Just when you thought the MQA format was doomed to disappear after Tidal’s switch to FLAC, Master Quality Authenticated may well make a comeback in a new streaming service launched by HDTracks and the Lenbrook Group, now the owners of MQA.
A technological alliance
In early 2023, the company behind the MQA format was under threat, forcing Tidal in particular to switch its entire catalog to FLAC format. Shortly afterwards, Master Quality Authenticated was narrowly saved by the Lenbrook group, which bought the license. This major hi-fi player, which owns and manages a number of iconic brands such as NAD, Dali and Bluesound, is keen to leverage its innovative proprietary technologies to give the format a new lease of life. This seems to be starting with a new service launched in collaboration with HDTracks, the key to which lies in the use of Lenbrook’s Airia transmission codec.
The advantages of the Airia codec
Lenbrook’s new Airia technology optimizes audio signal transmission for optimum listening quality in all circumstances. Compared with other streaming technologies, Airia offers a significant reduction in latency and better bandwidth management, resulting in a smoother listening experience. This means that users can enjoy consistent high-resolution sound, even in less-than-ideal network conditions. According to Lenbrook, Airia technology “offers the benefits of a scalable, format-independent codec, combining outstanding audio quality, remarkable reliability and unrivalled data efficiency”.
PCM/FLAC and MQA
Users of this new streaming service will be able to choose between PCM/FLAC and MQA formats to ensure optimum compatibility with many devices. The Aria system will then supply the appropriate data as accurately as possible. In addition to its mobile app, this new service will be integrated into the ecosystem of numerous hi-fi amplifiers, network players and connected speakers. The aim of this integration is to ensure that users can easily access the streaming service via their existing systems, without requiring any additional investment. Lenbrook has not yet specified which brands are compatible, but there’s no doubt that the BluOS ecosystem shared by NAD and Bluesound will be among the first to be equipped.
For several years now, HDTracks has been keen to launch its own streaming service. The Hi-Res music specialist therefore seems to have pulled out all the stops by choosing the giant Lenbrook as its partner. By combining Lenbrook’s advanced transmission technology with HDTracks’ vast music library, this new streaming service could well become an essential reference in the world of high-resolution audio streaming.
