Qobuz Connect Launched Yesterday

Dang I Only get the Lumin to work using icky AirPlay. Have version 9.0 of Qobuz installed.  Device (Lumin) not showing up under selected device. Other streamers not (yet???) supported. Thus I ruminate and use Roon. 

Lumin is on the QC list so I suspect your Qobuz software is an older version. 
 

On Apple IOS, saw the exact same thing. Didn’t see an automated update so thought it wasn’t available. But when I went to the app update page on IOS for Qobuz, it showed an update was available. Performed on both iPad and iPhone fine. Mostly use the desktop 🖥️ version but they all work seamlessly. Sounds great. 
 

Qobuz then logs you out on launch, you log back in and no more limited Airplay options. For IOS, the version is 8.0.0. For Android, I heard it’s 9.0 and there was a staggered global rollout. If for some reason, Qobuz didn’t log you out, I’d try logging out and back in. Last, check with Lumin if nothing works and see what they say. 

Last night Qobuz Connect upgraded to v. 9.0.0.1 on my phone.  I have three WiiM units that are compatible with Connect.  However, when I open the Qobuz app, I find the list of available devices can be very slow to populate, though this seems to be a bit better with the new version. Still need to give it some time to see if the improvement is consistent.

@all

Have the latest version of app and desktop software but still no joy.

Good news and bad news.

Need to install the app for PC, which means another app running on music server. 
Using networked Lumin U1, needs updating to Version 19 to accept Qobuz connect. Works, very quick to see Lumin and select.

The sound is not much better than Internet Radio, down soundstage, very short front to back depth. As for resolution, cymbals splash, not sharp at all. Dynamics- like radio, bad radio. Local files to the Lumin with Audirvana are top class. Far better on Android phone and Bluetooth Noise free Headphones (Sony Xperia 1 VI, Sony WXM1000XM5).

Good for background music, provided Qobuz don't force Alternative Indie down my throat EVERY TIME for new albums, My Weekly Q is a prime example, the queue forward button is used very often! You'd think after 18 months they could understand/remember my tastes in music - nah! AND reviews are in French mainly, don't Qobuz take into account the device's language settings, obviously not.

I wonder if anyone has had any luck getting an older Auralic Femto streamer to work with QC?  I’ve heard it works with Auralic, generally, but maybe the Femto is too old.  Anyway, sounds great through LDS.

No luck for me with Qobuz Connect / Innuos Zen Mk3.  Innuos Sense works fine as usual (although I can't connect in LAN mode).  Tried from Windows 11, Android, and ipad pro, all latest versions.  Got me.  

@drmuso if your streamer has a built-in app that allows the URL of the stream to be passed directly to the streamer and bypass your phone or computer or tablet, then you are set already. You are using the external device as only a remote control in that case. But many of us use streamers that don’t or won’t do this without a "connect app", one like Spotify Connect or Tidal Connect.  

I’ve always heard it said on here that Qobuz (at least for many) sounds better than Tidal. I’m not sure my WiiM Ultra is resolving enough to hear a difference (maybe through headphones), but I’m now more likely to give Qobuz a trial subscription and hear for myself. 

I'll give them a month or so to work out any bugs before starting that trial. 

My Zenith Mk3 here in the UK updated this evening to version 3.3.0, and with it, apparently, is Qobuz Connect.  

It seems that in both my Qobuz Windows desktop app plus my Android app I can see and select my Zenith as the output - as opposed to a specific local speaker/headphone.

Aside from the occasional error when I move tracks it seems to be working.

However, unless I observe a noticeable uptick in sound quality I’ll stick with the Sense app or the Zenith’s web page interface.  They’ve been more than adequate so far for me.  If anything, I'm a little wary of Qobuz Connect.  For example, I've noticed I can now modify the volume of the music via the Qobuz app, which means, I suppose, that direct digital pass-through is not now happening.  I've always understood that the best sound quality happens when digital volume controls are disabled.

So, like others here I’m not quite seeing the point of Qobuz Connect

Just got firmware 3.3 update for my innuos zen mk 3.  Qobuz Connect works fine now.  Nice :-)

I've been using Qobuz Connect for a week now. I was a Qobuz Beta tester and a charter member of the Qobuz Club, (I was also a Tidal Beta tester), so I have a little bit more inside info than most.

One of the top reasons to use a "connect" feature whether it's from Spotify or Tidal or Qobuz is better sound quality. There are some on here that say that's not true...research it, if you don't believe it. It has to do with the programming protocols used. Also another benefit is you get all the features the full blown app has.

In my system, in my room, with my equipment and my ears, I hear an increase in depth and width of the soundstage and more bass attack, (I was going to say bass "punch", but attack is the correct word). I was using the WiiM app, so this is compared to that app.

