What's Up? (Jun '21)

I discuss the implications of Apple Music switching it's library to lossless, recent escalation in the controversy surrounding MQA and new product releases than caught my eye.

Time stamps
Intro 0:00
Apple Music lossless 0:19
MQA controversy 3:48
Iota VX NP3 6:16
Exposure 3510 7:16
Elac Uni-Fi Reference 8:09

Links to my Patreon

Apple Music Lossless news release

Golden Sound MQA video

ABA latest article on Ecoustics

Exposure website (3510 not added yet)

Iota VX NP3 webpage

Elac Uni-Fi Reference webpage

[dandeluca]

Great video, I think you are the most balanced and thoughtful and well-spoken audio reviewer/educator I've encountered. Keep up the good work!

[ecyfoto]

MQA’s future looks less than favorable since the vast majority of folks will stream in 16/44. The need for a compression codec for hi res listening becomes less relevant everyday since the public’s access to more and more bandwidth allows for easier hi res listening/downloading. MQA was a solution for a problem that was barely there to begin with and now that has virtually disappeared. MQA is a niche product in an already tiny segment of the streaming universe. Nice job as usual, T.

[cheapaudioman]

Tarun, I’ve got you on my living room TV and it’s like you’re here. It’s very nice. I should have cleaned up a bit

[fernei]

Thank you Tarun, good coverage of current topics and as usual very informative. Repeating this type of video periodically is a good idea.

[fts]

You and Darko have really nailed the Apple Music issue, congrats. For me, still 99% vinyl and 1% bluesound via my NAD amp :)

[yyams]

Yep dude, always good to hear from you whatever it is. Whatever the subject is - knowledge + passion + youtube = quality.

[edholmwood]

You always have interesting and thoughtful content. I look forward to you next "news/opinion" video. Thx.

[CC-bggf]

Your take on speakers that have the potential of being as good or better than your 1SCs would make for a great video series. Most people with limited experience like me would also love to hear about non-standard speaker designs like open baffle, omnidirectional, flat panel, etc. These news videos are great. Thanks Tarun!

[amcastre]

Great information sir. Always a pleasure to be enlightened by your knowledge

[carreras]

Great segment 'Whats Up' like to see more of this. Here in north america i have my main three youtube audio guys but for the other side of the pond your the best. I like hearing, seeing new audio products thats not available to us over here. I been saving thousands. Keep your great vids going.

[AtriGadhvi]

Damn Tarun, brilliant way of explaining complicated content.. I m backing up Golden Sound as you, Steve, Paul and Hans have good understanding of sound so can’t argue about that but a newbies like me can hear the difference clearly while playing MQA to a normal CD 💿 or CD quality sound at 16-44.
At my work when I show differences to my colleagues they did notice the sound differences even none of them are Audiophile or has vast knowledge and experience like you guys do.
Honestly we want to hear your take on MQA vs CD 💿 as your subscribers believe your honest opinion as they trust your unbiased take on audio gears and they way audio reacts.

[roscoejones]

My question for MQA is this: they initially claimed that MQA was 'lossless' (even to the point of using the term in their logo). Now that it has been shown that it is not, in fact, lossless, they have removed the word from their logo, and now say it is 'better than lossless'. So were they so incompetent they did not know their product was not lossless, or did they think no one would find out? It has to be either of those answers, neither of which makes me want to support the company.

[frostycanada]

Hello Tarun, I personally use and enjoy Deezer when it comes to streaming CD quality music at a reasonable price. I also subscribe to tidal and have zero complaints. Apple has a long way to go and I won’t be changing to Apple any time soon.

My Atoll streamer can decode MQA and the streams sound very good to me.

I don’t care much for GoldenSound controversy (much to do about nothing) and I would love to hear an interview with Bob Stuart.

I’m not a pro about all this, but it would be interesting to hear Bob’s thoughts on the creation of MQA and how it differs to aptX and other lossy / not lossy compression formats. It’s important to note that MQA is highly adopted by leading manufacturers who have engineers way smarter to the both of us.

Take care,
Brian

[jdekong]

cheers for the news round up Tarun, great stuff, hope you`re well, happy Saturday! 🥂

[ChrisFellin]

Love your videos. Kudo’s for adding “chapters” and links to each chapter.

[surfrico]

Hi Tarun, very much looking forward to your review of the Iota VX NP3.
Thanks for such insightful and informative content.

[fletchermunson]

Well Done Tarun. I just assembled a kit speaker, the CSS Criton a seven inch two way book shelf speaker. I am amazed at the sound quality. Compared to the homogeneous sound of my Dynaudios, the Critons are bold, articulate and dynamic. The bass extension is very pleasing as is the quality and articulation. They are very well balanced not being bright. Overall I am very pleased. Not having listened to the Dynaudios for a while I was amazed in the difference in character. Here in the US. The Dynaudio Evoke 20s retail for $2200. The basic Criton kit is $550 plus $150 for the flat pack cut and machined MDF cabinet kit. By the time you purchase a 4x8 piece of wood veneer, glue, sandpaper, an edge router bit and maybe a small router, you will probably have near $950 invested in the CSS speakers. In the UK, I think one would want to purchase the speaker and crossover kit and have someone cut he cabinets locally. Maybe out of Baltic birch. The crossover assembly is fool proof and there is a certain visceral reward in making your own pair of speakers. They also have a smaller monitor with a 5.5" woofer. Listening to the Dynaudios is a bit like sipping good whisky in a gentleman's club and the Criton like dropping an egg in your beer and slamming down a shot of Jack in a waterfront dive. The excitement factor is addicting.

[mtiken]

You nailed it again Tarun. Looking forward for the NP3 review from you.

[brianwalsh]

I think this is a great format - good to catch up on the breaking news.

[vicentemonsalve]

Hi Tarun, nice summary, just wanted to let you know that I like this new series of videos, well done, keep up the good work!