Qobuz Coming to America Soon!

Like the other deleted News:Qobuz thread, this thread was also removed - and is now recovered.  Seems at times forum.audigon.com spam control is a kinda blunt instrument.

-------- Forwarded Message --------
Subject:   [Audiogon] Re: "This discussion has been removed One of our moderators or admins have removed this discussion."
Date: Wed, 17 Oct 2018 13:16:00 +0000
From: support@audiogon.zendesk.com

Oct 17, 9:15 AM EDT
Hi,

I have restored that thread also. It seems that that particular subject was marked as spam so all threads concerning it was also marked as spam.

Please let us know if you need further assistance, we are happy to help.

Oct 17, 8:54 AM EDT

Thanks. Here's another example of entire thread removed in seemingly arbitrary fashion.

Again, if there are individual offending posts in the thread, just remove those - instead of the entire (useful) thread.

https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/qobuz-coming-to-america-soon#1629365

Oct 16, 9:47 AM EDT

I would be happy to assist you.

Our moderators are very careful what they remove but sometimes some threads can be taken down in error.

The thread you are referring to was accidentally marked as spam and I have now re-opened this thread for you.

Please let us know if you need further assistance.

Well, we are half way thru November and I have not heard that Qobuz has launched in the US yet.  I was at RMAF and "Q"obuz was a big disappointment.  Their booth was rarely manned, most of the rooms that were to feature "Q" did not have it and quite a few claimed never to have heard of it!  The "free trial code" did not work and it is virtually impossible to talk to anyone connected with "Q".  Emailing "Q" customer service was only a little better.  Although you can get a murky response in English, most of my questions were answered by informational pieces in French! 

Now for the good news:  With assistance from Aurender I was able to contact a "Q" exec. and received a legit trial code.  I LIKE IT!  Since I already subscribed to TIDAL (hi-res & MQA), I did some comparisons.  In some cases a six-way comparison was possible!

Using my Aurender A10, I was able to find a track in my ripped library (16/44.1) and play it followed the same track in Tidal 16/44.1, Tidal 24/96, Tidal 24/192, "Q" 16/44.1, and "Q" 24/96 (or sometimes "Q" 24/192).  I'm sure it will come as no surprise that SQ results were varied.  SQ was very recording dependent.  Some times the various tracks and albums sounded better (to me) in Tidal, sometimes in "Q".  

At this point I can't say that Tidal is universally superior in SQ to "Q" or vice versa, be that in standard res (16/44.1) or hi-res (MQA vs. 24 bit FLAC).  It is extremely recording dependent.  I can say that a ripped file (16/44.1) from my own CD collection "almost" always sounded better than the same streamed standard res file from Tidal or "Q".  Also, hi-res files from Tidal or "Q" "almost" always sounded better than my ripped file.

Since pricing will be about the same (if you do a 12 mo. subscription for "Q"), it comes down to what kind of music you listen to the most.  If you like Classical and Jazz, "Q" has much more content and in hi-res.  If you are into rock, pop, blues, and rap Tidal is definitely for you.  Another consideration will be your DAC.  If you don't have or want to invest in a MQA supported DAC you will probably be better off with "Q".  Overall, "Q" has more total standard and hi-res content but using my Aurender Conductor app searching Tidal seems easier.

Others who have listened to both may have formed more biased opinions on SQ which is fine.  I'd like to hear them.   All this being said, does anyone have any accurate updates on when "Q" will launch???

Whether any updates on Qobuz US launch date are accurate remains to be seen.  I asked their Customer Service in July, they replied "We are working for. We hope open at the end of the year".  Cute english ... here's to hope.

Trying Tidal while I wait - and can say their classical catalog is no slouch.  Some real outlier recordings, of great quality (recording quality, that is - I haven't A/B/C'd the sound quality yet).

See response I received below from Qobuz Customer Support today:

“we are not opened yet in the United States but we hope to extended our services there very soon as well.

Thanks a lot for your interest! By registering to our NewsLetter, you will be informed of the opening for new countries”.

I'm really waiting patiently for Qobuz to open in the USA..
I wish they could give a set date...