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    The Computer Audiophile

    Roon 1.6 With Qobuz Integration and More

    Roon 1.6 is a major update to the software, but the most anticipated part is without a doubt its integration with Qobuz. Countless music aficionados, tired of Tidal, have been waiting for this integration for several months. Now that Qobuz is available in the US (beta) and Roon will combine Qobuz content with a user's local content, I have a feeling thousands of people will dump Tidal in favor of Qobuz. 

     

    Other updates implemented in version 1.6 include a new Roon Radio, new look, and simplified DSP engine. Roon Radio is an underrated feature that I've enjoyed since the day I started using Roon. Like Roon has always done, and similar to Pandora, users can select the thumbs up / down buttons to improve future Roon Radio suggestions. 

     

    One item of note that may not please privacy enthusiasts is that Roon Radio makes recommendations based on other Roon subscribers with similar tastes. As users listen and interact with Roon it collects this information and uses it for not only to improve your experience but that of others as well. 

     

    I've reached out to Roon for a comment about what data it collects and if opting out is possible. I'll update this article when I hear back.

     

    Note: I just heard back from Roon who stated its privacy policy hasn’t changed since the beginning and sent me a link. 

     

    http://kb.roonlabs.com/Privacy_Policy

     

    In the new look part of the update real-time lyrics are more present. These lyrics are something I've come to enjoy, especially when sending them to my Google Home Hub for viewing while I work, even though the audio is still reproduced through my main audio system. No matter how much I like a track, there's always a lyrics or two I screw up and it's important to know Jimi Hendrix was singing about kissing the sky rather than kissing "this guy."

     

    Here is the official press release and some additional images. 

     

    Qobuz-Roon-4.pngCustomization-London-Grammar-Now-Playing.pngArtist-Photo-Amy-Winehouse-Now-Playing.pngRoon-Radio-Coming-Up.jpgNew-Search.pngQobuz-Signal-Path.png

     

     

    What better way to kick off the new year than with our biggest update yet?

    Version 1.6 brings the brand new Roon Radio, integration with the Qobuz music service, and an improved user experience across several areas of the application.


    Embargo: January 22nd, 2019
    (Editor’s Note: I see it’s Jan 22nd in some places already and others have published this info, so we went live as well. -CC)

    The update will be available to all users at 12pm EST on January 22nd, 2019.
     
     

    The NEW Roon Radio

    Roon has always been great at reconnecting you with the music you've collected over the years, but now we've completely reimagined how Roon creates your personalized radio experience. Designed from the ground up with new machine learning technology, Roon Radio can play a mix of your favorites along with music from beyond your library, using the vast catalog of music from TIDAL and Qobuz.

    To get started, click the Roon Radio button on any album, artist, track, or genre from your library, TIDAL, or Qobuz!

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    Roon Radio makes recommendations based on not only your own music preferences but also those of other Roon subscribers with similar tastes in music. Use the thumbs up and down buttons to craft a personal, one-of-a-kind radio experience.

    As you listen to and interact with Roon Radio over time, it learns more about what you like and helps you discover new music by curating great recommendations.

     

    Uncompressed high-resolution music from Qobuz

    These days there are many ways to get your music – streaming services, digital download stores, and internet radio stations – and Roon supports them all. We’re committed to giving Roon subscribers more choices, which is why we’re excited to announce that we’ve teamed up with Qobuz to integrate their streaming offering in Roon!
     

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    Now you can access the entire Qobuz catalog in Roon, allowing you to take advantage of Roon’s metadata with all of your favorite Qobuz content.

    Seamlessly sync your Roon and Qobuz collections, use Roon’s Versions to replace your lossy content with lossless versions from Qobuz, and fire up the new Roon Radio to start discovering more of what’s available from Qobuz.

     

    A fresh new look

    We listen to feedback from our subscriber community, and we’ve really taken that feedback to heart when redesigning several key areas of Roon 1.6. Check out our new Now Playing, Search, and DSP screens for some examples of how Roon is easier and more fun to use than ever. 

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    Roon’s metadata takes the spotlight on Now Playing, displaying a high resolution artist image, Real-Time Lyrics, credits, review, bio, and streaming resolution.
     

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    Search prioritizes the most relevant content in an easy-to-read layout, and lets you toggle between seeing only what’s in your own library, or including results from TIDAL and Qobuz.
     

