Sony Walkman custom firmware (non-Android)
Apr 19, 2024 at 5:39 AM Post #8,191 of 8,224
It needs to have the correct tags in metadata to be recognised. There is a tool I think on the mqa web site that will analyze flac files and add the correct tags
Do you have a link? Never heard about that before The exact same files are recognized as MQA with the iBasso 320MAX.
 
Apr 19, 2024 at 5:39 AM Post #8,192 of 8,224
There is MQA detection by tags, and MQA detection by scanning the whole file.

The Walkman players are only checking for the correct tags. If the tags are missing, then the file is not "seen" as MQA.
 
Apr 19, 2024 at 5:40 AM Post #8,193 of 8,224
Apr 19, 2024 at 5:41 AM Post #8,194 of 8,224
There is MQA detection by tags, and MQA detection by scanning the whole file.

The Walkman players are only checking for the correct tags. If the tags are missing, then the file is not "seen" as MQA.
That's strange because the same SD Card with MQA files was recognized by the Sony ZX-507.

How do I confirm if it has the correct tags?
 
Apr 19, 2024 at 5:46 AM Post #8,195 of 8,224
I have a full SandDisk 256GB SD Card with MQA files and it's not doing any decoding since it appears as FLAC only.
I don’t have many MQA files as quite frankly I don’t really care much about the format but here are a few that I have that’s encoded by the player correctly as you can see in the images.
 

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Apr 19, 2024 at 6:08 AM Post #8,196 of 8,224
Apr 19, 2024 at 6:09 AM Post #8,197 of 8,224
That's strange because the same SD Card with MQA files was recognized by the Sony ZX-507.

How do I confirm if it has the correct tags?

Maybe the ZX scans the whole files.

Just run your MQA FLAC files through the MQA Tag Restorer app, and it will put the right tags.
 
Apr 19, 2024 at 6:10 AM Post #8,198 of 8,224
I don’t have many MQA files as quite frankly I don’t really care much about the format but here are a few that I have that’s encoded by the player correctly as you can see in the images.
Thanks. I will check it later if the files have the correct tags.
 
Apr 19, 2024 at 6:11 AM Post #8,199 of 8,224
Maybe the ZX scans the whole files.

Just run your MQA FLAC files through the MQA Tag Restorer app, and it will put the right tags.
I will do it. Thanks.
 
Apr 19, 2024 at 9:06 AM Post #8,201 of 8,224
After using the MQA Tag Restorer App the files are now labelled as MQA but it only plays 44.1/48 Khz.
 
Apr 19, 2024 at 9:10 AM Post #8,202 of 8,224
After using the MQA Tag Restorer App the files are now labelled as MQA but it only plays 44.1/48 Khz.
Ah, that means that is the original bitrate of the files as the tag restore doesn’t change the file resolution but simply tag it as MQA.
 
Apr 19, 2024 at 9:30 AM Post #8,203 of 8,224
Ah, that means that is the original bitrate of the files as the tag restore doesn’t change the file resolution but simply tag it as MQA.
Maybe but it also seems isn't doing any unfold since all MQA files are 44.1 or 48 Khz.
 
Apr 19, 2024 at 10:13 AM Post #8,204 of 8,224
Is mqa better than flac with some albums? is there any point of getting it if I've flac?

Except the theory that they could just sound better due to the MQA technology, I think that at least sometimes the MQA files could be made from better masters.

Even a MP3 file can sound really good if the source file is just well-mastered.

Maybe but it also seems isn't doing any unfold since all MQA files are 44.1 or 48 Khz.

There are even MQA files packed in 16 bit FLAC files. MQA seems to be for more than just having high frequency data packed, but also about analysing the file, and then processing it in a way so it will be used with a certain filter (out of many possible with MQA) when "unfolding".
 
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Apr 19, 2024 at 10:33 AM Post #8,205 of 8,224
Maybe but it also seems isn't doing any unfold since all MQA files are 44.1 or 48 Khz.
The Walkman doesn’t unfold the MQA file. It just recognises it and plays it as it is. As the walkman was released 7-8 years ago even before the MQA format was released.
 

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