Amazon music vs Qobuz

@mahler123

I use a iPhone running mainly Plexamp app to stream from my personal library which is mostly full res ripped CDs . There are some mp3s in there as well that I acquired and those sound ok but yes thinner and less dynamic overall. I cast to Cambridge evo 150 via either google cast or airplay. Have done some quick compares and no big differences jumped at me but will give it some more attention and see. Fwiw it is airplay 2 that does cd resolution and my app indicates that is the case when playing either way.

the Evo can stream higher res than cd and I have found a couple internet radio stations that do that. Those generally also sound very good sometimes better sometimes not noticeably better than CD res…depends mostly on the source material playing more than merely the streaming resolution. In any case there are differences but nothing bad so it often becomes a matter of cutting hairs to decide which is best, so I tend to not care much, as long as the music is playing loud and clear.

I have Amazon HD for about 2 years now. Very happy with it. I just had to try Qobus though. I have a pretty good system, about 20k. What I noticed is Qobus does sound BETTER, tighter, more dynamic, just more clarity and oomph.

Amazon is much easier to navigate and use, their format is better, IMO.

Qobus has been a nightmare at times to use, not really user friendly.

I have noticed with either outboard DAC i own, that Amazon will generally register a song as HD but, doesn't always register exactly what the streaming rate is properly. With Qobus , my DAC's register exactly what the streaming rate is. Be that 16/44   24/192  24/96, etc. Amazons streaming wont do that, I don't know why. Some how I think Amazon is cheating somehow or somewhere?  I am still keeping both for the time being. But, every time I listen, it is always Qobus I prefer. Just sounds better.  I will say that Amazon sounds very good and is easier to navigate though! Robert TN  Hope this helps someone.

@robshaw I stream both Qobuz and Amazon on an Auralic Aries Mini which displays sample rate in the app and both services show sample rate there.

Thanks for the response. I haven't listened to Amazon in a while, as I prefer Qobuz. In my main system, I use a Meitner DAC M1, which shows exactly the streaming rate. If I remember correctly, on the DAC, Amazon will show HI DEF, but it was always 24/192. When i use Qobuz, it will show exactly 16/24  24/48  24/96  24/192 depending in on the streaming rate of the song. I use a windows based computer to stream through my Meitner DAC hard wired via Ethernet cable.  Don't know whether I explained myself well enough.

I've used AmazonHD and compared to Qobuz using a Bluesound Node 2i into a PS Audio DirectSream DAC Sr. (coaxial and optical) and there is no difference whatsover between the two services when played back BitPerfect..

I did a comparison video last year that anyone with Bluesound can try.