Qobuz Connect

richardbrand

I find the whole Qobuz ecosystem extremely confusing ...

It is extremely simple. Qobuz has long had its own app to run on Windows, iOS, and Android.

Many audio streamers have also incorporated the ability to stream Qobuz within the software on their devices, and that interface and functionality ranges from fairly crude to fairly slick.

Qobuz Connect is the latest innovation and is installed on your streamer. It will likely offer a much more rich experience because it uses the Qobuz app rather than your streamer’s native Qobuz interface for control.

For Qobuz Connect to work, your device manufacturer will have to modify its software. Many already have.

For me, the most interesting thing about Qobuz Connect is its ability to switch end-point players mid-stream.  For example, I'm playing a track on my phone using my headphones while out for a walk. Then I go through the front door while halfway through the song and switch playback to my main stereo without missing a beat.  I could even go to a friend's house, who does not have a Qobuz subscription, and play my Qobuz tracks on his stereo if he has a QC compatible streamer connected to the internet. 

While interesting, I really don't have a big use for this feature.  I also don't hear any difference between QC and my other playback program options -- the digital music stream still has to travel over the internet direct to the player.  QC is a nice way to select and play music, but it is limited to only that. It has no way to play from your local collection. 

@cleeds

Maybe I am simple!

Qobuz has long had its own app to run on Windows, iOS, and Android

My guess is that there are at least three different Qobuz end-point apps, though they may share some code and have similar user interfaces.  If Windows, iOS and Android users want to run external DACs, the data communications links to those DACs are outside the Qobuz ecosystem, and outside any claims that data is perfectly transmitted because TCP is used end-to-end.

Writing a Qobuz app to run on each DAC makes sense because it can extend TCP error detection and recovery to the box containing the DAC.

What about streamers that run a Qobuz app but with external DACs?

richardbrand

My guess is that there are at least three different Qobuz end-point apps.

Yes, that's what I said: Windows, iOS, Android. Details here.

... Writing a Qobuz app to run on each DAC makes sense ...

The software is in the streamer, not the DAC.