How to Save Tidal MQA Downloads after Tidal dropped MQA

Part 1. What Is Tidal MQA

The full name of MQA is Master Quality Authenticated, so it is also called Master on Tidal. It is a method of preserving the original music quality by delivering master recordings straight from the artist to the listener. Distinct from traditional compressed files, MQA features small file sizes. So, it's easy to download or stream without sacrificing sound quality. Tidal MQA provides high-resolution audio (typically 24-bit/192 kHz), which is much higher than Tidal's HiFi (16-bit/44.1 kHz). If you get the Tidal MQA downloads, you can enjoy high-quality audio offline on high-tech devices.

It is obvious that MQA is the best on Tidal. However, many users found that MQA is not really lossless and they didn't want to pay for it. Until July 24, 2024, Tidal announced that they replace Tidal MQA with FLAC. Besides, music in 360 Reality Audio formats is removed.

⭐ FYI: Tidal Audio Format Updates

❓ Why Is Tidal Dropping MQA?

User Feedback and Demand: It's possible that user feedback played a role. If a large portion of Tidal's user base expressed a preference for other high-quality formats over MQA, Tidal may have decided to align with consumer demands.

MQA Ltd. Financial Troubles: In 2023, there were reports about MQA Ltd. (the company behind the technology) facing financial difficulties and entering administration. Tidal's decision to drop MQA could be partially influenced by the uncertain future of the company behind the format.

⭐ FYI: High-Res Stream Provider MQA Loses Backing, Enters Administration

Preference for Lossless Audio: Many audiophiles prefer pure lossless formats like FLAC, which preserve the original sound quality without compression. In contrast, MQA employs a form of lossy compression, which some claim affects sound fidelity.

See also: How to Download Tidal music to lossless FLAC

Device Compatibility Issues: MQA requires specialized hardware (such as MQA-certified DACs or players) to fully decode and reproduce its "folded" high-resolution files. This added hardware requirement limits MQA's accessibility.

🔑 What Happened to Tidal MQA Music Collection?

Transition to FLAC: Tidal replaced many MQA tracks with FLAC versions. FLAC is an open-source, lossless format that delivers high-quality audio without the need for specialized hardware, making it more accessible to a broader audience.

No More MQA Masters: The "Tidal Masters" collection, which previously highlighted albums encoded with MQA, may have been phased out or transitioned into other categories of high-resolution or HiFi content.

See also: How to Download Tidal Hi-Res Music

Part 2. Does Tidal Still Use MQA

Some are happy and some are unhappy. Some people hope they can continue to access and download Tidal MQA music. Does Tidal still use MQA? In the latest version of Tidal, you can't find it. Maybe you can downgrade to the old version app.

How to Find and Listen to MQA on Tidal (Old Version)

If you still use the Tidal app that supports MQA, simply open it and play tracks labeled with 'MASTER'.

If you had updated to the latest app, you can uninstall it and download an old version on web browsers. Just search for 'Tidal old version'.

Part 3. How to Download MQA on Tidal on PC/Mac

Like most music streaming services on the market, Tidal employs protection technology to protect music copyrights. That is to say, even if you subscribe to Tidal HiFi Plus, you cannot download MQA music from Tidal onto your computer's local folder. Also, you cannot save Tidal MQA downloads on the Tidal desktop app because Tidal only has the download feature on its mobile app. So, you'd better use a professional Tidal MQA downloader to download Tidal music on computers locally.

AudFree Tidal Music Downloader is dedicated to downloading Tidal music to different types of local formats (MP3/WAV/FLAC/AAC/M4A/M4B). This smart Tidal downloader preserves 100% lossless music quality and ID3 tags of all Tidal songs. Besides, it allows you to change the output parameters for Tidal music. For example, you can customize the bitrate, sample rate, audio channels, etc. to keep the lossless Tidal audio quality.

Due to its precise interface and 5 times faster conversion speed, the operation process is very simple and short. With the help of this tool, you can transfer Tidal MQA downloads to any streamers.

