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Post by MartinT on Mar 31, 2022 12:26:39 GMT
I switch to Spotify occasionally (only very occasionally now, as the Qobuz catalogue has improved immensely) and note that it always sounds ok, but the lack of resolution is noticeable so I only stay with it to listen to something obscure and switch back again.
The Qobuz reviews make good reading. Also, try Qobuz Discover and My Weekly Q, that learns your tastes after a while.
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Post by jandl100 on Mar 31, 2022 13:00:15 GMT
I've looked at My Weekly, and it is as yet clueless, seemingly a fairly random hodgepodge of non classical many of which I actively dislike! I'm sure it will learn my ways after a while.
One of the highlights of Spotify was its recommended albums, hopefully Qobuz will be able to perform similarly after a while.
I've not come across any Qobuz reviews as yet.... how do they manifest themselves?
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Post by MartinT on Mar 31, 2022 13:20:49 GMT
In my BubbleUPnP Android app controlling my system, they show when I click the album cover artwork. In the Qobuz Windows app, they show as grey text in the right-hand bar, where you can click Read More for a popup of the whole thing.
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Post by julesd68 on Mar 31, 2022 13:22:57 GMT
Always good to get the system back to a place of goodness!
Actually one of the few things I dislike about Spotify is how cluttered the home page is with stuff I don't want or like. Just wish you could customise it properly. On the plus side I have definitely had some good recommendations from them, not so much classical as rock and pop etc
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Post by jandl100 on Mar 31, 2022 13:52:49 GMT
Ah, OK, thanks - spotted them now, on my Android app the reviews, if any, the opening sentence appears in grey immediately underneath the main album title. Tapping on the opening lines expands them out to full length.
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Post by jandl100 on Apr 1, 2022 6:18:24 GMT
It's coming back to me now. The reasons I went with Spotify. Qobuz has some significant holes in its catalogue. Argh. And I came across an album with several of its tracks blanked. Argh. Maybe I'll go back to Spotify. Come on guys, get the CD quality Spotify sorted!!
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Post by John on Apr 1, 2022 7:17:50 GMT
My take on Quobuz is that you have to consider the whole digital chain and ensure any digital electrical noise is minimised to get the best out of it.
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Post by MartinT on Apr 1, 2022 7:20:31 GMT
The blank/grey tracks often mean that a new version (usually higher res) is coming and they are transitioning. A few times I guess it's licencing, but that can't happen with many albums unless they are compilations.
A bit of patience and they are usually resolved shortly after. Annoying, I agree.
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Post by John on Apr 1, 2022 7:21:02 GMT
However this will not overcome the gaps Jerry is experiencing. Spotify needs to be Redbook at the least For me, files are still the best way to hear music stored digitally
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Post by jandl100 on Apr 1, 2022 7:21:11 GMT
Hmm, possibly, John.
But no amount of noise reduction is going to fill in the holes in the Qobuz catalogue!
Edit ; my response overlapped with the previous two!
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Post by wannarock2 on Apr 1, 2022 20:09:08 GMT
... For me, files are still the best way to hear music stored digitally Interesting (if i understand what you are alluding to), I don’t stream yet, I download audio files and then play them from my NAS to my stereo system. Question – can you all tell the difference from a well recorded 16bit - 44.1khz streamed file from the identical file downloaded (or ripped CD) and played directly from your stereo system or is it pretty much the same across either approach?
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Post by MartinT on Apr 1, 2022 20:30:04 GMT
I can play streams and files in my system. I cannot hear any appreciable difference at all between them, provided they are the same version.
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Post by jandl100 on Apr 8, 2022 9:27:07 GMT
Current electronics stack. Densen DM20 preamp XiangSheng DAC05Aii with Western Electric 396a valve. Ayre AX-7e integrated used in pass through power amp mode. Good though the Ayre's preamp section is, it's a little too transparent and stark for my present mood. So the rather lovely touch of lushness from the Densen is just what is needed.
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Post by user211 on Apr 10, 2022 16:17:04 GMT
I must admit these days I hardly use my streaming service.
When you have a 100 inch projector in between your speakers, live YouTube gigs are very hard not to watch in preference to boring old audio only.
How's that Xiang 5a compare to the 01A, then? Do you reckon it is better?
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Post by jandl100 on Apr 10, 2022 16:41:53 GMT
I guess I'm about 90/10 boring old audio / YouTube concerts.
Yes the XS05 is a clearly superior beastie compared to my memory of the 01A. I'm sure your Lampi is better than both, though! But very much enjoying its presentation. I swap every now and then with my Wyred 4 Sound DAC 1, which is a more laidback device with a sweeter sound.
I've a new amp arriving midweek and that's got its own DAC onboard, so it'll be interesting to see how that compares. .... A Simaudio Moon i3.3 integrated, to save you asking!
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Post by user211 on Apr 10, 2022 19:06:54 GMT
I still use the Xiang in my second system. But when my DAC is away for mods (4 times now LOL, or 5 if you include my own tinkering) I still find it pretty acceptable in the main system.
Nowhere near as flexible as the Lampi with Alan's mods, which takes all sorts of diifferent triodes - more than any real Lampizator. But that's the reason I bought it. Hand made hardwired always meant you could mod the f out of it. Can't do that with current Lampis, so they are no use to me.
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Post by user211 on Apr 10, 2022 19:34:22 GMT
That Simaudio might be worth trying on the Duettas. 200W into 4 Ohms will defo make a noise. Just running it past you...
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Post by jandl100 on Apr 10, 2022 19:40:58 GMT
I'll be happy to bring it along - if I still have it by then. It's intended to replace the Ayre, as it's a more flexible device, which might be a challenge for it, the Ayre is bloody good.
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Post by MartinT on Apr 10, 2022 21:50:23 GMT
When you have a 100 inch projector in between your speakers, live YouTube gigs are very hard not to watch in preference to boring old audio only. It's interesting as I'm happy to watch great YouTube clips on this 12" tablet while listening on the system via Bluetooth and the sound is big and realistic and makes a very good fist of live concerts. However, when I listen to Qobuz streams the sound opens up and the room becomes cavernous in acoustic space. The effect is so 3D that I have no need for a picture to accompany it.
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Post by jandl100 on Apr 11, 2022 4:27:31 GMT
I watch YouTube vids on my phone. !! This works due to the discovery and acquisition of phone holding arms which clamp to nearby furniture and dangle the phone about 12 inches from my head, creating a suitably wide angled presentation. Sounds crazy, but it works! Eg.
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