I received an "invite" and installed the Qobuz Windows 64 bit app on my Windows10 Pro 64 bit, I7 quad core machine, with 16 gigs of memory. I'm about halfway thru the month's free trial.
The app is "flaky", at times seems to go off doing "who knows what", not making the mouse cursor available, when it's doing that, seems to suck up a lot of CPU. When it does that, I find closing and re-opening the app doesn't solve the problem, rebooting Windows seems to "fix" it.
Having said that, the app isn't so flaky that I haven't been able to enjoy the content. I do like the user interface and they seem to have more classical content than Tidal.
I started comparing music I'm familiar with, Qobuz hi-res to Tidal MQA and Qobuz definitely sounds clearer and more distinct, not a huge difference, but definitely noticeable. Then I compared several albums I'm familiar with, CD quality from both services, and I must say, to me Qobuz sounds a little better. I suspect that they both have the same 44.1/16 masters from the same record company...maybe it's that the Qobuz app does a better job with the timing of the bits with their FLAC stream, compared to Tidal...I don't know. But Qobuz and Tidal are running on the same machine, outputting the digital stream via the same USB, using the same DAC...can't explain why Qobuz sounds a little better, but to me it does.
I'm still not sure I'll sign up for Qobuz after the trial ends, as the flakiness of the app is somewhat annoying, but Tidal's streaming is not perfect either, especially when I use it around 8:00-8:30pm (Eastern), maybe a busy time for that data center? |
Just went to qobuz.com and -- yay! -- the pound sign has changed to a dollar sign. But when I try to log in it says that they are in a closed "invite only" beta. Now my feelings are hurt that I didn't get an invite. |
The launch date is now sometime early 2019. |
09-17-2018 1:25pm
I’d be astounded if they hit October - lots of moving parts in a launch like this, for a service like theirs. I’ll be surprised if they even hit end of year.
Happy with either
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Seems amazing that they still have not launched in the US, they are really behind based on their own estimates from earlier this year. I wonder what is going on? |
Me too.
I hate this waiting game. Primephonic is also dragging its' heels.
B |
I'm really waiting patiently for Qobuz to open in the USA..
I wish they could give a set date...
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See response I received below from Qobuz Customer Support today:
“we are not opened yet in the United States but we hope to extended our services there very soon as well.
Thanks a lot for your interest! By registering to our NewsLetter, you will be informed of the opening for new countries”.
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Whether any updates on Qobuz US launch date are accurate remains to be seen. I asked their Customer Service in July, they replied "We are working for. We hope open at the end of the year". Cute english ... here's to hope.
Trying Tidal while I wait - and can say their classical catalog is no slouch. Some real outlier recordings, of great quality (recording quality, that is - I haven't A/B/C'd the sound quality yet). |
Well, we are half way thru November and I have not heard that Qobuz has launched in the US yet. I was at RMAF and "Q"obuz was a big disappointment. Their booth was rarely manned, most of the rooms that were to feature "Q" did not have it and quite a few claimed never to have heard of it! The "free trial code" did not work and it is virtually impossible to talk to anyone connected with "Q". Emailing "Q" customer service was only a little better. Although you can get a murky response in English, most of my questions were answered by informational pieces in French!
Now for the good news: With assistance from Aurender I was able to contact a "Q" exec. and received a legit trial code. I LIKE IT! Since I already subscribed to TIDAL (hi-res & MQA), I did some comparisons. In some cases a six-way comparison was possible!
Using my Aurender A10, I was able to find a track in my ripped library (16/44.1) and play it followed the same track in Tidal 16/44.1, Tidal 24/96, Tidal 24/192, "Q" 16/44.1, and "Q" 24/96 (or sometimes "Q" 24/192). I'm sure it will come as no surprise that SQ results were varied. SQ was very recording dependent. Some times the various tracks and albums sounded better (to me) in Tidal, sometimes in "Q".
At this point I can't say that Tidal is universally superior in SQ to "Q" or vice versa, be that in standard res (16/44.1) or hi-res (MQA vs. 24 bit FLAC). It is extremely recording dependent. I can say that a ripped file (16/44.1) from my own CD collection "almost" always sounded better than the same streamed standard res file from Tidal or "Q". Also, hi-res files from Tidal or "Q" "almost" always sounded better than my ripped file.
Since pricing will be about the same (if you do a 12 mo. subscription for "Q"), it comes down to what kind of music you listen to the most. If you like Classical and Jazz, "Q" has much more content and in hi-res. If you are into rock, pop, blues, and rap Tidal is definitely for you. Another consideration will be your DAC. If you don't have or want to invest in a MQA supported DAC you will probably be better off with "Q". Overall, "Q" has more total standard and hi-res content but using my Aurender Conductor app searching Tidal seems easier.
Others who have listened to both may have formed more biased opinions on SQ which is fine. I'd like to hear them. All this being said, does anyone have any accurate updates on when "Q" will launch???
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Like the other deleted News:Qobuz thread, this thread was also removed - and is now recovered. Seems at times forum.audigon.com spam control is a kinda blunt instrument.
