The master MQA file is fully authenticated and is small enough to stream or download. MQA (Master Quality Authenticated) is an award-winning British technology that delivers the sound of the original master recording. This product will include ‘stream lock’ but is not able to decode an MQA stream or authenticate it. This product includes MQA Renderer technology, which can connect to an MQA Core signal and complete the final unfold of an MQA file. Qobuz streams and downloads music in bit-perfect FLAC, the most widely used format for mastering and archiving, at resolutions of up to 24-bit/192kHz.
Using a Super LOW ESR tantal capacitors, high grade components in power-supply design and 4 layer golden plated PCB technology from PC and smart phone industry, Sparrow reduces the noise to minimum. The entire process requires no additional design work. The ES9281PRO automatically detects the MQA stream and engage the rendering. The encoding process folds extra information into the signal that can be recovered later. The ES9281PRO is the first USB product that offers an integrated hardware MQA (Master Quality Authenticated) renderer that makes MQA playback easy and cost-efficient.
Sparrow is powered by ES9281PRO, the flagship of the ESS line, which can provide best-in-class audio performance at 124 dB DNR and -112 Total Harmonic Distortion plus Noise (THD+N). Yes, some components are made in China, but there's some give and take at this price point. Our chassis are made minutes from our facility. The vast majority of the total production cost of Earmen - chassis, boards, transformers, assembly, etc - stays local. Sparrow’s great characteristics are available by using the best components and materials. In cooperation with Auris Audio, well known European High End company, EarMen designs a Sparrow, High quality DAC and amp, with impressive characteristics.ĭesigned to process digital sound of up to High-Resolution Audio quality into analog for greater detail, clarity, and precision, Sparrow delivers audio close to the original studio recording.