It all started with Sonos, the pioneer of multiroom systems that opened its application to Qobuz, the pioneer of CD quality online music! It was therefore the start of the integration adventure for Qobuz, which has since continued successfully.
You can discover all our partners here.
In this article, we give you some explanation of the protocols compatible with Qobuz, and list the articles and testing grounds relating to these protocols or devices from compatible brands, in order to guide you.
1- It’s probably more interesting to start with the protocols compatible with Qobuz, as they offer more universality than the integration of Qobuz into a manufacturer’s application.
GoogleCast, which is a protocol developed by the ChromeCast Audio streamer, is integrated into Qobuz and allows it to be streamed in Hi-Res up to 24-Bit/96 kHz with all the devices compatible with GoogleCast (ChromeCast built-in), and there are several of them, and more are coming, that will allow you to enjoy the Qobuz apps natively.
The use of a simple Chromecast Audio—a very flexible and cheap (under 40 €) solution—is possible with every device, Hi-Fi or not, that possesses a 3.5mm Jack or RCA stereo line input, or even a Toslink or 3.5mm Jack optical input, with the appropriate cord.
There is also the Danish brand Bang & Olufsen (Hi-Res), considered as the reference for design in High Fidelity devices, whose B&O Play app for iOS and Android is compatible with GoogleCast.
Some devices from the electronics giant LG are also compatible with GoogleCast, as well as some sold by Sony. It's also worth mentioning the brand Naim, which belongs to Focal, as well as the German brand Raumfeld.
There’s also AirPlay on Apple devices, smartphones, tablets and computers, but streaming Qobuz towards devices compatible with AirPlay remains limited to CD quality (16-Bit/44.1 kHz).
A recent solution has been offered by Audirvana, a high-end software player for Mac computers that includes Qobuz in Hi-Res.
For smartphones and tablets running on Android, you can use the BubbleUPnP application, compatible with Qobuz Hi-Res up to 24-Bit/192 kHz, that can be used with any UPnP/DLNA streamer or any device equipped with a UPnP/DLNA streamer. For example, the Icy Box IB-MP401 Air streamer.
The mconnect app for iOS is also compatible with the Qobuz app in Hi-Res.
Let’s also talk about Qobuz’ compatibility with the Bluetooth protocol, whose results can reach the CD quality obtained via a Wi-Fi connection if the transmitter and receiving device both use the aptX codec. A good example of an aptX Bluetooth DAC, is the FX-Audio BL-Muse-02.
2- The partner brands including the Qobuz application (by alphabetical order, Hi-Res or CD quality are specified).
- Advance Acoustic / iEAST (Hi-Res)
This is the Asian company iEAST that has developed the application including Qobuz in Hi-Res used by the French brand Advance Acoustic, and which also uses it with its own devices.
Advance Acoustic WTX-Microstream
iEAST M20 streamer
iEAST AM160
- Auralic (Hi-Res)
High technicality and highly renowned Asian streamers.
Auralic Aries
Auralic Aries Mini
- Aurender (Hi-Res)
High-end music servers enabling the playback of digital audio files in optimal conditions.
Aurender S10
Aurender X100L
- Arcam (Hi-Res)
English brand renowned for its devices offering very good audio performance. No device compatible with Qobuz has been reviewed in our testing grounds.
- AVM (Hi-Res)
Yet again one of those many German brands that nobody knows in France, but that proves the prosperity of the German Hi-Fi industry!
- Bluesound (Hi-Res)
A recent brand, born out of the famous brand NAD. Beautiful and high performance devices.
Bluesound Node
Bluesound Node 2
Bluesound Pulse Flex
Bluesound Pulse Soundbar
- Burmester (Hi-Res)
The high-end German brand Burrmester includes Qobuz in Hi-Res.
- Cabasse (Hi-Res)
World famous French speaker manufacturer that now belongs to Awox, the French experts in connected devices.
Cabasse Stream Source network player
- co*cktail Audio (CD)
Choice of several mass market or audiophile all-in-one systems.
co*cktail Audio X12
co*cktail Audio CA-X40
- Devialet (Hi-Res)
French high-end electronic and speaker manufacturer with state of the art technology. Their application is called Spark.
