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Qobuz
Dec 4, 2018 13:47:33 GMT
Post by MartinT on Dec 4, 2018 13:47:33 GMT
I really can't get on with the Qobuz UI after using Spotify for so long. Does anyone know a quick way of finding albums in hi-res (anything above 16/44) either in the interface or on the web?
I seem to be able to access a list of hi-res discs that they sell, but this may or may not coincide with what's available for streaming.
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Qobuz
Dec 4, 2018 14:04:33 GMT
Post by petea on Dec 4, 2018 14:04:33 GMT
My only experience with high resolution downloads is through www.highresaudio.com. And that is positive although their catalogue, due to their QA, is more limited than other sources. |
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Qobuz
Dec 4, 2018 14:05:56 GMT
Post by MartinT on Dec 4, 2018 14:05:56 GMT
Thanks, Pete, but it's not downloads I want - it's streams.
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Qobuz
Dec 4, 2018 14:10:32 GMT
Post by petea on Dec 4, 2018 14:10:32 GMT
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Post by MartinT on Dec 4, 2018 14:19:53 GMT
Blimey, they're all at it now!
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Post by speedysteve on Dec 6, 2018 12:31:38 GMT
Interesting but do they have Evil urges - My morning jacket Dreams - Grace Slice Four seasons - Drottningholm Baroque Ensemble Duffy - Eric Kehoe Bach Sonatas Viole de gambe Hehe |
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Qobuz
Jan 28, 2019 7:17:35 GMT
Post by MartinT on Jan 28, 2019 7:17:35 GMT
Each streaming service has its own idiosyncrasies so I thought I'd start one for Qobuz.
The Qobuz service is generally reliable and has good sound quality. A few of the streams sound a little bright to me when compared with Spotify. However, the hi-res streams, especially, can sound amazing. Paul Simon's One Trick Pony is a case in point, sounding utterly superb in 24/96.
Search is another thing. Not only are classical composers spelled the French way, but also instruments and other words making search a bit hit and miss. I was searching for Simon & Garfunkel yesterday and could only find two compilation albums. What? That can't be right. In the end, there appeared to be another entry further down the list not in upper case which contained all their other albums. Bizarre!
I've learned now to try different ways to find albums I want as the most obvious doesn't always yield results.
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Qobuz
Jan 28, 2019 7:44:49 GMT
Post by zippy on Jan 28, 2019 7:44:49 GMT
Me also, no problems with the CD quality stream. To my ears it's the same as my 16/44 FLAC rips.
One problem with the searching is the 'release date' which usually shows a date that's nothing like the real release date (maybe it's the date that Qobuz acquired them ?)
There's no real composer search either, you just take pot luck on that one.
I don't like the fact that many albums are the 'extended version' with a load of tracks that I don't really want.
I'm currently in a one month free trial and I've yet to decide whether to carry on with it.
(fyi I use Bubble UPnP on a Samsung tablet as controlling software, into my Cyrus StreamXSig)
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Qobuz
Jan 28, 2019 8:32:59 GMT
Post by Stratmangler on Jan 28, 2019 8:32:59 GMT
Paul Simon's One Trick Pony is a case in point, sounding utterly superb in 24/96. As always, the secret's in the mastering, and I suspect that the Paul Simon album was from the recent rash of remasterings, which means it's been mangled to within an inch of its miserable existence. I heard the recent(ish) remasters a few years ago, and they sound radically different to the originals. There's no proper dynamic range, everything is louder than everything else, and in short they're not what released all those years ago.
With Paul Simon I avoid all the remastered stuff, and play CD rips of the initial CD releases. Just a few weeks ago I found an original CD issue of "Still Crazy After All These Years", and it sounds great. More to the point, it sounds the way it was intended to sound when it was released a decade earlier on vinyl.
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Qobuz
Jan 28, 2019 9:09:07 GMT
via mobile
Post by jandl100 on Jan 28, 2019 9:09:07 GMT
I agree that Qobuz is a bit more brightly lit than Spotify, but Tidal is brighter still. Deezer is about the same as Qobuz.
I think what sounds best is entirely down to system synergy.
I find Tidal just a bit too bright and insistent but can live with the others.
As for the idiosyncrasies of the search engine and album indexing I find all of the streaming services have their own little ways about them, and a degree of lateral thinking and ingenuity is needed for successfully using them all.
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Qobuz
Jan 28, 2019 9:12:11 GMT
Post by MartinT on Jan 28, 2019 9:12:11 GMT
A few thoughts on the Paul Simon/S+G albums. One Trick Pony still has considerable dynamic range but what has happened is the percussion has been brought forward in the mix. It does sound good but his voice is almost in competition with all the percussive sounds going on. Still Crazy sounds a lot more natural and is a nice recording except for his mic'ing which is somewhat sibilant. Graceland is the most successful hi-res remaster with outstanding sound - except, again, for 's' sounds in his voice. Perhaps he is just sibilant, himself?
Bridge Over Troubled Waters is variable and a bit disappointing. The title track has very harsh strings while The Boxer sounds ok and Cecilia is probably the best sounding song on it.
Qobuz has some hi-res and some 16/44 titles, I find this the most annoying aspect and it doesn't always go with what we know has been remastered.
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Qobuz
Feb 1, 2019 13:06:55 GMT
Post by MartinT on Feb 1, 2019 13:06:55 GMT
Some good information on Qobuz Studio releases here. |
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Post by zippy on Feb 1, 2019 15:31:35 GMT
.... I'm currently in a one month free trial and I've yet to decide whether to carry on with it. One Month Trial up, and having seen the opposition I can't say there's much between them, each has its idiosyncrasies, so I've paid my £199 for a one year subscription. |
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Qobuz
Feb 1, 2019 22:49:50 GMT
Post by MartinT on Feb 1, 2019 22:49:50 GMT
I do see Qobuz improving, spotting new hi-res additions quite often.
I don't like the Windows client at all, though. Luckily, Volumio does it pretty well.
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Qobuz
Feb 2, 2019 16:26:31 GMT
Post by MartinT on Feb 2, 2019 16:26:31 GMT
I found a few Diana Krall albums in 24/96 today. Stepping Out and The Girl in the Other Room sound especially fine in hi-res.
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Qobuz
Feb 15, 2019 8:36:21 GMT
Post by MartinT on Feb 15, 2019 8:36:21 GMT
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Post by Stratmangler on Feb 15, 2019 9:03:21 GMT
I found a few Diana Krall albums in 24/96 today Lucky you!  |
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Qobuz
Feb 15, 2019 9:15:38 GMT
Post by MartinT on Feb 15, 2019 9:15:38 GMT
At her best, she's very good. There have been some journeyman albums, too.
Live, she's pretty kicking.
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Qobuz
Feb 15, 2019 9:52:03 GMT
Post by jandl100 on Feb 15, 2019 9:52:03 GMT
At her best, she's very good. There have been some journeyman albums, too. Live, she's pretty kicking. With those legs, could well be.  Must admit I have a strong allergic reaction to jazz chanteuse; they all make me want to make a rapid exit from the room. |
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Qobuz
Feb 15, 2019 10:07:49 GMT
Post by MartinT on Feb 15, 2019 10:07:49 GMT
I offer you one little treat. Great song, great performance, superb sound.
Sorry it's a Spotify link in a Qobuz thread, suffice to say it sounds excellent on both but Spotify wins with its nice visual links.
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