-------- Forwarded Message --------
Subject: [Audiogon] Re: "This discussion has been removed One of our moderators or admins have removed this discussion."
Date: Wed, 17 Oct 2018 13:16:00 +0000
From: support@audiogon.zendesk.com
Oct 17, 9:15 AM EDT
Hi,
I have restored that thread also. It seems that that particular subject was marked as spam so all threads concerning it was also marked as spam.
Please let us know if you need further assistance, we are happy to help.
Oct 17, 8:54 AM EDT
Thanks. Here's another example of entire thread removed in seemingly arbitrary fashion.
Again, if there are individual offending posts in the thread, just remove those - instead of the entire (useful) thread.
https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/qobuz-coming-to-america-soon#1629365
Oct 16, 9:47 AM EDT
I would be happy to assist you.
Our moderators are very careful what they remove but sometimes some threads can be taken down in error.
The thread you are referring to was accidentally marked as spam and I have now re-opened this thread for you.
Please let us know if you need further assistance.
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Qobuz ...named the Official High-Resolution Streaming Service..." Ha! Hilarant! Maybe we have the intrepid David Soloman to thank for that ; ) |
Qobuz (pronounced CO-buz), a Paris-based online music streaming and download service for music lovers, has been named the Official High-Resolution Streaming Service for the upcoming 15th Annual Rocky Mountain International Audio Fest (RMAF). Does anyone attending the RMAF have any comments regarding Qobuz? How good is their sound quality (24-bit albums)? How extensive is their catalog? When will it be officially released in the USA (Launch date)? What are its streaming costs and options? Will Qobuz offer a free trial period? How does Qobuz compare to Tidal in terms of sound quality and catalog size? Do I need both Tidal and Qobuz streaming services or is one enough? Any comments and thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks.. |
The latest Aurender Conductor App update includes support for Qobuz Streaming services. Of course, now we have to wait for its official release in the USA.
Qobuz will be on display at RMAF and I am hoping more Qobuz information will be available at the RMAF for someone to post here.
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hgeifman: oui, all of that is promising news, thanks for the continued intel. Hope my pessimistic guesses about actual release timeframe are flatly wrong. |
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As noted above, Qobuz will be at RMAF in October and almost all of the manufacturers will be using it.
This is exciting and a great opportunity for Qobuz to announce its streaming features, capabilities, pricing options and launch date (I hope).
My Aurender already works with Qobuz so i will create an account and log in. I wonder how its catalog compares to Tidal Streaming. I am anxious to hear the Qobuz 24 bit streaming option.
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I’d be astounded if they hit October - lots of moving parts in a launch like this, for a service like theirs. I’ll be surprised if they even hit end of year.
Happy with either. |
@usery, Yes. I saw the above post but noticed the press release below states “the official Qobuz release is in October. I guess the answer is between October and the end of the year. “NEW YORK, July 23, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Qobuz (pronounced CO-buz), a Paris-based online music streaming and download service for music lovers, has been named the Official High-Resolution Streaming Service for the upcoming 15thAnnual Rocky Mountain International Audio Fest (RMAF), the largest high-end consumer audio show in North America. With the company making its official American launch in October”. |
Is their catalog as large as Spotify? If not, hirez files won't make me switch. The music is more important to me. |
"...when Qobuz will be available in the USA?" hgeifman: read upwards in this thread (Qobuz customer service said they're hoping for end of this year). |
Why the Tidal bashing? It plays well with Roon, as I hope Qobuz will eventually. |
Thanks. I am anxiously looking forward for Qobuz to be released in the USA but have no info when. Qobuz will be shown at the RMAF but its USA release date has not been announced. Their 24 bit album option looks interesting priced at $249 per year, about $21 per month.
Does anyone have info when Qobuz will be available in the USA?
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One thing that differentiates Qobuz from current audiophile-fave service Tidal is that it doesn’t rely on the controversial MQA codec for high-res streaming (according to Mackta, Qobuz is currently “MQA-agnostic”). I'm definitely subscribing. Thanks for posting. |
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Bonjour, quand Qobuz sera t’il disponible aux Etats-Unis? -------- Forwarded Message -------- Subject: Bonjour... Date: Wed, 25 Jul 2018 08:57:36 +0000 (GMT) From: support-help@qobuz.com <support-help@qobuz.com> To: usery Hello, We are working for. We hope open at the end of the year. Best regards. QOBUZ Customer Service Qobuz - Xandrie, Centre d’activité de l’Ourcq, 45 rue Delizy 93692 PANTIN-CEDEX "...coupled with arrogance" maritime51: don't mistake disallowing fools for arrogance |
Really hope this pans out. Ready to dump Tidal. |
Finally!
Now I can drop Tidal and its horrible cataloging system.
Bob |
If the prices in the linked article are correct, Qobuz is going to cost less than what had been previously reported. It would be just $5 more per month than Tidal, or just $10 more for a full year if one pays upfront. Color me interested. Betcha lots of other Tidal subscribers will be, too.
-- Howard
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Oh, boy, I can’t wait. Jerry Lewis, 24/7, coupled with arrogance. 🚽🔚 |
