Streaming flac quality Qobuz into Naim DAC USB port via iPhone

Posted by: Sloop John B on 09 March 2014

I'm streaming Qobuz flac through it's iPhone app into the USB port at the front of the nDAC. 

 

Does anyone have knowledge, opinions or experience of this?

 

Are there limitations to this approach from a sonic viewpoint?

 

I'm presuming it's the same a connecting to play apple lossless files and therefor an asynchronous USB connection  is not needed?

 

 

 

Posted on: 09 March 2014 by KRM

Yes, I've done it and it sounds very good. I haven't bothered to do any comparative testing, but I can say it's in another sonic league to Spotify.

 

Keith

Posted on: 09 March 2014 by mutterback

Quboz isn't available in the US yet.  Do you know what quality the stream is?

Posted on: 09 March 2014 by GraemeH
Originally Posted by mutterback:

Quboz isn't available in the US yet.  Do you know what quality the stream is?

CD 

Posted on: 11 March 2014 by Sloop John B

I did a small unblinded unscientific test with a few JJ Cale and John Grant  tracks last night.

 

I'm coming to the end of my Qobuz trial period and wanted to see if I'd keep it.

Perhaps unsurprisingly i found that the hierarchy remained.

 

  1. CD555
  2. SBT>Teddy rca-bnc Coax>nDAC+XPS2
  3. iDevice>lightening>nDAC+XPS2

 

I would have liked to be able to get QoBuz through the SBT as then a more valid comparison could be made of QoBuz's quality.

 

I think it will be Spotify for me as 2 young sloops are quite into it and with my system Qobuz is not clearly differentiating its flac quality. (clearly better than spotify but clearly inferior to locally streamed audio so would only be used to sample music which Spotify will do fine for)

 

SJB

 

 

Posted on: 11 March 2014 by pcstockton

if only there were a way to get 24/96 or 24/192 out of the iOS devices.  I would use it permanently into my NDAC and ditch the HTPC/MF Link 192.

Posted on: 11 March 2014 by N16SPS
Originally Posted by GraemeH:
Originally Posted by mutterback:

Quboz isn't available in the US yet.  Do you know what quality the stream is?

CD 

Love it! G and another loss - less HQ medium is vinyl.

Posted on: 12 March 2014 by mutterback
Originally Posted by pcstockton:

if only there were a way to get 24/96 or 24/192 out of the iOS devices.  I would use it permanently into my NDAC and ditch the HTPC/MF Link 192.

Pono? Though doesn't seem to have a digital output.  Has USB but seems just for transferring files.

 

You can theoretically get hi res out of an idevice if you use it as a hard drive. I haven't tested that.  In my experience, "browsing" with the NDAC isn't worth it.

Posted on: 14 March 2014 by dave4jazz
Originally Posted by Sloop John B:
I would have liked to be able to get QoBuz through the SBT as then a more valid comparison could be made of QoBuz's quality.

A pity you didn't get Qobuz working on your SBT. I installed the app on my Touch and had it running for a couple of weeks but decided on staying with Spotify so I uninstalled it. SQ wise it was obviously better than Spotify Premium, i.e. 320kbps v. FLAC, but I felt Spotify's catalogue was more comprehensive and suits my tastes better. Did you try the Squeezebox forum for assistance?

Dave

Posted on: 14 March 2014 by Sloop John B
Originally Posted by dave4jazz:
Originally Posted by Sloop John B:
I would have liked to be able to get QoBuz through the SBT as then a more valid comparison could be made of QoBuz's quality.

A pity you didn't get Qobuz working on your SBT. I installed the app on my Touch and had it running for a couple of weeks but decided on staying with Spotify so I uninstalled it. SQ wise it was obviously better than Spotify Premium, i.e. 320kbps v. FLAC, but I felt Spotify's catalogue was more comprehensive and suits my tastes better. Did you try the Squeezebox forum for assistance?

Dave

Thee is a thread on it by the app programmer and there were other people reporting the same problem and I added my tuppence worth but the thread contained loads of themes and these seemed to take precedence. I also contacted Qobuz who replied promptly enough but obviously as SBT is unsupported suggested I go to the app writer or get Sonos. 

 

Not a big issue really. it would be such a sea change to have such a catalogue available at a resolution where I could not tell the difference between local streaming and cloud streaming that I think I'm psychologically in a better place without this!

 

 

SJB

Posted on: 14 March 2014 by Louis-Andre
Sloop John,
 
There IS a Qobuz plugin for the SBT. Search on the net for the Pierre Beck plugin (I can also give it to you if the forum allows), insert the url into the LSM (advanced parameters), and hop! in 5 min you are all set! 
 
Regarding your SBT set up, may I recommend you try pluging your SBT via USB (not SPDIF). I bought a U2S from Teddy (async USB to PDIF converter), which I connect between the SBT and the DAC...It has brought very significant benefit, making the sound much more analogue and fluid. Try it if you have the money (approx 300 GBP). It made a very big difference in my set up...made me sell my beloved CDS3 as it reduced the gap so much it did not make sense to keep the CDP....my experience at least
 
Originally Posted by Sloop John B:

 

I would have liked to be able to get QoBuz through the SBT as then a more valid comparison could be made of QoBuz's quality.

