Qobuz claim streaming via naim is on its way 1st half 2015?

If Apple would be interested in delivering cd quality sound they would have a long time ago with the iTunes store. At the introduction of iTunes, the availability of bandwidth and speed of downloads was a serious issue. Remember they started out with 128Kbps files and upgraded to 256Kbps once the bandwidth was not an issue anymore.

Spotify streams at 320Kbps. So, bandwidth is not the reason they do not offer cd quality. I think that for their mainstream customers 256Kbps is sufficient. It means people can store more music on their iPhones than with cd quality files, and since the majority does not care, why would they offer higher resolution?

If beats streaming will come, it will be within the apple ecosystem, no doubt. And probably will offer lower quality audio for the masses. Why would they try to appeal to a market that does not care for the argument of 'better sounding music' when it burns their mobile data faster than Spotify does?

I think it is up to Qobuz, Tidal and Deezer to fight for the small pie of the market that needs cd quality or better. That pie seems to be large enough to have different companies fighting for it. We'll see what happens if the streaming market matures.

That could all take some time because while Apple has significant mind share, it's market share with Beats is minuscule compared to Spotify, Deezer and Pandora. Even for a company like Apple it would take a significant amount of time to build a dominant market share, and even longer before the DOJ or EU did anything about it. 

Offering CD quality downloads has always been hard for mass market providers like Apple and Amazon, because the record companies feared piracy. It took Apple quite some time to convince the industry to let it offer DRM free downloads. Streaming has always been interesting to the labels because it gets them closer to pay for play, and makes piracy significantly more difficult for the average consumer.

I hope Apple is able to offer CD quality streaming and now we know Jony Ive has a Naim he'd probably like it too

I wonder if Qobuz has decided not to enter the U.S. because of the low price points established by Tidal and Deezer.  My one year subscription to Deezer Elite on Sonos is only $10/month.

No idea if Qobuz would be able to command a premium versus their competitors because solely on their large classical music library.

Hook, to be honest in Europe  almost certainly Qobuz Hifi and Tidal lossless will need to reduce prices to compete.. Certainly if Deezer Elite comes in at £10 per month.

Interestingly Qobuz offer a discounted lossless classical only subscription but that is still above £10 per month.

Of course there is sound quality as well. Qobuz lossless has improved (around the time they were updating their streaming servers) which suggests not all services might be the same.. But until I compare with Deezer Elite I won't know if this is a theoretical or actual difference.

Simon

PS any update on your reclocker?

Is that Cockney Rhyming slang Simon?

Sorry couldn't resist 

Hi Simon -

A couple of day's of continuous run-in, and I think I'm probably hearing most of what the reclocker can deliver. But I got sidetracked last night listening to the new Steven Wilson album, and made only a little  progress.

Listened to a CD rip of the album once using the naim app, and then had a second time using the Sonos app. Am still trying to understand the experience. First of all, I think it's a wonderful album. Was impressed on first listen, but became very emotionally connected on the second listen. Thinking about it now, I am pretty sure those feelings were more about the music as opposed to the sound quality. I likely would have felt the same no matter which order I played the two UPnP clients.

My gut says that there are still some subtle differences in sound quality between using the NDS as a DAC versus a streamer. But with the reclocker added, the differences seem more subtle. Next chance for a listen isn't until tonight, where I plan to concentrate on less complicated music - female vocals, solo piano, and so on. Should make comparing a lot easier than trying to use complex prog rock!

One thing's for sure: the Sonos Connect's digital ouput can be made to sound very good when feeding a buffered/reclocking component like the Naim DAC/NDX/NDS. But even with this capability, it is once again clear to me that digital sources do not sound the same. I am confident in saying that the Sonos Connect's digital output is improved when passed through the Remedy, but it will take me a few nights of listening before I can feel confident describing these differences. Forgot to make a single note last night!  Also want to recruit Mrs. Hook for some more blind testing, just to confirm she hears it as I do. Lastly, I also want to compare Deezer Elite delivered FLAC versus local CD rips. I figure if I stick with recent releases, I should be getting the same bitstream...fingers crossed.  More later!

ATB.

Hook

Be honest - no pork pies!  

Very good Hook B+.

Good to hear from you as always.

BR

Dusty

Thanks for the update Paul.  Looking forward to further streaming options.   Inevitable consequence of having an active and interested community is we will debate and speculate I'm afraid!

Interesting stuff Hook.

The new Steven Wilson album is stunning, isn't it - his best yet? I'm off to see him at St.David's Hall in Cardiff on Friday - can't wait.

Keith

Have now retired my £20 month Qobuz subscription meantime whilst enjoying the benefits of Deezer 'Elite' @ £3 month for 12 months. Playing between native NAS and Sonos Connect their is little enough in it to worry me sonically.

Let's see how the streaming landscape pans out over the next 6-12 months with Naim. If Qobuz do 'connect' I'll re-engage then.

G

That's what it's all about the music. Inspired by your thoughts I decided to give Stevem Wilson's new album a go. Found it on Beats but sadly not Deezer Elite.

Just noticed that if you commit to 12 months Qobuz is now GBP 16.58 a month.

Apropos my glowing experience (with Coltrane "A Love Supreme") reading here and listening on Spotify, I must regretfully report that I couldn't find "Hand. Cannot. Erase." although there are three Porcupine Tree albums... but not the new one. Sigh. Went to the last day at my local shop before it closes forever. A wasteland and nothing to find there either...

Regards, alan 

You don't have annoying interrupts in your internet service?  I find it can be a problem when others in the house start downloading/watching Netflix etc.

According to What Hi-Fi, Qobuz aims to be streaming hi-res by the end of the summer

Keith

Yep, and they're introducing a new service which gives streaming plus discounted hi-res downloads if you're prepared to take a punt on then being around in a year's time and pay annually in advance.

Keith

Now, Right now Never.

Even If I'm downloading something or do a backup to my nas.

A high Speed internet Access will maybe come as well where I'm Living.

Wow,

this would be nice.

But the weak Point all Services have are the gaps.

Label ECM nowhere Kari Bremnes missing on spotify , Steven Wilson.

They should also increase the # of devices.

With 3 it is to less for me.

2 Cell Phones - just one left. ��

Steven Wilson's new album can be downloaded from Qobuz at 24bit. Streaming can never completely replace all other delivery methods. That's why they have their new hybrid subscription (and it's why I own a record player+ I rip CDs and DVDs).

By the way, I Saw SW in Cardiff last night. Fantastic

Keith