    89ab5e76-a539-404a-8aa2-d94a5d4bb7e4.jpg

    Our DSP engine has been simplified to be more approachable and easy to understand, with a simple preset system that works across all devices, including your phone or tablet.

     




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    started 10 min ago, no Qobuz yet, looking for some trial cards I got at RMAF to test Qobuz if I can (waiting on the list for beta)

    CPU 30 - 40% no issues so far, let me see if I can get to test Qobuz

     

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    2 hours ago, daverich4 said:

     

    On my iPad, that’s the only place it’s ever been. 

    DSP in 1.5 was a drop down in the settings  under Settings Audio and then the device. Never used the speaker icon since the volume is fixed, so no need to use it.

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    Qobuz invitation codes from RMAF I have no longer working, will have to wait for my turn in the list which I have been waiting forever :)

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    8 minutes ago, luisma said:

    Qobuz invitation codes from RMAF I have no longer working, will have to wait for my turn in the list which I have been waiting forever :)

    I've been fortunate to have Qobuz on Audirvana, and dropped Tidal this morning now that I can integrate it into HQPlayer with Roon!

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    I am listening as I'm writing this, don't know about all of you but love the new gui. 

    The song bar longer allows you to have more detail if selecting a specific segment. 

    I have my former account of qobuz in roon configured although I can't listen to qobuz. The selection process now is clearly Tidal or qobuz and clearly in each shows you the different resolution for the selected one album. 

    Tidal 3 albums versions qobuz 8 albums, clearly some music (frank Sinatra, Silvio Rodriguez) is more abundant on options on qobuz. 

    Enjoying the sound, going to listen to buenavista social club now (I was born and raised in buenavista) goodnight and cheers to you all. 

    I will be posting a message for Brian Luczkiewicz on roons threads mentioning how please I am he decided to released this (still incomplete IMHO version)  with all these changes, you have to go back 3 steps sometimes to gain 6 

    Long live roon 

     

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    As of right now, 10:53pm Central Time, Qobuz and ROON are working fine for me, and sounding wonderful.

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    Isn’t Qobuz more expensive than Tidal ?

     

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    Qobuz isn’t available in Norway. I know I can solve this by VPN. 

     

    Have anyone tested if its possible purchase a subscription using VPN, and then use it without VPN with Roon ?

     

    Any other suggestion ?

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    12 hours ago, One and a half said:

    DSP in 1.5 was a drop down in the settings  under Settings Audio and then the device. Never used the speaker icon since the volume is fixed, so no need to use it.

     

    Volume is fixed for me as well but I always used the speaker icon to get to DSP because it’s one step instead of the multiple steps you described. 

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    16 minutes ago, daverich4 said:

     

     

     

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    >> Countless music aficionados, tired of Tidal, have been waiting for this integration for several months. Now that Qobuz is available in the US (beta) and Roon will combine Qobuz content with a user's local content, I have a feeling thousands of people will dump Tidal in favor of Qobuz. <<

    So glad to see this! I agree on dumping Tidal. With mqa being stillborn and Tidal's poor search utility (I often had to dig multiple ways to find an album I know they had, but failed to show up in search), not to mention their known cache of watermarked lossless files, it is a relief to see that Qobuz has arrived with a cleaner, fresher alternative.  And while I had been on the fence about Roon, I am almost ready to consider making that move now that I don't have to live with Tidal's shortcomings.  I don't know the percentage of audiophile subscribers in Tidal's ranks, but if there were a mass exodus of Tidal subscribers for Qobuz, that may just be one further shovel of dirt over Tidal's grave. (I'm sure that mqa licensing isn't doing their bottom line any favors either.) They will either be ripe for the picking by another streaming company, or will just quietly fade away into bankruptcy.

     

     

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    I got off the wait list, and and signed up for Qobuz today. Working as advertised with Roon, Web page player, iPhone, and iPad players. All working well, and sound bit perfect. I have not tried it on the main system yet, so no specific SQ differences noted.

     

    I’m in the USA, but I can’t get Qobuz to show up in the Sonos music services list yet. My better half is the main Sonos user, and she primarily uses her Spotify app. I tend to use SiriusXM for background music thru the Sonos speakers. Not a disaster.

     

    A fan, so far. I’m one of those who has been waiting to replace Tidal in Roon. My gear is all certified MQA-free.

