bit from track to track,again as already stated ,this is true to the original tape. Some will prefer the more EQ'd versions of albums, however I agree with the MQA designers and Universal Japan that the product we purchase should be as close as possible to what the studio master tape sounded like...I am a musician and lifelong avid music fan and I was always aware of the loss between what I heard in the recording sessions and the final product, now that gap has been almost closed...yes it will depend on your sound system(I use the Oppo 205 with linear power supply mod straight into a pair of Adam S3H powered studio monitors,very high resolution)and your 'ears' but believe me after years of hearing recordings not sounding like the original its so pleasing to finally hear what we have been missing,tight focused bass,natural sounding mids and highs,wide open sound stage no matter how 'busy' the mix..Go MQA!!
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Breakfast In America [Hi-Res CD (MQA x UHQCD)] [Limited Release]SupertrampMQA Rules Supreme
At the risk of repeating myself, MQA is the GOD of audio codecs... dont believe any of the negative press it gets which usually is associated with the compression and licencing aspects neither of which is a concern for serious music lovers who have MQA decoders(lossless once 'unfolded') ..your ears should immediately tell that there is a vast sonic improvement with tight focused bottoms ,natural mids and highs,open 3D soundstaging ...This MQA UHQCD Supertamp album outshines the SHM SACD version( although also very good) and as with most titles in these two formats there seems to be little or no EQing done during transfers keeping as much as possible to the original master tape sound,which is good. This album however is a strange one for its overall sound (consistent with all versions due the original recording)which is very dense and 'soft'..like it was soaked in 'fabric softener'. The drums including the cymbals sound like they had blankets draped over them and the mics placed in the next room....not sure who convinced the band that this was the way to go? to see what I mean just compare the sound of this album to 'Crime of the Century' which is very direct and clean...so why I mention this is because to hear it at its best it needs to be listened to at a reasonably high volume setting which allows the dynamics and subtleties to be heard....happy listening
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Dire Straits [Hi-Res CD (MQA x UHQCD)] [Limited Release]Dire StraitsMQA Rules Supreme
I have been listening to this album since I first heard it on the radio in 1979,starting with the LP then Cd,remastered CD then SHM SACD which sounds fantastic...untill now,the MQA UHQCD rules supreme,it was like hearing it for the first time!...there is no doubt this is as close to the original master tape as we can get.Yes,it will depend on your system and your ears 'listening' ability however I am sure it will be 'clear' what the MQA format does for the sonic picture...tight focused bottom end,natural sounding mids and highs,open spacious 3D sound stage..etc In reference to the statement from the previous review regarding"the audible benefits of sample rates above 96k..." there is an interesting fact that has a direct bearing on sample rates and how we hear sound...the human brain takes about 7 micro seconds to process sound to build us a 'picture' containing information such as distance and direction(crucial to our evolutionary survival),if the distance between sample rates is less than or close to that 7ms mark then our brain gives us a far more accurate picture of what we are hearing,only sample rates of 192k and above meet that 7ms mark...this science is a big part of the MQA algorithm and is one of the reasons that given the same source master 192k will sound better than 96k...and you dont need 'bat' ears to hear that although again a high resolution system and experienced 'Ears ' will help...happy listening!!