New streamers no Qobuz?

Because they dont have an open API like Tidal and are going much like the route of Spotify having to use there own apps to stream it.

Drikus posted:

Why is that, why is Qobuz not integrated like Tidal?

Presumably because Naim and Qobuz can't make an arrangement.  The same as Tidal is integrated into Roon but Qobuz aren't.

Closest to "native" method is to install BubbleUPnPServer on a computer and then us Linn Kazoo or Lumin or BubbleUPnP apps.

Pity, forced to look elsewhere then. The streamers from our Scottish friends have Qobuz integrated I see.

Hi,

Qobuz is supported via Chromecast - you use the Qobuz app to browse and select your tracks and then the streamer renders them at the best quality it can pull from the provider. Playback is then directly from the service provider (not via your tablet or phone).

Cheers

Phil

Hi Phil, Cromecast supports Hi-Res audio up to 24/96 it says on the new streamer specs;

"Chromecast built-in: Stream audio from hundreds of supported smartphone or tablet apps such as Deezer, Qobuz, Plex, TuneIn, Soundcloud and Pandora with up to 24 bits/96 kHz resolution."

I've got Sublime+ so 24/192 streaming is possible for me but Cromecast will downsample it to 24/96. Please correct me if I'm wrong. I've got no problems streaming 24/192 via my Mac using Audirvana Plus 3 but my external soundcard only goes up to 24/96 so it's downsampled also.

If I'm buying a streamer I want it to do native 24/192 otherwise what's the point changing my Mac for a streamer.

SimonPeterArnold posted:

Because they dont have an open API like Tidal and are going much like the route of Spotify having to use there own apps to stream it.

I am using upmpdcli and it nicely integrates Qobuz, Tidal and one or two more streaming services that I do not remember. No need to use the Qobuz app and CA if one does not fancy doing so. The UI presented by upmpdcli to the control point is simple and clear. I have a Sublime 16/44.1 subscription, however, and I have never tried high resolution Qobuz streaming.

Phil Harris posted:

Hi,

Qobuz is supported via Chromecast - you use the Qobuz app to browse and select your tracks and then the streamer renders them at the best quality it can pull from the provider. Playback is then directly from the service provider (not via your tablet or phone).

Cheers

Phil

While the in-built Chromecast support works well, it sadly falls down when attempting playback of lossless albums which is a real shame - is this something Naim could fix in software if the Uniti device is requesting the stream from the provider?

Drikus posted:

Had a look at the new streamers specs and it seems that Qobuz streaming will only be available through the built-in, limited to 24/96, Cromecast. Why is that, why is Qobuz not integrated like Tidal?

Just got a Qobuz Sublime+ subscription, hence the question.

Having bemoaned the lack of Qobuz native support previously, while it's a shame it's not available in software in Naim products, they may have felt development a bit risky given Qobuz's shaky financial position a few years ago.

I've had Sublime for a few years but although I'd like to upgrade to Sublime+ the lack of integration prevents me.  Roon fora suggest it may be Qobuz who are not interested integrating there.

Unfortunately I've found Audirvana hit and miss with streamed music vs local media to a Uniti Nova.  It may have been updated since I last tried though.

Alley Cat posted:

Having bemoaned the lack of Qobuz native support previously, while it's a shame it's not available in software in Naim products, they may have felt development a bit risky given Qobuz's shaky financial position a few years ago.

 

Tidal isn't exactly a safe financial bet either these days if you believe the rumors. Reports from december 2017 say they could apparently run out of money in only six months.

Alley Cat posted:

Phil Harris posted:

Hi,

Qobuz is supported via Chromecast - you use the Qobuz app to browse and select your tracks and then the streamer renders them at the best quality it can pull from the provider. Playback is then directly from the service provider (not via your tablet or phone).

Cheers

Phil

While the in-built Chromecast support works well, it sadly falls down when attempting playback of lossless albums which is a real shame - is this something Naim could fix in software if the Uniti device is requesting the stream from the provider?

 

Do you mean hires or cd lossless? 

I think the main problem with Chromecast as a solution for Qobuz  is that it won’t play gapless. 

My experience with the new Unitis and Qobuz is:

- Chromecast -  doesn’t play gapless at all

- bubbleupnp - doesn’t play gapless on the new Unitis, (although it does on my muso)

- audivarna - can’t reliably find or stay connected to the Uniti (although it works fine on my muso)

There are also options like Bluetooth, airplay and possibly “googlecasting the screen” (which I think Is only possible on certain devices), but these rely on streaming via the controlling device, not direct, and have varying limitations to resolution.  

If Anyone has another suggestion, I’d love to hear it. To be honest, my nova sounds great with a digital input ftom my old Auralic Aries Mini (which steams Qobuz at hi res faultlessly), so I’ve stopped holding my breath for an alternative. 

Matthew

Drikus posted:

Alley Cat posted:

Having bemoaned the lack of Qobuz native support previously, while it's a shame it's not available in software in Naim products, they may have felt development a bit risky given Qobuz's shaky financial position a few years ago.

 

Tidal isn't exactly a safe financial bet either these days if you believe the rumors. Reports from december 2017 say they could apparently run out of money in only six months.

Yes, I'd heard that, and find it surprising when they're perhaps a more mainstream player.

