MQA (Master Quality Authenticated)
MQA is an award-winning British technology that delivers
the sound of the original master recording. The master MQA
file is fully authenticated and is small enough to stream or
download.
Visit mqa.co.uk for more information.
The AI-303 includes MQA technology, which enables you to
play back MQA audio files and streams, delivering the sound
of the original master recording.
The state of the MQA indicator shows whether the unit is
decoding and playing an MQA stream or file, guaranteeing
that the sound is identical to that of the source material.
When the MQA indicator lights blue, this shows that the file
playing is an MQA studio file that has either been approved
in the studio by the artist/producer or has been verified by
the copyright owner.
o This unit can decode MQA streams and files only when
the playback source is USB, HDMI (ARC), COAXIAL or
OPTICAL.
Indicator during MQA playback
Type
MQA indicator
MQA
Green
MQA Studio
Blue
MQA Core
Magenta
14
Crossfeed function
o By using the crossfeed function when listening through
headphones, a sound that is closer to the sound heard
from speakers can be re-created. In particular, this can
improve appreciation of music recorded with extreme
left and right channel separation, which was common in
the early days of stereo recording, as well as when listen-
ing for extended periods.
o When using speakers, the sound image will be focused
toward the center of the stereo field. This has the effect
of making vocals and narration clearer and easier to
understand.
o Turn the CROSSFEED knob all the way to the left to turn
off the crossfeed function and use ordinary stereo play-
back. Turning this all the way to the right will focus all
the sound to the center and make it mono.
HDMI (eARC)
By using a single HDMI cable to connect the HDMI connec-
tor of this unit to the ARC connector of a TV that supports
ARC (Audio Return Channel) or eARC (Enhanced Audio
Return Channel), digital audio (up to 192kHz/24-bit) from
the TV or player connected to the TV can be output from the
speaker and headphone jacks of the AI-303.
Since HDMI CEC is supported, the TV remote control can be
used to adjust the volume of this unit and mute it. In addi-
tion, the power of this unit can be linked to turning the TV
power on/off (standby).
o HDMI CEC support commands differ according to the TV,
so synchronized operation with all TVs is not guaranteed.
o This unit complies with the eARC (Enhanced Audio
Return Channel) specification, but it does not support
the decoding of Dolby Atmos®, Dolby TrueHD, DTS:X™,
DTS-HD and other formats. Set the audio output of the
TV to linear PCM before connecting.
o The digital audio signals that can be output varies by
TV. Even if a Blu-Ray Player or other playback device out-
puts high-resolution audio signals, the TV might restrict
resolution to 48kHz/16-bit. For details, check with the
manufacturer of the TV that you are using.