I wrote my initial Qobuz review 10 years ago, but the service never stopped evolving. For descriptions of the functionality and sound quality, please see the Qobuz revisited review.
Below is an Industry Update, listing the latest Qobuz news.
Qobuz Connect – How does it work?
The new Qobuz Connect feature allows users to control a connected device (for instance, a network player, streamer, or wireless speaker) directly from the Qobuz app and take advantage of its full range of options.
Qobuz Connect establishes a direct link between Qobuz and your paired audio device. Unlike headphones, Bluetooth, and AirPlay, the music no longer passes through the smartphone or other control device. This is the quickest and easiest way to listen to music, channeling sound directly from Qobuz servers to the device, without any other intermediary.
There are currently three ways to listen to music with Qobuz
The first, and most simple, involves personal listening through either plugged-in or Bluetooth headphones connected to your smartphone. Using the Qobuz app, the sound is automatically directed to the headphones.
The second option is also via the Qobuz app, but instead of headphones, you’d be listening through a Bluetooth speaker connected to a smartphone. Alternatively to Bluetooth, you can transmit Qobuz to your speaker via Wi-Fi using AirPlay (CD quality) or Google Cast (up to 96 kHz/24 bit). Music transfer can be found in the same place on the Qobuz app for Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, via the small icon at the bottom of the playback screen.
Qobuz is aware that many enjoy listening to Qobuz on connected Hi-Fi equipment. This may take on different forms—wireless loudspeaker, streamer, audio server, preamplifier, amplifier, or soundbar—but in any case, you’re probably using either the app provided by the manufacturer of your equipment or a third-party app such as Audirvana, BubbleUPnP, or Roon. This is the third listening option.
Each third-party app integrates Qobuz in a specific manner. Though the presentation may differ from one option to another in terms of aesthetics, navigation logic, and even functionality, the essentials are uniform: recommendations, your favorites, the search engine, and, of course, playback.
Sometimes, unfortunately, the full Qobuz experience can be lost on these platforms. They often lack the editorial content, which is one of our primary differentiating qualities and likely one of the reasons why you chose Qobuz and not another service.
But what if we told you that you can now control your connected audio devices directly from the Qobuz app?
Listen in Hi-Res with Qobuz Connect
With Qobuz Connect, the control of your paired audio devices remains entirely within the Qobuz app, so listening through your connected amplifier or wireless speakers no longer requires using the manufacturer’s app. Moreover, Qobuz Connect ensures Hi-Res music playback at up to 192 kHz/24-bit on your connected equipment.
The Benefits of Qobuz Connect
Qobuz Connect has been a long-awaited feature for our users, and it’s finally here! The first compatible devices are already available, and many more will soon be added. Here are the three key benefits of Qobuz Connect:
- Manage your connected audio devices directly in the Qobuz app, ensuring uninterrupted Hi-Res music playback up to 192 kHz/24 bits.
- Control music simultaneously across all Qobuz apps on Apple/Android smartphones/tablets and PC/Mac computers using the “remote” mode.
- Follow your listening from one audio device to another with queue synchronization in all apps.
More Qobuz
Qobuz Revisited (latest review)
Qobuz and Spotify (initial review)
Try out Roon for yourself