How to Get Tidal MQA Downloads on Computers Losslessly

Simply click on the green 'Download' button above to install the free trial version of AudFree Tidal Music Converter. Then follow the steps below to save Tidal MQA downloads and other Tidal music to MP3 or more formats on a computer with 100% original sound quality.

Step 1Import Tidal MQA Music to AudFree Tidable

Open the AudFree Tidal Music Converter, then the Tidal app will be automatically opened. Copy the link to the MQA tracks from Tidal. Then please paste it into the search box on the AudFree Tidable homepage. After that, simply click the '+' button to add it. Or you can try another way: drag and drop songs from Tidal to this software's main interface.

Step 2Reset the Tidal MQA Output Format

You can define the output format of Tidal music according to your requirements. On Mac computers, you have to click the 'AudFree Tidal Music Converter' icon on the menu bar located on the top left corner. On Windows, you need to click on the 'Menu' button that looks like three horizontal lines in the top right corner, and then select the 'Preferences' > 'Convert' bar. There is a settings window. You can customize the output format of your Tidal MQA music to a common one.

Step 3Get Tidal MQA Downloads to Computers Locally

Simply click the prominent 'Convert' button in the bottom right corner. The program will then run at a 5X faster speed to download music from Tidal and save it in the format you set before. The conversion process won't take long, depending on the number of songs or playlists you've imported. After the conversion, navigate to the destination folder on your computer to get all Tidal MQA free downloads.

Video GuideGet Tidal MQA Audio Downloads

See how to get Tidal MQA music downloads via AudFree Tidal Music Converter.

Part 4. How to Get Tidal MQA Downloads on Android/iPhone

Tidal HiFi Plus users can play Tidal MQA audio downloads offline. Please upgrade to this high-end plan of Tidal in advance. Now, you can follow the steps below to download Tidal MQA songs on mobile devices.

How to Download Tidal MQA Music on iPhone/Android

Step 1. Open the Tidal app for Android or iOS and go to 'Home'.

Step 2. Tap on the 'search' bar to find your desired music. Once there is a 'MASTER' symbol, then you can download it in MQA music quality.

Step 3. Now, please tap on that item to hit the 'Download' option to download Tidal music in MQA quality on iPhone or Android devices.

Step 4. When this process is complete, you can find all Tidal MQA downloads in the 'My Collection' > 'Downloaded' section for offline listening.

📢 The saved songs are only temporary cached audio files and cannot be accessed on other devices or platforms. You will fail to access those Tidal MQA downloads after your subscription ends. Therefore, a powerful Tidal MQA downloader like AudFree Tidal Music Converter should be considered.

Part 5. How to Get Tidal MQA Audio Downloads for Free

Apart from the above two methods, there are also two free ways. One is Tidal-Media-Downloader. Another way to download Tidal MQA music free is to use Tidal Premium APK.

5.1 How to Get Tidal MQA Music Download Freely via Tidal-dl/Tidal-gui

Tidal-Media-Downloader includes two versions: Tidal-dl and Tidal-gui. Tidal-dl features a command-line interface while Tidal-gui is a graphical user interface tool. Both of them can be used to download HiFi and Master audio from Tidal in various local formats, such as MP3, FLAC, AAC, etc. Since you are new to this free Tidal MQA downloader, we have listed the detailed steps to use it below.

Step 1. Download and install Tidal-dl or Tidal-gui from GitHub.

Step 2. Open the 'tidal-dl.exe' or the 'tidal-gui.exe' file on your device to launch the downloading window. For Tidal-gui users, you may need to log into your Tidal account.

Step 3. Then you can start to download MQA music free from Tidal. On the Tidal-gui downloader, you can browse and search for the Master or HiFi music you want and tap on the lower-right 'Download' button directly to download Tidal songs onto your computer.

Step 4. For Tidal-dl users, please enter the specific number on the command-line interface. Then follow the prompts to download Tidal MQA files from it.

5.2 How to Get Tidal MQA Audio Download Free via Tidal Premium APK

It is a modified version of Tidal, allowing users to use Tidal Premium features on Android phones without cost. With this Tidal APK Premium Mod, you can easily get Tidal MQA downloads freely. Please note that this software is unofficial and it may damage your devices and Tidal account potentially.

