There are currently three ways to listen to music with Qobuz. The first, and most simple, involves personal listening through either plugged in or Bluetooth headphones connected to your smartphone. Using the Qobuz app, the sound is then automatically directed to the headphones.
The second option is also via the Qobuz app, but instead of headphones you’d be listening through a Bluetooth speaker connected to a smartphone. This makes listening no longer strictly personal, but the operation remains the same. Alternatively to Bluetooth, you can also transmit Qobuz to your speaker via Wi-Fi using AirPlay (CD quality) or Google Cast (up to 96 kHz/24 bit). Music transfer can be found in the same place on the Qobuz app for Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, via the small icon at the bottom of the playback screen.
However, we know that many of you enjoy listening to Qobuz on your connected Hi-Fi equipment. This may take on different forms—wireless loudspeaker, streamer, audio server, preamplifier, amplifier or soundbar—but in any case, you’re probably using either the app provided by the manufacturer of your equipment, or a third-party app such as Audirvana, BubbleUPnP or Roon. This is the third listening option.
As you can see from our reviews of Hi-Fi products, each one integrates Qobuz into its app in its own unique way. Though the presentation may differ from one option to another in terms of aesthetics, navigation logic and even functionality, the essentials are uniform—recommendations, your favorites, the search engine and, of course, playback.
Sometimes, unfortunately, the full Qobuz experience can be lost on these platforms. They often lack the editorial content that is one of our primary differentiating qualities, and likely one of the reasons why you chose Qobuz and not another service. But what if we told you that you can now control your connected audio devices directly from the Qobuz app?
Listen in Hi-Res with Qobuz Connect
With Qobuz Connect, the control of your paired audio devices remains entirely within the Qobuz app, so listening through your connected amplifier or wireless speakers no longer requires the use of the manufacturer’s app. What’s more, Qobuz Connect ensures Hi-Res music playback at up to 192 kHz/24-bit on your connected equipment.
In concrete terms, Qobuz Connect establishes a direct link between Qobuz and your paired audio device, allowing you to send music instantly to whichever audio device you’ve selected. Unlike headphones, Bluetooth and AirPlay, the music no longer passes through your smartphone. This is the quickest and easiest way to listen to music, channeling sound directly from Qobuz servers to the device, without any other intermediary.
How Do You Use Qobuz Connect?
Within the Qobuz app, when you want to listen to music on a paired device, simply change the audio output by selecting the small icon in the bottom left of the mobile app, or bottom right on desktop. The list will show all compatible devices available on your network, whether wired or wireless.
Your Qobuz Connect audio devices are listed and identified here, so all you have to do is select the one that you want. Keep in mind that the Hi-Res playback capabilities of the selected Qobuz Connect device are displayed on the selection screen.
Once you’ve selected a device from the list—a Denon Home 150 speaker, for example, as in the screenshots above—the sound switches from the smartphone to the connected speaker. In the case of this Denon speaker, you no longer need its HEOS control app. The name of the Qobuz Connect-compatible audio device will then appear in full at the bottom of the playback screen.
If you go to the HEOS app, you can check that the current playback goes via Qobuz Connect, as displayed by the logo at the top of the screen. The original audio quality is maintained, and Hi-Res playback is confirmed by the icon displayed under the cover.
The Qobuz App Is Your Remote Control
The Qobuz app controls playback and volume on your Qobuz Connect audio devices, along with the physical volume buttons on your smartphone or tablet. In the case of compatible devices equipped with play/pause, stop, previous/next buttons, their actions are taken into account during playback via Qobuz Connect.
Another advantage of this remote control feature is that you can switch from multiple versions of the Qobuz app while still controlling playback. This is called “remote” mode. For example, if you start playback from a smartphone and then open Qobuz on a computer, you’ll find an identical display with playback in progress on the selected audio device, as well as playback and volume control. Everything is synchronized between each app where your account is logged in.
The Benefits of Qobuz Connect
Qobuz Connect has been a long-awaited feature for our users, and it’s finally here! The first compatible devices are ready for use with Connect now, and many more will soon be added. You’ll find the list of compatible devices here, along with all Qobuz Connect news.
Here are the three key benefits of Qobuz Connect:
- Manage your connected audio devices directly in the Qobuz app, ensuring uninterrupted Hi-Res music playback up to 192 kHz/24 bits.
- Control music simultaneously across all Qobuz apps on Apple/Android smartphones/tablets and PC/Mac computers using ‘remote’ mode.
- Follow your listening from one audio device to another with queue synchronization on all apps.
