MQA - Format’s Future Uncertain

Posted on 8th April, 2023
MQA - Format’s Future Uncertain

MQA Ltd, the company behind the MQA digital music technology used extensively for TIDAL's Masters library, is going into administration.

The future for the MQA - Master Quality Authenticated - format seems to be hanging in the balance as MQA Ltd's financial backer seeks to exit.

MQA TIDAL Masters

The latest financials filed at Company's House shows a loss of over £4,000,000, alongside entries of a change in Director's details for Michael John Jbara on January 12th 2023 and the Termination of appointment of Anthony Edward Rupert as a director on March 17th 2023.

Meanwhile, The Gazette shows the appointment of Administrators on April 3rd.

MQA Adminisration

While anyone who has been an audio fan for more than a few years will be used to the coming and going of formats, this may have more significant implications regarding the firm's partnership with TIDAL as the streaming service uses MQA technology to enable its 'Masters' hi-res audio streams.

Could TIDAL make a move to buy the technology? If it is successful, will it keep it as MQA? This will be a question for manufacturers as many companies, most recently Innuos, have already licensed the MQA logo for their products which perform the 'unfolding'.

MQAir SCL6

Additionally, what will become of MQAir, the friendly name for SCL6, a new scalable hi-res format for mobile devices which already has PSB working on devices?

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.

Stay tuned for more details as we get them.

Visit MQA for more information

Jay Garrett's avatar
Jay Garrett

StereoNET’s resident rock star, bass player, and gadget junkie. Jay heads up StereoNET as Editor for the United Kingdom and Europe regions. His passion for gadgets and Hi-Fi is second only to being a touring musician.

Posted in: Hi-Fi | Music | Industry

JOIN IN THE DISCUSSION

Want to share your opinion or get advice from other enthusiasts? Then head into the Message Forums where thousands of other enthusiasts are communicating on a daily basis.
CLICK HERE FOR FREE MEMBERSHIP

applause awards

Each time StereoNET reviews a product, it is considered for an Applause Award. Winning one marks it out as a design of great quality and distinction – a special product in its class, on the grounds of either performance, value for money, or usually both.

Applause Awards are personally issued by StereoNET’s global Editor-in-Chief, David Price – who has over three decades of experience reviewing hi-fi products at the highest level – after consulting with our senior editorial team. They are not automatically given with all reviews, nor can manufacturers purchase them.

The StereoNET editorial team includes some of the world’s most experienced and respected hi-fi journalists with a vast wealth of knowledge. Some have edited popular English language hi-fi magazines, and others have been senior contributors to famous audio journals stretching back to the late 1970s. And we also employ professional IT and home theatre specialists who work at the cutting edge of today’s technology.

We believe that no other online hi-fi and home cinema resource offers such expert knowledge, so when StereoNET gives an Applause Award, it is a trustworthy hallmark of quality. Receiving such an award is the prerequisite to becoming eligible for our annual Product of the Year awards, awarded only to the finest designs in their respective categories. Buyers of hi-fi, home cinema, and headphones can be sure that a StereoNET Applause Award winner is worthy of your most serious attention.

Licensing Information

00004387