MatthewP posted:

I think the main problem with Chromecast as a solution for Qobuz  is that it won’t play gapless. 

My experience with the new Unitis and Qobuz is:

- Chromecast -  doesn’t play gapless at all

- bubbleupnp - doesn’t play gapless on the new Unitis, (although it does on my muso)

- audivarna - can’t reliably find or stay connected to the Uniti (although it works fine on my muso)

 Matthew

We had a few threads about Chromecast and gapless a few months ago, and in tehory it's feasible it would seem, just depends how things are implemented in software.  Did not try bubbleupnp but your findings echo mine with regard to Audirvana - streamed fine on a Macbook locally but if I tried to play via UPnP it constantly lost connection with the Nova, or couldn;t find it until I powered cycled the Nova itself.  Also saw several people say Audirvana played gapless to the Muso but not to a Uniti device.   There must be a networking related firmware difference that explains this - seems bizarre that the cheaper device is more resilient to network factors.

Roon on the other hand consistently found and played to the Nova so I suspect Roon is doing something quite differently to Audirvana in terms of detection of output devices.  Alas, no Qobuz support for Roon.

I've never liked Airplay, but at least it does allow me to play Qobuz app output gapless, but it's limited quality wise to CD quality (or maybe 16 bit 48 kHz if it annoyingly does the same as AppleTV 2-4).  I'm hoping, probably in vain that Airplay 2 might allow HD lossless Airplay, but I'm not holding my breath as the HomePod rolled out was delayed with features missing at launch only to be released with software updates later (eg combining a pair for stereo).

Good idea using a Qobuz aware streamer into the Unitis - does thsi support up to 24/192 ?

SimonPeterArnold posted:

Alley Cat posted:

Phil Harris posted:

Hi,

Qobuz is supported via Chromecast - you use the Qobuz app to browse and select your tracks and then the streamer renders them at the best quality it can pull from the provider. Playback is then directly from the service provider (not via your tablet or phone).

Cheers

Phil

While the in-built Chromecast support works well, it sadly falls down when attempting playback of lossless albums which is a real shame - is this something Naim could fix in software if the Uniti device is requesting the stream from the provider?

 

Do you mean hires or cd lossless? 

Both - my Sublime account only allows unpurchased CD quality streaming/Qobuz app downloads, but I have purchased many HD titles and they wont stream gapless via the Qobuz app whether I download them to the app locally or simply stream them without doing so first.

Alley Cat posted:

MatthewP posted:

I think the main problem with Chromecast as a solution for Qobuz  is that it won’t play gapless. 

My experience with the new Unitis and Qobuz is:

- Chromecast -  doesn’t play gapless at all

- bubbleupnp - doesn’t play gapless on the new Unitis, (although it does on my muso)

- audivarna - can’t reliably find or stay connected to the Uniti (although it works fine on my muso)

 Matthew

We had a few threads about Chromecast and gapless a few months ago, and in tehory it's feasible it would seem, just depends how things are implemented in software.  Did not try bubbleupnp but your findings echo mine with regard to Audirvana - streamed fine on a Macbook locally but if I tried to play via UPnP it constantly lost connection with the Nova, or couldn;t find it until I powered cycled the Nova itself.  Also saw several people say Audirvana played gapless to the Muso but not to a Uniti device.   There must be a networking related firmware difference that explains this - seems bizarre that the cheaper device is more resilient to network factors.

Roon on the other hand consistently found and played to the Nova so I suspect Roon is doing something quite differently to Audirvana in terms of detection of output devices.  Alas, no Qobuz support for Roon.

I've never liked Airplay, but at least it does allow me to play Qobuz app output gapless, but it's limited quality wise to CD quality (or maybe 16 bit 48 kHz if it annoyingly does the same as AppleTV 2-4).  I'm hoping, probably in vain that Airplay 2 might allow HD lossless Airplay, but I'm not holding my breath as the HomePod rolled out was delayed with features missing at launch only to be released with software updates later (eg combining a pair for stereo).

Good idea using a Qobuz aware streamer into the Unitis - does thsi support up to 24/192 ?

 

You re right, here is a network related firmware difference between the new unitis and the older kit, confirmed by Phil Harris: “we no longer support the custom extension SetAVTransportURINext which enabled gapless suport in your use case however generally the command is flawed and as such support for it has been removed. Muso and "legacy" streaming platform does support it historically but it will not be implemented on Atom / Star and Nova moving forwards.”. 

The Aurilac streamer supports up to 24/384 and DSD512 in theory, but I don’t think I’ve come across anything over 24/96 streaming on Qobuz sublime+, I’ve been listening to a recording this evening in 24/96 and it certainly sounds very fine (Franco Fagioli, Handel Arias).. 

Matthew

MatthewP posted:

You re right, here is a network related firmware difference between the new unitis and the older kit, confirmed by Phil Harris: “we no longer support the custom extension SetAVTransportURINext which enabled gapless suport in your use case however generally the command is flawed and as such support for it has been removed. Muso and "legacy" streaming platform does support it historically but it will not be implemented on Atom / Star and Nova moving forwards.”. 

 

Gosh, I'm gobsmacked.

So a less than perfect option that worked was replaced by loss of that feature?

Can't believe a company like Naim cannot see the importance of gapless playback of audio files - I'd rather less than perfect than not at all.

Oh well back to Airplay I suppose...