Devialet D-Premier
Devialet 110
- DTS Play-Fi® (Hi-Res)
Developed by DTS, the Play-Fi® multiroom application is used by many manufacturers, including McIntosh, Klipsch, etc., which allows devices of different brands to be used on the same multiroom network.
Klipsch Gate
- Electrocompaniet (Hi-Res)
This Norwegian brand, highly valued by some audiophiles, has been the first to integrate the Qobuz app in Hi-Res.
Electrocompaniet ECM2
- Esoteric (Hi-Res)
TEAC’s prestige brand. The Japanese Hi-Fi manufacturer is also known in the professional sphere for the Tascam products.
Esoteric N-05
- Free (CD)
Qobuz is included in the Freebox Révolution in CD quality with a simplified user interface.
- Harman/Kardon (CD)
This famous American brand, which now belongs to Samsung, offers the Qobuz app on its Connect range, but in a rather basic form.
Harman/Kardon Adapt
- Kodi (CD)
Kodi is a media player integrating Qobuz in CD quality.
- Lindemann (Hi-Res)
German devices with a modern and pleasant design.
Lindemann Musicbook 20
- Linn (Hi-Res)
Considered as a reference for network playback, the Scottish brand Linn has developed a sound reproduction optimization system that adapts to the listening room.
Linn Majik DSM
- Lumïn (Hi-Res)
Very beautiful network players equipped with a successful, powerful and easy to use application.
Lumïn network player
Lumïn D1
- Mark Levinson (Hi-Res)
American brand whose device sturdiness is legendary. No device from this brand has been reviewed in our testing grounds.
- Moon (CD)
Canadian brand that develops and manufactures its devices locally, which is becoming increasingly rare.
Moon Néo ACE
- Musaic (Hi-Res)
Founded by a former executive from the English Hi-Fi brand Cambridge Audio, Musaic proposes small audio systems integrating Qobuz in Hi-Res and with an application looking towards home automation (lamp control,…).
Musaïc MP5 Music Player
- NuPrime (Hi-Res)
A brand that is very active on the DAC and digital amplifier markets. It should (eventually) integrate Qobuz into its WR-100 streamer.
NuPrime WR-100
- Popcorn Hour (Hi-Res)
Media streamers from this brand include the Qobuz app in Hi-Res. Some models can be mounted in a chassis with a classic power supply sold by the importer.
A-500M Hi-Fi
- Samsung (Hi-Res)
Will the Korean giant, better known for its TVs and smartphones, break into the Hi-Fi market after acquiring the Harman Group?
Samsung R3 speaker
- Sonos (CD) The pioneer, the first to integrate the Qobuz app, isn’t favored by our ranking system, but remains unchallenged.
Sonos Play:1 speaker
Sonos Play:5 2nd generation
Sonos Playbar
- T + A (Hi-Res)
A German brand—little known in France—that sells high quality devices.
T+A R1000E
- TEAC (Hi-Res)
The network players from the Japanese brand are equipped with the same network card than the Esoteric streamer that we talked about above, but we haven’t had the chance to test any yet. The devices listed below, which are older models from the brand, can work with BubbleUPnP or mconnect.
TEAC CD-P800NT
- USB Audio Player Pro (Hi-Res)
Hi-Res audio player software for Android integrating the Qobuz app in Hi-Res.
- Yamaha (Hi-Res)
The brand that has the biggest ecosystem compatible with Qobuz Hi-Res, thanks to its MusicCast application, has really not been favored by our ranking system, but doesn’t fall short in terms of testing grounds!
Yamaha WXA-50
Yamaha WXC-50
Yamaha RX-V681
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If you are a manufacturer, importer, retailer or key player in the digital music industry and wish to contact us, you can do so using the following email address: newstech@qobuz.com
If you’re enthusiastic about the Hi-Fi Guide column and wish to contact us, you can do so using the following email address: rubriquehifi@qobuz.com
