MQA (Master Quality Authenticated) is a hi-res audio format that folds high-frequency detail into a normal-looking lossless stream so it can stream at modest bitrates. MQA’s "origami" encoding hides the extra resolution below the noise floor, and a light-up dot in players signalled the file had been studio-authenticated. Analyser handles .MQA alongside related formats such as .APE, .WV, .TAK and more. In Analyser's format library, .MQA sits in the Audio category.

How do I open a .MQA file?

Drop a .MQA file onto Analyser at https://lab.valjdakosta.com/ and it is identified directly in your browser - no upload, no account and no software to install. Identify many more audio formats: lossless/hi-res codecs (Monkey’s Audio, WavPack, TAK, True Audio, DSD/SACD, Musepack), pro containers (Core Audio, RF64/BW64, Wave64, Sun AU, Broadcast Wave with timecode), speech/mobile (Speex, AMR-WB, QCP, 3GA, M4R, GSM), MPEG Layer I/II, instrument banks (SoundFont, SFZ, DLS, RIFF MIDI, GigaStudio), ringtones (RTTTL, iMelody, SAP), tracker modules (MOD, XM, IT, S3M, OctaMED, 669, Oktalyzer), chiptunes (NES NSF, SNES SPC, VGM, Game Boy GBS, AY, YM) and Audacity projects.

Can I open a .MQA file online for free?

Yes. Analyser is a free online .MQA identifier that runs entirely in your browser - your .MQA file never leaves your device, so there is nothing to upload and no software to install. It even works offline once installed.

.MQA file - what it is and how to identify it online

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Home › Formats › .MQAID

What is a .MQA file?

MQA (Master Quality Authenticated) is a hi-res audio format that folds high-frequency detail into a normal-looking lossless stream so it can stream at modest bitrates.

Did you know: MQA’s "origami" encoding hides the extra resolution below the noise floor, and a light-up dot in players signalled the file had been studio-authenticated.
Analyser handles .MQA alongside related formats such as .APE, .WV, .TAK and more.
In Analyser's format library, .MQA sits in the Audio category.
What Analyser reads: Identify many more audio formats: lossless/hi-res codecs (Monkey’s Audio, WavPack, TAK, True Audio, DSD/SACD, Musepack), pro containers (Core Audio, RF64/BW64, Wave64, Sun AU, Broadcast Wave with timecode), speech/mobile (Speex, AMR-WB, QCP, 3GA, M4R, GSM), MPEG Layer I/II, instrument banks (SoundFont, SFZ, DLS, RIFF MIDI, GigaStudio), ringtones (RTTTL, iMelody, SAP), tracker modules (MOD, XM, IT, S3M, OctaMED, 669, Oktalyzer), chiptunes (NES NSF, SNES SPC, VGM, Game Boy GBS, AY, YM) and Audacity projects.
Depth of analysis: .MQA is an identification-grade format: Analyser recognises it from its bytes and decodes the header metadata it carries, rather than opening it in a full viewer. Formats that do get a full viewer are marked "Full" on the formats page.
Open a .MQA file: Drag a .MQA file onto the Analyser home page (or tap to pick one). It is identified entirely in your browser - nothing is uploaded, there is no account, and it works offline once installed.
Related formats: .APE · .WV · .TAK · .TTA · .OFR · .DSF · .DFF · .MPC · .CAF · .RF64 · .BW64 · .W64 · .AU · .SND · .VOC · .BWF · .SPX · .AWB and more. See all supported file types.