Qobuz streaming service, anyone use it?

[Joe Cox]

Now on Sonos in the UK (and France, Germany, UK, Ireland, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland and Austria)

http://whf.cm/Kgz6jg

 

[skippy]

Does this mean Sonos are thinking of going hi-def?

 

[skippy]

Does this mean Sonos are thinking of going hi-def?

 

[Joe Cox]

I've asked the question...

 

[skippy]

Good man.
Make sure you let us know

 

[The_Lhc]

I've asked the question...

I'd say categorically no, 24-bit audio support has been marked as "Not Planned" on the ask.sonos.com site for a couple of years now (and still is), it would make a bit of a mockery of that if they did it now. Besides, I still don't think the hardware can do it without disabling the volume control, which wouldn't be much use on anything other than the Connect.

 

[Joe Cox]

Sonos confirmed, as expected, that it can only play CD-quality files, nothing high-res, so doesn't look like any plans to change that for now.

Still, a streaming service with FLAC on Sonos is good. Works nicely enough though it doesn't tell you the file type of the track until you play it, which is a bit annoying, especially when there are multiple versions.

 

[g777o]

I think this will be too expensive for me as a streaming service. As I already pay for spotify, and this does exactly what I want.

But for downloads of flacs it looks great.

Ive found many albums and eps which were limited in production, and can only be found now in mp3.(or very expensive on ebay) Buying a flac download in 16/44 is a great alternative l!

 

[Andy Clough]

Anyone else had this problem when registering for Qobuz?
You seem to be logging in from: Palestinian Territories Welcome! Qobuz is an online music streaming and download service.
It is not yet available for your country.I keep getting the same message.

 

[bluedroog]

Not heard that one Andy, perhaps something to do with your browser using some proxy server (I actually don't even know if that makes sense!). Have you tried via another browser? How are you using it via browser or desktop app? Have you tired mobile app? Was it working before or are you tryig it for the first time?

 

[Andy Clough]

Registered last night (on laptop) and had the same issue when I logged on this evening via my home Mac (Virgin Media broadband). I can access the free playlist but that's all. Will try another device - want to try it on Sonos.

 

[BigH]

I think this will be too expensive for me as a streaming service. As I already pay for spotify, and this does exactly what I want.

But for downloads of flacs it looks great.

Ive found many albums and eps which were limited in production, and can only be found now in mp3.(or very expensive on ebay) Buying a flac download in 16/44 is a great alternative l!

What are the albums?

 

[g777o]

I think this will be too expensive for me as a streaming service. As I already pay for spotify, and this does exactly what I want.

But for downloads of flacs it looks great.

Ive found many albums and eps which were limited in production, and can only be found now in mp3.(or very expensive on ebay) Buying a flac download in 16/44 is a great alternative l!

What are the albums?

To be honest, I think its more limited run cd eps and live versions that i noticed, rather than full length studio albums.

Two of laura marlings live albums, a couple of Ben Howards ep's. All of which cannot be bought on CD anymore, are some examples that I found.

 

[BigH]

I think this will be too expensive for me as a streaming service. As I already pay for spotify, and this does exactly what I want.

But for downloads of flacs it looks great.

Ive found many albums and eps which were limited in production, and can only be found now in mp3.(or very expensive on ebay) Buying a flac download in 16/44 is a great alternative l!

What are the albums?

To be honest, I think its more limited run cd eps and live versions that i noticed, rather than full length studio albums.

Two of laura marlings live albums, a couple of Ben Howards ep's. All of which cannot be bought on CD anymore, are some examples that I found.

OK Thanks.

For downloads you could try this site: http://www.highresaudio.com/index.php?sid=1&genre=30&nv=k&page=1

 

[Andy Madden]

Hi all,

just a quick note to let you know we're going to be doing a thorough music streaming services feature/test in the April issue of the magazine, including Qobuz, Spotify, Sony Music Unlimited, Google Play Music and more...

