[TheNameIsGerald]

When the SP1000 is used as an USB DAC receiving an MQA stream through its USB port (and therefore bypassing the player apps installed on the SP1k) does it apply normal MQA unfolding/rendering to that incoming MQA stream (of the same quality as it would when receiving that MQA stream through a local player app)?

 

[Progisus]

When the SP1000 is used as an USB DAC receiving an MQA stream through its USB port (and therefore bypassing the player apps installed on the SP1k) does it apply normal MQA unfolding/rendering to that incoming MQA stream (of the same quality as it would when receiving that MQA stream through a local player app)?

Good luck getting a definitive answer from AK but here is my take... If using the embedded AK Tidal app and listening to only the SP1000 then it is DECODED. With the Android Tidal app it is software first unfold only. If sent out the usb port to another dac and the USB setting is set to software decode than only the first unfold is done. If the usb setting is not checked then it is sent out untouched and can be decoded by an external MQA dac. Maybe @JasonNYC can confirm this.

 

[TheNameIsGerald]

Good luck getting a definitive answer from AK but here is my take...

that was definitely useful, because unexpected (I'd expected the 2 Tidal apps to give identical results) but my question was really about an external untouched MQA stream coming into the SP1k via USB and using the SP1k as an MQA DAC: question is whether it can do that.

 

[Progisus]

that was definitely useful, because unexpected (I'd expected the 2 Tidal apps to give identical results) but my question was really about an external untouched MQA stream coming into the SP1k via USB and using the SP1k as an MQA DAC: question is whether it can do that.

Ah.. I missed that and I don't have a definitive answer from my experience but would expect it would not unfold or decode.

 

[Fafner]

Good luck getting a definitive answer from AK but here is my take... If using the embedded AK Tidal app and listening to only the SP1000 then it is DECODED. With the Android Tidal app it is software first unfold only. If sent out the usb port to another dac and the USB setting is set to software decode than only the first unfold is done. If the usb setting is not checked then it is sent out untouched and can be decoded by an external MQA dac. Maybe @JasonNYC can confirm this.

Good to know, I was taking for granted that the SP1000 was able to send out a fully decoded signal (actually never tried myself). Well, as this isn't the case, it isn't on a Galaxy S10+ either, and considering my home DAC isn't MQA-ready, I guess this is another point pointing my final decision to Qobuz as I need a streaming service I can use on my SP1000 and on my home setup without these shady format limitations. Not going to pay 25-30$ each month to not be able to enjoy the highest quality everywhere.
I'm suprised that the Android app isn't actually fully decoding MQAs, that's actually bad. Means that one has to keep switching between the preinstalled and the manually installed one, depending on what is wanted (MQA full decode or offline stuff)?! That's stupid.

 

[JasonNYC]

Nice. When it will work? In the next update?

It would be included in a future firmware update.

 

[JasonNYC]

When the SP1000 is used as an USB DAC receiving an MQA stream through its USB port (and therefore bypassing the player apps installed on the SP1k) does it apply normal MQA unfolding/rendering to that incoming MQA stream (of the same quality as it would when receiving that MQA stream through a local player app)?

The SP1000 will not process MQA when using as a USB DAC.

 

[Fafner]

@JasonNYC Did you have a chance to try Primephonic as well? Atm it doesn't allow to get past the login screen, but perhaps it's something A&K or the devs can fix easily.

 

[JasonNYC]

Good luck getting a definitive answer from AK but here is my take... If using the embedded AK Tidal app and listening to only the SP1000 then it is DECODED. With the Android Tidal app it is software first unfold only. If sent out the usb port to another dac and the USB setting is set to software decode than only the first unfold is done. If the usb setting is not checked then it is sent out untouched and can be decoded by an external MQA dac. Maybe @JasonNYC can confirm this.

The Android Tidal app does the first software unfold only for Android devices that do not have full MQA decoders in them. Devices like LG and Essential phones and AK players which have full MQA decoders in them and are certified by MQA will do the full unfold.

 

[JasonNYC]

@JasonNYC Did you have a chance to try Primephonic as well? Atm it doesn't allow to get past the login screen, but perhaps it's something A&K or the devs can fix easily.

I was having issues installing it on the KANN CUBE. I just received updated test firmware for the SP1000/SP1000M overnight. I will test it today on those players.

 

[Fafner]

The Android Tidal app does the first software unfold only for Android devices that do not have full MQA decoders in them. Devices like LG and Essential phones and AK players which have full MQA decoders in them and are certified by MQA will do the full unfold.

In other words, when sending out a digital signal to an external DAC, either with SPDIF or USB, the receiving DAC should get a fully unfolded signal? Ofc assuming you don't set the app to send out an untouched MQA signal.
Or what you're saying is focused strictly on music playing directly on the SP1000?

 

[JasonNYC]

@JasonNYC Did you have a chance to try Primephonic as well? Atm it doesn't allow to get past the login screen, but perhaps it's something A&K or the devs can fix easily.

Primephonic works on the SP1000/SP1000M. The issue with login is that when you go to log in, it opens a web browser and authenticates your log in via a web page, then directs back to the app, while most apps pass log in info through the app and not by opening a separate browser window. I will have to discuss with our dev team on how to pass the log in via a web page, then have it redirect to the app correctly.

 

[JasonNYC]

In other words, when sending out a digital signal to an external DAC, either with SPDIF or USB, the receiving DAC should get a fully unfolded signal? Ofc assuming you don't set the app to send out an untouched MQA signal.
Or what you're saying is focused strictly on music playing directly on the SP1000?

When passing via SPDIF or USB, you are bypassing the internal DAC and MQA decoder in the player. It will only unfold when playing on the player itself.

 

[Progisus]

In other words, when sending out a digital signal to an external DAC, either with SPDIF or USB, the receiving DAC should get a fully unfolded signal? Ofc assuming you don't set the app to send out an untouched MQA signal.
Or what you're saying is focused strictly on music playing directly on the SP1000?

There is a difference between unfold and decode that gives much confusion in MQA as I understand it. The AK player does a full decode when playing to itself on either the embedded app or the apk app as @JasonNYC has stated above. If playing through the usb port then only the first unfold is done if it selected in the usb setting.

 

[TheNameIsGerald]

The SP1000 will not process MQA when using as a USB DAC.

thank you for that unequivocal response. It would be interesting to learn if that is a technical limitation or a licensing restriction. But that doesn't change the fact, of course...