Step 1. Download the Tidal Mod Premium APK file from a reputable source on your Android device.

Step 2. Enable installation from unknown sources in 'Security/Privacy' under your device's 'Settings'.

Step 3. Find the downloaded APK file on your device and tap to install it.

Step 4. Open the Tidal app after installation. Create a new account if you're a new user or login if you already have one. Then, you can use this modified Tidal version to play and download MQA music on Tidal.

Part 6. Best Tidal MQA Streamers and DACs for Audiophiles

To get a full MQA music listening experience, you need to have compatible hardware such as a music streamer or DAC(digital-to-analog converter) to connect your computer. Here we list the top 5 best Tidal MQA streamers and DACs for your reference:

Top Tidal MQA Streamers

• Cambridge Audio CXN (V2)
• Mytek Brooklyn Bridge
• Aurender A10
• Naim ND 555/555 PS DR
• Cambridge Audio Edge NQ

For more options of music streamers, please visit this page: Top 10 Best Tidal Music Streamers for MQA/HiFi.

Top DACs for Tidal MQA

• Mytek Brooklyn DAC+
• Bluesound NODE 2i DAC for Tidal
• FiiO K3 Tidal DAC
• iFi Zen DAC for Tidal
• SMSL M500 MQA DAC

For more options of the best DACs, please visit this page: Top 10 Best Tidal DACs for MQA.

You can just select one from the above list and then start your amazing music journey. Or if you already have a DAC or music streamer but it is not compatible with Tidal, don't worry, AudFree Tidal Music Converter can help you. It allows you to transfer Tidal MQA file downloads to any DAC and streamer.

Part 7. FAQs about Tidal MQA

Q1: Tidal HiFi vs MQA, Which Is Better?

A: Tidal MQA claims that its data stream is like the bandwidth required for CD-quality tracks. According to the description on the Tidal website, MQA audio is an authenticated and unbroken sound that is typically stored at 9216 kbps or 192 kHz / 24-bit (the highest possible resolution).

HiFi music is an excellent sound with a resolution of 1411 kbps or 44.1 kHz / 16-bit. Thus, we can see that MQA provides better quality music than HiFi provides.

Q2: Is It Better to Play Tidal MQA via DAC or Streamer?

A: Of course. If you connect your device to an MQA-enabled DAC or streamer, you'll get certified lighting and better audio quality.

Q3: What Is Tidal Master Quality (Tidal MQA Bitrate/Sample Rate)?

A: We can find the Tidal MQA quality from Tidal subscription plans. It indicates that with a Tidal HiFi Plus account, you can enjoy Tidal MQA with the Max sound quality at 24-bit/192kHz. And Tidal claims that in the future, it will change its MQA quality to 24-bit/352kHz.

Q4: What Is Passthrough MQA on Tidal?

A: Tidal passthrough MQA means that Tidal gives MQA sound to an external MQA-enabled DAC particularly older DACs, or audio systems without any alteration or decoding by Tidal's software. It enables your DAC to address Tidal Master recordings while disabling MQA unfolding in Tidal. This endows you with the full MQA experience, including high-quality audio and authentication of the original source.

Q5: Is Tidal Moving away from MQA?

A: There are many users who say on Reddit that Tidal will end MQA music. But we still can find songs in MQA quality in Tidal now. Tidal didn't mention important information about MQA in its new Tidal plan but you can save MQA audio downloads as local files first to avoid Tidal dropping MQA.

Q6: What Is the Best Downloader for Tidal MQA?

A: From the Tidal MQA downloaders we recommend above, we conclude that the AudFree Tidal Music Converter is easy to use and can keep Tidal music forever.

Part 8. In Conclusion

Tidal ended MQA but you can use the old version of Tidal to get it. It may not work all the time, so you should save Tidal MQA downloads onto a local folder. AudFree Tidal Music Converter is highly recommended. You can use it to download Tidal tracks to 6 popular formats locally. In such a way, listening to your favorite Tidal MQA music downloads on any device is easy. Of course, you can use some free tools like Tidal-dl, Tidal-gui, or Tidal Mod Premium APK. Although they do not offer as many advanced functions as AudFree, they are worth a try.