 

SJB

 

 

 

Posted on: 14 March 2014 by dave4jazz
Originally Posted by Louis-Andre:
Regarding your SBT set up, may I recommend you try pluging your SBT via USB (not SPDIF). I bought a U2S from Teddy (async USB to PDIF converter), which I connect between the SBT and the DAC...It has brought very significant benefit, making the sound much more analogue and fluid. Try it if you have the money (approx 300 GBP). It made a very big difference in my set up...made me sell my beloved CDS3 as it reduced the gap so much it did not make sense to keep the CDP....my experience at least

SBT USB output -> DAC-V1 asynchronous USB input works a treat as well.

 

Dave

Posted on: 14 March 2014 by Sloop John B
Originally Posted by Louis-Andre:
Sloop John,
 
There IS a Qobuz plugin for the SBT. Search on the net for the Pierre Beck plugin (I can also give it to you if the forum allows), insert the url into the LSM (advanced parameters), and hop! in 5 min you are all set! 
 
Regarding your SBT set up, may I recommend you try pluging your SBT via USB (not SPDIF). I bought a U2S from Teddy (async USB to PDIF converter), which I connect between the SBT and the DAC...It has brought very significant benefit, making the sound much more analogue and fluid. Try it if you have the money (approx 300 GBP). It made a very big difference in my set up...made me sell my beloved CDS3 as it reduced the gap so much it did not make sense to keep the CDP....my experience at least
 
Originally Posted by Sloop John B:

 

I would have liked to be able to get QoBuz through the SBT as then a more valid comparison could be made of QoBuz's quality.

 

SJB

 

 

 

I had that app Louis, but it would only stream in 320kbs for me through the SBT no matter what configuration I tried.

 

I have tried the Ciúnas USB / SPDIF converter which did indeed up the ante but then I started to fixate on what USB cable to use etc. For the moment I've decided to stick with the SBT coax out into the nDAC. It's safer for my sanity!

 

 

SJB

 

 

Posted on: 14 March 2014 by dave4jazz

SJB

I was intrigued your SBT not playing Qobuz FLAC files so this afternoon I re-installed the plug-in (from the list of other 3rd. party plug-ins) and now have it working again. Probably off topic but interested to know what your issues with the setting-up were.

Dave

Posted on: 14 March 2014 by pcstockton
Originally Posted by mutterback:
Originally Posted by pcstockton:

if only there were a way to get 24/96 or 24/192 out of the iOS devices.  I would use it permanently into my NDAC and ditch the HTPC/MF Link 192.

Pono? Though doesn't seem to have a digital output.  Has USB but seems just for transferring files.

 

You can theoretically get hi res out of an idevice if you use it as a hard drive. I haven't tested that.  In my experience, "browsing" with the NDAC isn't worth it.

How do you do this?  I would tether my iPad to my NDAC and use Jremote app.

 

thanks!

Patrick

Posted on: 15 March 2014 by Louis-Andre
SJB, setting the SBT for FLAC is VERY easy. If you want I can help you setting it up ( it really takes 5 min!!) First, you must setting up your Qobuz registration to play Flac ( 20 euros/ month). The basic registration ( 9euros/month) only gives you access to MP3 files. So- make sure you have the 20 euros registration. Then, install the Pierre Beck plugin Check in LMS ( advanced parameters) that you have FLAc quality selected. that is it! Then, i would really recommend you buy : -async USB SPDIF converter ( a good one ) - Audioquest USB Carbon ( or better, made a big difference in my system) and install of course the EDO plug in app ( under third party app in SBT menu) again, the whole set is so easy, try it again it is really worth the efforts and you will be very pleased with the results ( it will get damn close to your CD555 imho)
Originally Posted by Sloop John B:
Originally Posted by Louis-Andre:
Sloop John,
 
There IS a Qobuz plugin for the SBT. Search on the net for the Pierre Beck plugin (I can also give it to you if the forum allows), insert the url into the LSM (advanced parameters), and hop! in 5 min you are all set! 
 
Regarding your SBT set up, may I recommend you try pluging your SBT via USB (not SPDIF). I bought a U2S from Teddy (async USB to PDIF converter), which I connect between the SBT and the DAC...It has brought very significant benefit, making the sound much more analogue and fluid. Try it if you have the money (approx 300 GBP). It made a very big difference in my set up...made me sell my beloved CDS3 as it reduced the gap so much it did not make sense to keep the CDP....my experience at least
 
Originally Posted by Sloop John B:

 

I would have liked to be able to get QoBuz through the SBT as then a more valid comparison could be made of QoBuz's quality.

 

SJB

 

 

 

I had that app Louis, but it would only stream in 320kbs for me through the SBT no matter what configuration I tried.

 

I have tried the Ciúnas USB / SPDIF converter which did indeed up the ante but then I started to fixate on what USB cable to use etc. For the moment I've decided to stick with the SBT coax out into the nDAC. It's safer for my sanity!

 

 

SJB

 

 

Posted on: 15 March 2014 by Sloop John B

I appreciate the help but I've done all the above.

 

"the "above" above is a hyperlink!

 

It's not an issue for me. I have more music than I can probably ever listen to!

 

SJB