 

[20bore]

I have benn running both spotify and qobuz premium services. Spotify is good and does what it says on the tin. Qobuz costs twice as much and I resent beings his to be charged £19.99 gbp as opposed to everyone else paying 19.99euros. Part of their deal is to offer a discount on the cost of downloads but I couldn't find any of their music that was available for download in UK.

Qobuz choice of music was significantly less than choice offered on Spotify. There was a slight but noticeable better sound quality to the Qobuz service but I decided this was not worth paying double the price for.

All of this is bad enough but on other Hifi Forums I have learnt that some UK customers have had their accounts allowed to enable them to take advantage of the download service and to pay in Euros resulting in a significantly cheaper service. I wrote and asked for my account to be similarly treated and was refused.

i have subsequently written to Qobuz customer care department complaining and I await their response

.

perhaps if you are preparing a feature on these services you would like to take up some of these issues with them

thanks

 

[BigH]

Hi all,

just a quick note to let you know we're going to be doing a thorough music streaming services feature/test in the April issue of the magazine, including Qobuz, Spotify, Sony Music Unlimited, Google Play Music and more...

Thats good, hope you include Deezer and Rdio.

 

[BigH]

I have benn running both spotify and qobuz premium services. Spotify is good and does what it says on the tin. Qobuz costs twice as much and I resent beings his to be charged £19.99 gbp as opposed to everyone else paying 19.99euros. Part of their deal is to offer a discount on the cost of downloads but I couldn't find any of their music that was available for download in UK.

Qobuz choice of music was significantly less than choice offered on Spotify. There was a slight but noticeable better sound quality to the Qobuz service but I decided this was not worth paying double the price for.

All of this is bad enough but on other Hifi Forums I have learnt that some UK customers have had their accounts allowed to enable them to take advantage of the download service and to pay in Euros resulting in a significantly cheaper service. I wrote and asked for my account to be similarly treated and was refused.

i have subsequently written to Qobuz customer care department complaining and I await their response

.

perhaps if you are preparing a feature on these services you would like to take up some of these issues with them

thanks

I use Deezer its free for 1 year and has no adverts, can't tell the difference between Spotify and Deezer sound wise, have tried Rdio as well, more uswer friendly than Spotify but limited trial. Deezer is only £4.99 pm now.

 

[lpv]

I have benn running both spotify and qobuz premium services. Spotify is good and does what it says on the tin. Qobuz costs twice as much and I resent beings his to be charged £19.99 gbp as opposed to everyone else paying 19.99euros. Part of their deal is to offer a discount on the cost of downloads but I couldn't find any of their music that was available for download in UK.

Qobuz choice of music was significantly less than choice offered on Spotify. There was a slight but noticeable better sound quality to the Qobuz service but I decided this was not worth paying double the price for.

All of this is bad enough but on other Hifi Forums I have learnt that some UK customers have had their accounts allowed to enable them to take advantage of the download service and to pay in Euros resulting in a significantly cheaper service. I wrote and asked for my account to be similarly treated and was refused.

i have subsequently written to Qobuz customer care department complaining and I await their response

.

perhaps if you are preparing a feature on these services you would like to take up some of these issues with them

thanks

I've asked them too for numbers of 'adjustments' to their player as well as drastic upgrades to their library but their responses are enigmatic and I rather spend my £20 on music a month elsewhere.

 

[BigH]

I have benn running both spotify and qobuz premium services. Spotify is good and does what it says on the tin. Qobuz costs twice as much and I resent beings his to be charged £19.99 gbp as opposed to everyone else paying 19.99euros. Part of their deal is to offer a discount on the cost of downloads but I couldn't find any of their music that was available for download in UK.

Qobuz choice of music was significantly less than choice offered on Spotify. There was a slight but noticeable better sound quality to the Qobuz service but I decided this was not worth paying double the price for.