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    On 1/23/2019 at 9:21 AM, R1200CL said:

    Qobuz isn’t available in Norway. I know I can solve this by VPN. 

     

    Have anyone tested if its possible purchase a subscription using VPN, and then use it without VPN with Roon ?

     

    Any other suggestion ?

    Apparently yes. The country you are steaming to may effect what albums or which format you are able to stream.

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    12 hours ago, Bones13 said:

    I got off the wait list, and and signed up for Qobuz today. Working as advertised with Roon, Web page player, iPhone, and iPad players. All working well, and sound bit perfect. I have not tried it on the main system yet, so no specific SQ differences noted.

     

    I’m in the USA, but I can’t get Qobuz to show up in the Sonos music services list yet. My better half is the main Sonos user, and she primarily uses her Spotify app. I tend to use SiriusXM for background music thru the Sonos speakers. Not a disaster.

     

    A fan, so far. I’m one of those who has been waiting to replace Tidal in Roon. My gear is all certified MQA-free.

    I can't get Qobuz to stream through Roon, I can only get it to stream through the app. I think this has something to do with Qobuz confusing my old "French" account with my new USA one. Waiting for a response from Qobuz about it.

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    52 minutes ago, firedog said:

    I can't get Qobuz to stream through Roon, I can only get it to stream through the app. I think this has something to do with Qobuz confusing my old "French" account with my new USA one. Waiting for a response from Qobuz about it.

    Let's ask @David Craff if this is a thing with other accounts as well.

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    As a matter of interest and as an original French subscriber living in the US, why did you transfer to the US version? And how? I continue with the French version which works perfectly with Roon.

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    5 hours ago, johnwilk said:

    As a matter of interest and as an original French subscriber living in the US, why did you transfer to the US version? And how? I continue with the French version which works perfectly with Roon.

    Because I'm not French and don't have a French CC. Qobuz will no longer allow me to use a non French CC (even through PayPal) from a French account. I even wrote them and they confirmed that this is the case and that they are doing this to strictly follow the law. The French account isn't useful if I can't buy or stream from it.

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    Before I write to Qobuz to inquire about transferring nationality I'm wondering if anyone knows whether the US version has significantly more files withheld for copyright reasons than the French version. Or for that matter, knows anything about comparative pricing, since I buy quite a large number of highres albums from Qobuz.

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    52 minutes ago, johnwilk said:

    Before I write to Qobuz to inquire about transferring nationality I'm wondering if anyone knows whether the US version has significantly more files withheld for copyright reasons than the French version. Or for that matter, knows anything about comparative pricing, since I buy quite a large number of highres albums from Qobuz.

    I had about 1100 albums in Tidal. Soundiiz found all of them on Qobuz USA. If you buy a one month subscription to Soundiz and get in on the US Beta of Qobuz, you can use Soundiiz to check for you. That will give you a pretty good idea if your tastes are reflected with a US subscription.
    Note that Qobuz has also said they are constantly adding albums to the Beta catalog. Not everything is there yet. 

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    I could easily create an UK account. (Or any other country I guess) When that is done you can use your streaming service any place in the world according to Qobuz website. No VPN needed. Very good. (Only fake the IP when sign up). 

     

    https://help.qobuz.com/hc/en-us/articles/115001675212-Where-is-Qobuz-available-

     

    Still i I like to use an US account as to me £299 vs $299 is quite much. I don’t mind pay that $299 for a year and test it out against Tidal. 

     

    Now, is there a trick to get pass this waiting list in order to create an US account ? Some sort of invitation or ? 

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    On 1/23/2019 at 12:40 AM, left channel said:

     

    About 1,850,000 more Hi-Res tracks on Qobuz than MQA tracks on Tidal. Qobuz content, discovery, and genre focus. 

     

    This number I totally wrong. Reading on Qobuz homepage the number is between 70000 and 75000. And not all albums is available for streaming.  Around 90% of that number. 

     

    Also hires is only to be available on the Sublime plan. 

    (Edit. Studio also have hires)

     

     

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    It seems they operate with different numbers in hires on webpages. My anticipation is that the other 100.000 is somewhere between CD and 24/192

     

     

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    Further it is my understanding you cannot use hires in offline mode. Maximum quality is CD. 

     

     

    4506F4FD-0C72-403C-9D2B-0FD5B8ED7B1D.jpeg

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    Another minor difference. 

     

    Tidal allow up to 5 devices. Qobuz 3. 

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