2. digital
  3. 180883-1363

Qobuz Hi-Rez Not Necessarily the Best Sound

Hello:

I stream Qobuz using Roon into a Bricasti M1SE DAC/Streamer into a Benchmark HPA4 headphone amp and then into various Kennerton or RAAL headphones.

Lately I have been comparing different versions of recordings on Qobuz.  For instance, lately it has been Depeche Mode but also Pink Floyd, Steely Dan, and Supertramp.  Oftentimes there are several versions of titles, usually Hi-rez files of 24/192 or similar, versus the standard 16/44.1 resolution versions.  Sometimes there are remastered versions in various resolutions.  

Quite by accident I have found that the highest resolution versions are not necessarily the best-sounding versions, often preferring the remastered and/or standard resolution recordings.  Today, for instance, I was listening to DM's A Broken Frame.  The 24/192 sounded a little sharper with perhaps a little more detail and spaciousness but was amazingly dynamically compressed.  The difference was not subtle.  Going from the 24/192 to the 16/44.1 remastered version was going from a bland recording to one that came alive.  I guess it goes to show that higher rez files are not necessarily superior sonically.

Anyone else found this to be the case in their streaming?  Thanks.

rlawry
mapman's avatar
mapman
21,866 posts
 

@designsfx the easiest way is create a basic Plex account which is free and I can share my library. Sharing libraries is another neat Plex feature.

lowrider57's avatar
lowrider57
5,397 posts
 

Thanks @mapman . I asked because by using dynamic normalization you can tweak the bass. Many classic LPs are bass-shy or lack low-end definition. It's a good tool to increase dynamics in a subtle way.

redlenses03
88 posts
 

The resolution has little to no merit in and of itself, its all about provenance / what masters were used "generally speaking" and really nothing to do with Qobuz or a streaming service per se.

rikkipuu's avatar
rikkipuu
241 posts
 

I dropped Tidal as soon as I heard Qobuz even though I preferred the Tidal Playlists.

I have found NOS the only way to go and Hi Rez is generally better.

I recently added a Computer Audio Design GC1 and GC3, it made everything better but brought the sound of streaming Qubuz to I can listen to it all day long.

The sound of digital files has more to do with the gear than the files.

tomcy6's avatar
tomcy6
2,541 posts
 

But beginning a couple/few months ago, even the lowest end recordings appear to be playing at 44.1 x 4 (176.4 kHz).

@hankeson, Does your DAC have upsampling capabilities?  If yes, see if it was set to upsample to 176.4 somehow.  I stream Qobuz too and my DAC shows 44.1 files playing at 44.1.

More to discover