All of this is bad enough but on other Hifi Forums I have learnt that some UK customers have had their accounts allowed to enable them to take advantage of the download service and to pay in Euros resulting in a significantly cheaper service. I wrote and asked for my account to be similarly treated and was refused.

i have subsequently written to Qobuz customer care department complaining and I await their response

.

perhaps if you are preparing a feature on these services you would like to take up some of these issues with them

thanks

I've asked them too for numbers of 'adjustments' to their player as well as drastic upgrades to their library but their responses are enigmatic and I rather spend my £20 on music a month elsewhere.

I believe Qubuz is french.

 

[g777o]

I have benn running both spotify and qobuz premium services. Spotify is good and does what it says on the tin. Qobuz costs twice as much and I resent beings his to be charged £19.99 gbp as opposed to everyone else paying 19.99euros. Part of their deal is to offer a discount on the cost of downloads but I couldn't find any of their music that was available for download in UK.

Qobuz choice of music was significantly less than choice offered on Spotify. There was a slight but noticeable better sound quality to the Qobuz service but I decided this was not worth paying double the price for.

All of this is bad enough but on other Hifi Forums I have learnt that some UK customers have had their accounts allowed to enable them to take advantage of the download service and to pay in Euros resulting in a significantly cheaper service. I wrote and asked for my account to be similarly treated and was refused.

i have subsequently written to Qobuz customer care department complaining and I await their response

.

perhaps if you are preparing a feature on these services you would like to take up some of these issues with them

thanks

I also got the same response, I told them I intend to buy half a dozen albums. Very Annoying!

 

[Per-Sony-fied]

Hi all

Just had to register to air my views on Qoboz.

Having been to the Sound & Vision show this weekend I was excited when I came across this company in the show booklet and duly trotted of to their stand where I had a play and listen through the supplied Focal headphones. I was given a tour of the Qobuz desktop application & was really impressed at the extra info it gave for artists over Spotify & the fact that it actually showed the bit rate of the streamed track (yes you can still fall foul of 320kbps on True CD quality service).

I mean WOW, what an impressive sound quality increase over 320kbps. Now I've only so far (had the time) played a selection of tracks through my PC speakers (Boston Acoustics) using the onboard HD sound chip but the service is so good it is easy to tell the difference even through such set-up. I'm gonna replace my ASUS sound card and connect it up to my Hi-Fi in due time so I can compare quality with CD's that I have. Something tells me there's gonna be a war on!

I've been spending much of the day loading songs onto my iPhone (hasn't done much for available memory!) so I can compare them in the car with Spotify. The Qoboz app tho' is a little flakey & a touch confusing, I hope I will get the hang of it soon. It has crashed 3 times so far today when downloading. I hope they are working on some bug fixes.

Currently using a months trial after which I will have to think hard whether to continue subscription of £19.99/month This is a difficult one, over £200 a year! you could by a lot of CD's for that - I certainly would have to give up Spotify or at least downgrade to the free version. I have had Spotify for a few years now & some months I don't even use that lol!

 

[petehayman]

We've given Qobuz a listen here at What Hi-Fi? and the sound quality is second to none. Our full review can be found here.

 

[sheffstevie]

Hi

After reading Aprils issue today I signed up for the 1 month free trial of the Hi Fi lossles option. After i did there was still no option to set the preference to anything other than 320 kbps as the FLAC button is greyed out yet all

the other things on my account appear to work. Any ideas? Dont realy fancy firing off an email in pidgin French as needless to say this problem is not in the FAQs!

Steve

 

[sheffstevie]

Hi

After reading Aprils issue today I signed up for the 1 month free trial of the Hi Fi lossles option. After i did there was still no option to set the preference to anything other than 320 kbps as the FLAC button is greyed out yet all

the other things on my account appear to work. Any ideas? Dont realy fancy firing off an email in pidgin French as needless to say this problem is not in the FAQs!

Steve