Streaming Qobuz via iPad


I have the Qobuz app on my iPad and I stream to my Marantz streamer into my Bifrost 2 DAC. The thing is the streaming is twitchy or even drops out for a second or two before continuing on. By twitchy I mean I get these hangups in the music accompanied by pops. 
 

what could be causing this?  Is this an iPad issue or bandwidth issue? Also, just to confirm, is the iPad just acting as a remote control and the Wi-Fi music signal is coming from the Wi-Fi router?  Sorry not really technically proficient in computer. 

last_lemming

Qobuz works fine playing music thru my stereo system, and it worked fine playing music on my iPad for the first couple of weeks after signing up to Qobuz.

Now, on my iPad  the music plays for 5- 10 seconds, then drops for 15- 20 seconds repeatedly. This occurs even when nothing else is happening on our network.

Similar issue with me.  I was streaming wirelessly to a Musical Fidelity MX-Stream using my iPhone (12 Pro Max) with Roon (+ Qobuz) in full hi-res.  Ethernet and WiFi speed > 150 Mbits/sec. Everything sounded great but every so often there would be an annoying crackling sound, a little like when listening to a vinyl record! No dropouts of music, however, just a crackling sound. I was tearing my hair out with a solution (e.g. replacing all the USB cables, purchasing a power conditioner and ethernet switch, etc) but then realised that using my iPad Pro (M1 chip) as my iOS device to play music didn't give these issues.  So it appears related to the processing power of the iPhone or even its hardware design, unless I'm mistaken.  Anyway, potentially this issue will get better if I get a new iPhone in future but, for the moment, the iPad works fine.  Hope this info helps others who don't wish to make use of a cable to stream their music.

I have same problem

it’s the internet 

my problems occur when there is heavy usage of internet 

 

Switching to an Ethernet connection solved the same problem for me. I also use a NODE 2i streamer. It runs into a Qutest DAC, Prima Luna 400 preamp and VTL 150 amp. The problems existed whether I utilized Qobuz, Tidal or any other service on the NODE 2i wirelessly. The Ethernet connection immediately solved the problem. Seems the NODE 2i needs an excellent Wi-Fi connection to perform as expected. The NODE 2i also experienced interference from an adjoining wireless SONOS system that seemed hog the available Wi-Fi bandwidth; so, that issue also cleared up with the Eathernet connection.

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I actually have the Bluesound on order. Currently I run the Marantz but it goes into NAD M51 DAC. The sound is great from what I can tell.

OP,

I am not at all surprised you are confused.

I really try not to be judgmental about equipment. But I spent about 15 minutes with the manual for your unit. It is the very essence of does absolutely everything, but does nothing well. If you are interested in multi room, bluetooth enabled streaming to your phone and other bazaar methods, this is perfect.

If you are interested in hi quality sound, I would consider getting a streamer that is oriented at high quality output, Simple, all cost go into the sound not options. I bet a budget Bluesound streamer would be simpler to use and produce much higher quality output. You want Qubuz natively supported… meaning the unit connects to the service directly and then you control it through an app.

But it depends on what you want out of the unit. High quality sound or lots of options. This unit is designed to give you every conceivable option. Just that is probably worth the purchase price.

Yeah, I ended up going with Mconnect HD(Bubble for IO). Works like a charm, no more Airplay, I get full resolution.

I went with Qobuz because I kept reading it was better than Tidal I was using. I didn’t realize AirPlay was the issue. My streaming is perfect now, no glitches.  My only question now is I don’t know if Qobuz through Mconnect will change the quality vs going strait from a Qobuz embedded device?

last_lemming

I think I should be using the HEOS (marantz) app. But is doesnt appear to have Qobuz

Hmmm, it looks like HEOS does not directly support Qobuz. I think you may need to use something like BubbleUPnP, but that’s for Android - I'm not sure that it works with iPad.

 

 

I have the ND8006. I think I should be using the HEOS (marantz) app. But is doesnt appear to have Qobuz

OP,

I am confused. If what you say is that you are streaming “from” your iPad. That is the problem. This probably means you are using communication from the iPad to the streamer… you do not want to do that. This is exactly what happens to me when I tried this. This is an Apple communication problem. You do not want to be using the Qobuz app on the iPad. You want to use the Marantz app on your iPad to control the Marantz. The Marantz should have an internal app to link up with Qobuz. 
 

You want the Marantz to pick up the signal directly and use the iPad as controller. What model do you have? 

Also forgot to mention that while listening to the music while using the Qobuz app and looking around in the app, music glitches more.

the weird thing is, while the song is playing, if you look at the songs progress bar, the music data appears to load well ahead relative to where it is in the actual playback. But I’m still glitching.

 

BTW Cleeds, 

to be clear, I’m using it the Qobuz app on the iPad to control the music. 

Thank you for the responses.

sfar,

can you elaborate?

 

btw, I should have added this originally; I use Tidal as well and it doesn’t glitch, However it used  to glitch the same as I am currently glitching with Qubuz when I selected hi-res music.  When I brought it down to CD quality the glitching stopped. But with Qubuz I get glitching with CD quality. 

sfar

... the iPad is acting just as a remote control.

The OP said he's using the Qobuz app, so it's likely that he's using wifi and Airplay to get the signal to his streamer. That may be the source of his dropouts.

I use an iPad Mini to stream Tidal to my Node 2i streamer several hours a day and have never had a dropout or glitch with the high-speed internet connection and strong signal in my listening area. I doubt the Mini is the issue.

Yes, the iPad is acting just as a remote control.

Do you have an Ethernet option on the Marantz?  If so I would try that, even if it means running a cable for some distance from the router, just to see if that solves the problem.  If it does then continue to go wired or zoom in on the WiFi as the source of the issue.

  If it is the WiFi and you don’t wish to do wired, the optimize your WiFi in the home first (mesh, extenders, etc).  If that is done and you still have issues the it is the Marantz WiFi receiver that is the issue