Article: Some Excellent CA Finds For You

[The Computer Audiophile]

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[TubeLover]

Chris, thansk for checking out Qobuz for the rest of us, it's greatly appreciated. Much has been said about the content limitations of Qobuz. Most comments seemed to indicate that their library leans very heavily towards classical, and a lot of European (and possibly other) jazz. My concern was whether Qobuz offered the depth of, rock in all its types, alternative, folk, ambient, and other general music available on Tidal. 

 

I would love to know if there is a truly viable alternative to Tidal, with comparable music depth in its library,  given Tidal's precarious situation. 

 

JC

[firedog]

56 minutes ago, TubeLover said:

Chris, thansk for checking out Qobuz for the rest of us, it's greatly appreciated. Much has been said about the content limitations of Qobuz. Most comments seemed to indicate that their library leans very heavily towards classical, and a lot of European (and possibly other) jazz. My concern was whether Qobuz offered the depth of, rock in all its types, alternative, folk, ambient, and other general music available on Tidal. 

 

I would love to know if there is a truly viable alternative to Tidal, with comparable music depth in its library,  given Tidal's precarious situation. 

 

JC

No guarantees Qobuz will stick around either. They basically went bankrupt and were saved at the last minute by new investors. Supposedly the management is better now and they are expanding. 

 

Whether that means the losses have stopped is another story. I don't think we can be at all sure any of these smaller players will stick around. Spotify may be "too big to fail" at this point. 

[89reksal]

That's an amazing new album from Lucinda Williams and Charles Lloyd. I hadn't heard of him before hearing this. I thought it was a pretty groundbreaking collaboration. There was a track ("Unsuffer Me", probably my current favourite track off the cd so far) posted in the Song of the Day thread last week. Here's a link with some more info in case anyone's interested:

 

https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2018/06/jazz-icon-charles-lloyd-leads-lucinda-williams-int.html

[agladstone]

Chris:

do you think either of these products could work as a way to use a Dragonfly Red with an iPhone 8+ in a car? 

I just got a new car last week, and in the new 2018 model, there no longer is a 2.5mm audio in jack (my 2015 model had one). Thus, I am now limited to a single USB in for audio in my new car. 

In my last car, I was able to use the Apple camera kit with the Audioquest Red and then use a 2.5mm cable from Audioquest into the 2.5mm audio in jack. (Streaming Tidal via my iPhone via the Tidal iOS app). 

If anyone else has any thoughts how I can now (with a USB in only) use the Audioquest Red with my iPhone in my car, please feel free to chime in!! 

 

[The Computer Audiophile]

1 hour ago, agladstone said:

Chris:

do you think either of these products could work as a way to use a Dragonfly Red with an iPhone 8+ in a car? 

I just got a new car last week, and in the new 2018 model, there no longer is a 2.5mm audio in jack (my 2015 model had one). Thus, I am now limited to a single USB in for audio in my new car. 

In my last car, I was able to use the Apple camera kit with the Audioquest Red and then use a 2.5mm cable from Audioquest into the 2.5mm audio in jack. (Streaming Tidal via my iPhone via the Tidal iOS app). 

If anyone else has any thoughts how I can now (with a USB in only) use the Audioquest Red with my iPhone in my car, please feel free to chime in!! 

 

Hmmm. I think you’re out of luck. With digital input only (via USB) there isn’t anything you can do. 

[asdf1000]

18 hours ago, firedog said:

Whether that means the losses have stopped is another story. 

 

https://www.rtbf.be/culture/pop-up/detail_qobuz-prepare-son-arrivee-aux-etats-unis?id=9772232

 

"Qobuz has a turnover of 9.1 million euros for 2016-2017 and a negative gross operating result of 4.8 million euros.

He expects to achieve profitability in 2020-2021 with a turnover target of 108 million euros."

[One and a half]

2 hours ago, Em2016 said:

 

https://www.rtbf.be/culture/pop-up/detail_qobuz-prepare-son-arrivee-aux-etats-unis?id=9772232

 

"Qobuz has a turnover of 9.1 million euros for 2016-2017 and a negative gross operating result of 4.8 million euros.

He expects to achieve profitability in 2020-2021 with a turnover target of 108 million euros."

Expects, love that, it's almost trying to say guarantee, without sounding like a snake oil salesman. For now every euro they earn, half of it is lost. This business doesn't correspond to a cyclic change like agriculture where rains determine the cycle. It's just steady losses on a flawed model. For now it works, make the most of it, I suppose.

[firedog]

3 hours ago, Em2016 said:

 

https://www.rtbf.be/culture/pop-up/detail_qobuz-prepare-son-arrivee-aux-etats-unis?id=9772232

 

"Qobuz has a turnover of 9.1 million euros for 2016-2017 and a negative gross operating result of 4.8 million euros.

He expects to achieve profitability in 2020-2021 with a turnover target of 108 million euros."

Expects is the key word. And what does Qobuz expect if their foray into the American market is a failure? 

[asdf1000]

8 minutes ago, firedog said:

Expects is the key word. And what does Qobuz expect if their foray into the American market is a failure? 

 

Expects means they have a plan (whether good or not) and means are happy to accept losses for the next ~ 3 years.