I've had no problems with dropouts or static or any other abnormalities using Qobuz Connect. It has been very stable and issue free.

I'm sold on it.

Here are a few tips that I learned:

1. Even if you "think" you have the latest version(s), spend the couple of minutes to verify. I thought I was current...only to find out I wasn't.

2. Reboot all devices, i.e. phone/tablet/streamer

3. It takes a few seconds after initial install/reboot for all the parameters to filter through, be patient.

So I finally received a response from Qobuz about connect for Aurender. Even though Aurender is on the list of streamers connect works on, they have not put out any updates for any Aurender streamers, but they’re working on it. When I asked why Aurender as well as many other streamers were on their list and there was no functioning software, all I got was crickets.

@mofimadness 

In my system, in my room, with my equipment and my ears, I hear an increase in depth and width of the soundstage and more bass attack, (I was going to say bass "punch", but attack is the correct word). I was using the WiiM app, so this is compared to that app.

So what was the Qobuz app running on?   Was it also running on the WiiM?

@jbuhl 

The apps run on the phone or tablet or computer.

The "Connect" app takes a step away.

i.e.  Phone/Tablet>Wiim app>qobuz within the Wiim app

       Phone/Tablet>Qobuz app w/Connect

Most streamers will have their own app (or a 3rd party app).  Qobuz has to be inside that app to work.  The Connect feature is one less set of programming protocols.

@mofimadness 

Yeah I got an iPad I want to test vs my (Roon Server -->BDP Pi)

I got to use Qobuz Connect for the first time last night on my Naim ND555. I found that I had to reload the Naim app on my iPhone and them download a firmware update from Naim to the unit itself. Qobuz Connect now shows up on the Naim app right beside Tidal Connect. So far I like it. 

PS Audio just released an update so their AirLens can now connect to Qobuz Connect

Seems like some folks have issue with their streaming manufacturer. Ask them if a specific product is ready to work with Qobuz Connect. The streaming sound I get with Qobuz Connect is the best to date in my system and for the first time outcompetes wired connection to my M1 MacBook Air. Did some head to head versus HQPlayer 5 and that was revelatory as to how good Qobuz Connect sounds. YMMV

I find no difference in sound quality between Qobuz Connect and my other streaming apps -- the music is still being delivered digitally from their server to my player. QC is just a controller for selection.  But I'm probably as picky as some others.  

It's a fine app, but the one drawback I have with it is that it has no access to my local collection or the radio stations we listen to (classical & news).  Particularly with the local collection, some of my favorite material is not available on Qobuz (copyright, never released, transferred from LP/open reel, personal recordings) and I like to build personal playlists that include both Qobuz and local material.  So, I still need the other apps. However, QC is a nice app and glad its finally out in the wild and working.

Has anyone have tried Qobuz connect on the Esoteric N-05XD? It is listed on the QC web page but haven’t receive any firmware updates yet. 

I asked, on the Auralic forum, whether the older Aries Mini and Femto players would become QC enabled, and the general consensus was no, they probably won’t.  Whatever, I like Lightning  DS well enough, and it does sound great!  

Yes Qobuz Connect is active and I am experiencing improved sonics. This is a very good update. - 

One unexpected benefit, for those households out there which have a family Qobuz account, is that each member can easily stream from their Favourites, as opposed to the Sense app which only permits a single Qobuz account.

Saying that, I've found that maybe only one third of the albums I've tried actually play without throwing errors.  Many albums on Qobuz just will not play via Connect.

However, and this question is for @mofimadness , does not the extra processing of Qobuz Connect impact instead of improving the sound quality?  Both my Qobuz apps (Android and Windows desktop) allow digital volume adjustment.  I don’t see how this is possible without extra processing, and skipping the digital pass-through.

@lollipopguild...great question.  I’ll ask one of the programmer/techs.  I know that 99% of the people I have talked to, say they hear an increase in sound quality, so I’m not sure.  It might have to do with "where" in the digital signal chain the volume is controlled from, but I’m just guessing.

I know on my WiiM and Bluesound app, I could also control the volume, so Qobuz Connect is still a more direct access than a 3rd party...

Also, both the streamer's software and Qobuz Connect software have to work together, so there will be a few bugs and tweeks to work out along the way from both ends.

Going back to my previous comment about many albums simply throwing errors when kicked off from both Android and Windows apps, it is (bizarrely) only those albums which are 16-bit which immediately fail.  Every single one.

Whereas every albums at 24-bit play without issue.

Sampling frequency seems to have no impact.  I can play 44.1kHz, 24-bit.  But not 44.1/16.

So, basically every Qobuz album which has the Hi-Res icon is OK.  The rest...not.