Bluesound confirms MQA hi-res support will be free upgrade

MQA is the new audio technology that promises to make hi-res music files easier to stream without consuming huge amounts of bandwidth or sacrificing quality, and there have already been a number of announcements at CES 2016 concerning hardware support.

Tidal showcased hi-res streaming using MQA, while HTC demoed its One A9 phone streaming MQA hi-res files.

Now Bluesound has got in on the act, announcing all of its products - 1st-gen and 2nd-gen - will soon be MQA compatible. A free firmware update will bring MQA support to all Bluesound products later this year. The only thing missing - as with Tidal - is an official release date.

The Award-winning multi-room system will also be demonstrating a proof of concept at CES, streaming hi-res MQA files on one of its products on the CES show floor.

Greg Stidsen, Bluesound director of technology and product planning, said: "MQA is at the very forefront of digital audio, and we’re proud to lead the way for wireless multi-room systems to support MQA’s lossless audio files. Fusing Bluesound’s proprietary BluOSsoftware and advanced audio architecture, with MQA’s scientific approach to digital processing, makes it possible for listeners to stream authentic Studio Master recordings in real time with enhanced audio quality."

MORE: Bluesound Generation 2 review

MORE: CES 2016 news highlights

Joe Cox
Content Director

Joe is Content Director for T3 and What Hi-Fi?, having previously been the Global Editor-in-Chief of What Hi-Fi?. He has worked on What Hi-Fi? across the print magazine and website for more than 15 years, writing news, reviews and features on everything from turntables to TVs, headphones to hi-fi separates. He has covered product launch events across the world, from Apple to Technics, Sony and Samsung; reported from CES, the Bristol Show, and Munich High End for many years; and written for sites such as the BBC, Stuff, and the Guardian. In his spare time, he enjoys expanding his vinyl collection and cycling (not at the same time).