Qobuz.


Who is using g Qobuz and how are you finding it? Thank you.
128x128bander

Showing 3 responses by ejr1953

I was offered a month's trial, installed the Qobuz 64 bit Windows app on my quad core I7/16 gig Dell machine, outputting to my DAC via USB.  I also have the Tidal Windows app installed on the same machine.  I have my audio system "hard wired" to my network, with Comcast service with about 200mb down.

I find the Qobuz app is a little flaky.  Sometimes the cursor doesn't appear to select an item, like it's doing something in the background, consuming all the resources...though Windows doesn't show the processor or memory particularly busy.  Not a consistent thing, more of an occasional nuisance.  I do find their selection of classical to be better than Tidal.  And, I do like their search function to be more rewarding.

When I compare music I'm familiar with, Tidal with MQA and regular CD quality, Qobuz either running regular CD or hi-res quality, more times than not Qobuz (to me) sounds a little more "distinct", not a huge difference by any means, but noticeable.  Most of the 96/24 and 192/24 music from Qobuz is just awesome to my ears!

I'm not yet ready to commit to Qobuz, just had it for a few days, but so far I think it's a winner.  I wouldn't give up Tidal for Qobuz.

If I decide to keep Qobuz, I'll set up Roon to stream both.
By the end of the week I'll be thru my month's trial of Qobuz and will need to decide if I'll buy a membership.  I'm leaning to do so and to also keep my Tidal account as well.

I do enjoy many (but not all of the) MQA masters on Tidal.  If there's anything that doesn't sound "right" to me, it's that many of them seem to have accentuated the bass.

When I've compared the sound of "regular" CD quality albums, Tidal vs. Qobuz, using the same Windows machine, same USB connection to the same DAC, the only difference is the Tidal vs. Qobuz app to do the playback, I must say I believe that the sound quality on Qobuz is slightly superior (i.e. a little better clarity, sound stage, stereo image), not a "day and night" difference, but it does seem to be better with Qobuz.
My Qobuz trial was up tomorrow, decided to "take the plunge" and sign up for a year of the hi-res streaming plan.  I find that they have a better selection of classical music and the search for that is a little better than Tidal.  I'll be keeping Tidal, using it and Qobuz with my Roon subscription.