Just got started on Qobuz. Can anyone recommend an album or song?
I want to hear some good quality music and might move away from Tidal, but I have to hear quality recordings before I make a switch. Can anyone recommend an album or song that sounds truly exceptional on Qobuz?
edcyn- All good stuff, female vocalists are fantastic rocray- Great recording antigrunge2- Miles Davis KofB on Tidal sounds about as good. Thanks for HLTrio great treat maxwave- Peace Prayer, wonderful album my favorite
Working my way through the rest. Some recordings sound better on Qobuz than Tidal... some better on Tidal MQA. But this is really just so far. The albums selections (Tidal has a bigger Library so far). All really great recordings mentioned in terms of quality.
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Sure, listen to a great recording. This may show you what is possible; although, possibly just different. However, when making this kind of judgment (not streaming) I like to also include the opposite approach. Listen to a recording that, to you, previously sounded lacking and uninvolving and see if it sounds better to you. But, prioritize musical involvement, less so the specific details of the “sound”. |
#fsonicsmith I need to update my system page. I updated the streamer. It has a new power supply which helped a lot. I am under the impression that the Topping is very quiet and detailed. It has the AKM chip. I suppose a better analog section could make it sound better. Haven't really looked for a new one but would have to spend more, I think. |
I tried Qobuz. I stayed with Amazon. Sound was the same. For electronic: Yello "Point" Progressive: Peter Gabriel "So" Blues: Mighty Sam McClain Keep on Moving Eclectic: David Byrne/Brian Eno: Everything that happens Classical: reference recordings "Trittico", RCA Living Stereo Leopold Stokowski "Rhapsodies" ROCK: Fleetwood Mac "Rumours", Donald Fagan and Steely Dan several albums. REM, Radiohead Country: Billy Springs, Sturgill Simpson |
If you're using a Node for streaming, there are tweaks to increase the SQ. I upgraded the stock PC to an aftermarket C7 power cord which provided an audible improvement. I recommend Wireworld or Cullen, about $100 to $150. Using an ethernet connection from the router rather than WIFI is also an improvement. I'm using CAT8. And having the modem/router on a separate circuit than your audio will lower noise generated by RFI. There are other threads on how to improve Bluesound sonics. |
I am relatively new to Qobuz as well, and asked myself the same question. Did some poking around and found that they curate a few playlists specifically for this ask. I did a playlist search for “192k” and found a few lists of the best sounding content they provide. The “Best of 192kHz” by Qobuz is exactly for what you’re looking. It’s also got something for everyone. Happy hunting! |
Whatever the limitations may be in my other source components -- Sota Sapphire/ Hana ML/Moon Phono Stage; and a Sony XA5400 CD/SACD player -- Qobuz (via a Cambridge CXN) often delivers the best fidelity I get from my system. Idagio (which doesn't offer hi-res, just CD quality) can deliver lovely sound, as well. |
Qobuz delivers phantastic sound well ahead of other providers: however the amount of effort it takes to clean up the ethernet/optical connection to its server is trial and error and really not documented. What‘s more: it is highly dependent on individual components and therefore not easily reproducable. Streaming is still an immature technology and from my vantage point the effects of clocking, interfaces, RMI/EFI as well as ground level noise are not well understood. |
“I will just have to listen and find out.” Ofcourse, every system is different not to mention room acoustics. My last post was based on my direct experience with Bluesound Vault 2 which I no longer own. |
laltik "I hate to be the one to say if you can appreciate audible differences between Qobuz and Tidal on a Node 2. Qobuz sound is definitely better but you need a better streamer / DAC combo to appreciate Qobuz high resolution files." Duly noted. I will just have to listen and find out. BTW your audio system is impressive. |
Samy Thiebault - Awe! Keller Williams - Rex Jimi Hendrix - Live in Maui Gegor Hilden Organ Trio - Vintage Wax Eddie Henderson - So What Curtis Mayfield - Curtis Live! Chris Whitley - Dislocation Blues Billy Strings - Turmoil and Tinfoil Songs Ohia - The Lioness
That should get you started. All are incredible recordings.
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Qobuz gets its tracks directly from the record companies and doesn't apply any processing to the tracks. |
I wonder where Qobuz gets all it's 192 Khz tracks and albums from because, for example, The Rolling Stones or ABKCO only ever released DSD and 44.1 Khz. Most artists never even released DSD and I don't know where the 24 bit recordings have come from either. I know Hi-Rez were selling many formats but where did they get it from? Call me old fashioned but if it isn't an official studio, artist or publishing release I can't take it seriously, and MQA............don't ask. |
Yeah that’s true for sure, I can listen to my favorite music and I will. It’s just that on Tidal I find some music sounds really good, but it was not something I knew about. I find the recommendations by the algorithm Tidal uses just doesn’t match with my taste or preferences. When other people who luv music ask me to listen to something I am more inclined to listen and often like their choices. |
Yeah, my tastes are oddball but... Unforgettable, Natalie Cole -- yes, multi miked but a fine recording. West Side Story film soundtrack. Again, multi-miked but an even better recording than the Natalie Cole. El Nour -- Fatma Said. She's gorgeous, the sound is gorgeous. Dawn Richard - techno but inviting. enargeia - Emily de'Angelo
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