MQA is going into administration

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"MQA's main financial backer is seeking an exit"

MQA is going into administration
(Image credit: MQA)

MQA Ltd, the company behind the MQA digital music technology, is going into administration.

We don't have many details at the moment, and it's uncertain if the firm's partnership with Tidal – which uses MQA technology to enable its 'hi-res' audio streams – will be affected. But we do know that MQA Ltd is seeking a buyer and has undergone a restructuring process. (Update: Tidal has confirmed to What Hi-Fi? that the MQA library will remain.)

The full statement from MQA reads as follows: 

"Following the recent positive reception to MQA’s latest technology (SCL6), there has been increased international interest in buying MQA Ltd. At the same time, MQA’s main financial backer is seeking an exit. In order to be in the best position to pursue market opportunities and expedite this process, the company has undergone a restructuring initiative, which includes entering into administration and is comparable to Chapter 11 in the US.

"During this process, MQA continues to trade as usual alongside its partners.

"We won't be commenting further while negotiations take place."

This is a breaking news story, we'll bring you more details as they emerge.

MORE:

MQA audio: what is it? How can you get it?

Read our full Tidal review

High-resolution audio: everything you need to know

Joe Svetlik
Joe Svetlik

Joe has been writing about tech for 17 years, first on staff at T3 magazine, then in a freelance capacity for Stuff, The Sunday Times Travel Magazine, Men's Health, GQ, The Mirror, Trusted Reviews, TechRadar and many more (including What Hi-Fi?). His specialities include all things mobile, headphones and speakers that he can't justifying spending money on.

13 Comments Comment from the forums
  • npxavar
    This is quite unique. Wanting to sell a company ends up in the company going into administration mode. This does not increase the value of the company, does it?
    Reply
  • PeterInVan
    MQA in Administration
    My concern is that this may impact my Tidal subscription.

    I have years invested in curating my Tidal playlists. They have done a good job of applying my preferences to their suggested listening. I like the UI and flexibility to play Tidal on any of my streaming devices. I "like" at least one new album per week.

    The only perceived advantage of the MQA compression is that I can download large "hi-res" playlists to my portable streamers.

    Let's hope that Tidal can afford to quickly convert their "Masters" to the original hi-res content (like Qobuz). If I were Tidal I would have a production line going already.

    Meanwhile I have exported all my playlists to .CSV in case I need to use Soundiz to move to another platform.

    Reply
  • nopiano
    PeterInVan said:
    MQA in Administration
    My concern is that this may impact my Tidal subscription.

    I have years invested in curating my Tidal playlists. They have done a good job of applying my preferences to their suggested listening. I like the UI and flexibility to play Tidal on any of my streaming devices. I "like" at least one new album per week.

    The only perceived advantage of the MQA compression is that I can download large "hi-res" playlists to my portable streamers.

    Let's hope that Tidal can afford to quickly convert their "Masters" to the original hi-res content (like Qobuz). If I were Tidal I would have a production line going already.

    Meanwhile I have exported all my playlists to .CSV in case I need to use Soundiz to move to another platform.

    I’m pretty sure Tidal offered to import my Qobuz play lists, so I’m guessing the reverse might apply, if it comes to it.
    Reply
  • gaburko
    Excellent news! A useless tech is going into oblivion, where it belongs. Good riddance! RIP and never come back, thank you.
    Reply
  • user name is already take
    At last, Bob Stuart's BS "lossless" snake oil sale is over!
    Reply
  • Hifiman
    While the necessity for MQA‘s hi-res compression is now not required by most people there might still be a use for it when streaming over 4/5G on a mobile. For this reason it might yet be of interest if it became an open standard.
    Reply
  • user name is already take
    Personally I would be very happy to see Tidal dispense with it and provide streams in their original bit depth and sampling rate, particularly the vast number of albums now masquerading as higher resolution than they were recorded originally!
    Reply
  • Terry Webb
    Hifiman said:
    While the necessity for MQA‘s hi-res compression is now not required by most people there might still be a use for it when streaming over 4/5G on a mobile. For this reason it might yet be of interest if it became an open standard.
    I agree with you. If you are living in rented accommodation with no access to broadband and want to listen to some hi-res music, MQA might be the only option to avoid extra excessive mobile phone bills.
    Reply
  • user name is already take
    One can always download the tracks. Besides, MQA wasn't sold as such, it was originally promoted as the ultimate lossless format, which was a lie on both counts. I hope the snake oil sale is over now!
    Reply
  • Hifiman
    Interesting news from Tidal:
    ’Breaking news for my reddit peeps: we will be introducing hi-res FLAC for our HiFi Plus subscribers soon. It's lossless and an open standard. It's a big file, but we'll give you controls to dial this up and down based on what's going on.’
    Reply