 

Mind you, with a new boss, their plans that were linked around the time of that forecast may have been turned upside down since then. It's a dynamic world. 

 

The best advice is just to listen to as much as you can, as quickly as practicably possible ?

[AnotherSpin]

7 hours ago, agladstone said:

Chris:

do you think either of these products could work as a way to use a Dragonfly Red with an iPhone 8+ in a car? 

I just got a new car last week, and in the new 2018 model, there no longer is a 2.5mm audio in jack (my 2015 model had one). Thus, I am now limited to a single USB in for audio in my new car. 

In my last car, I was able to use the Apple camera kit with the Audioquest Red and then use a 2.5mm cable from Audioquest into the 2.5mm audio in jack. (Streaming Tidal via my iPhone via the Tidal iOS app). 

If anyone else has any thoughts how I can now (with a USB in only) use the Audioquest Red with my iPhone in my car, please feel free to chime in!! 

 

 

AQ has Dragon Tail USB connector

[The Computer Audiophile]

7 hours ago, AnotherSpin said:

 

AQ has Dragon Tail USB connector

This is only an extension cable between the music playing device and the DAC. If connected to the car there wouldn’t be any music from the phone. 

[miguelito]

14 hours ago, agladstone said:

Chris:

do you think either of these products could work as a way to use a Dragonfly Red with an iPhone 8+ in a car? 

I just got a new car last week, and in the new 2018 model, there no longer is a 2.5mm audio in jack (my 2015 model had one). Thus, I am now limited to a single USB in for audio in my new car. 

In my last car, I was able to use the Apple camera kit with the Audioquest Red and then use a 2.5mm cable from Audioquest into the 2.5mm audio in jack. (Streaming Tidal via my iPhone via the Tidal iOS app). 

If anyone else has any thoughts how I can now (with a USB in only) use the Audioquest Red with my iPhone in my car, please feel free to chime in!! 

 

For a car, I would recommend Bluetooth. Your 2018 car should have that, possibly Apple’s own integration as well. If your car supports AAC Bluetooth you should be fine quality-wise. If it doesn’t but does have an Audio In jack, I would recommend getting an AAC Bluetooth Receiver. The best setup is possibly one where you have an iPhone holder with wireless charging and you connect over Bluetooth to your car’s audio system.

[miguelito]

Loving the “lossy MQA” description... Trudat!

[The Computer Audiophile]

10 minutes ago, miguelito said:

Loving the “lossy MQA” description... Trudat!

Facts can be inconvenient for some people :~)

[mrvco]

Qobuz and Tidal should merge.  Clearly.

[Account Closed]

Roon is talking to Qobuz about integration similar to what they have with Tidal. No guarantee that they will come to an agreement but it sure would be great for us.

[miguelito]

12 hours ago, bobflood said:

Roon is talking to Qobuz about integration similar to what they have with Tidal. No guarantee that they will come to an agreement but it sure would be great for us.

Would be great for Roon as well. And bad for MQA Ltd.

[atletico]

On 7/7/2018 at 9:07 PM, lasker98 said:

That's an amazing new album from Lucinda Williams and Charles Lloyd. I hadn't heard of him before hearing this. I thought it was a pretty groundbreaking collaboration. There was a track ("Unsuffer Me", probably my current favourite track off the cd so far) posted in the Song of the Day thread last week. Here's a link with some more info in case anyone's interested:

 

https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2018/06/jazz-icon-charles-lloyd-leads-lucinda-williams-int.html

I also enjoy this new album from Lucinda Williams and Charles Lloyd. Music performed by "real" musicians  and also a great sounding production for my hi-fi system.

Her are another album that are much in the same landscape. Great playing and also with a reference production and extremely open nice sound .

https://listen.tidal.com/album/85034891

http://www.adammiller.com.au

[Account Closed]

3 hours ago, atletico said:

I also enjoy this new album from Lucinda Williams and Charles Lloyd. Music performed by "real" musicians  and also a great sounding production for my hi-fi system.

Her are another album that are much in the same landscape. Great playing and also with a reference production and extremely open nice sound .

https://listen.tidal.com/album/85034891

http://www.adammiller.com.au

 

Great recommendation, love it.  Thanks

[barrows]

Chris, thanks for the heads up on the Lloyd/Williams album, I'll pick this up immediately.  Huge fan of Charles' work here.

[The Computer Audiophile]

7 hours ago, barrows said:

Chris, thanks for the heads up on the Lloyd/Williams album, I'll pick this up immediately.  Huge fan of Charles' work here.

Hi Barrows - If I’m not mistaken you aren’t a fan of WiFi correct? The wired iOS solution could be perfect for you :~)

[diw]

Thanks to Darko Audio, I found out that the Chromecast Audio now works as a Roon endpoint with a reasonable sound quality for the $35 it costs. Another post on Darko outlines how the SQ can be improved with a high res setting for the Chromecast, an IFi 5v power supply and a connection cable that has an internet cable connection as well. The outcome is pretty good so for $100 you get a good Roon endpoint with some flexibility as well for future applications. Thanks Darko !!!

 

darko.audio

 

The adaptor comes from UGreen, Ethernet adaptor for Chromecast with power supply, available on Amazon for about $18

[The Computer Audiophile]

5 hours ago, diw said:

Thanks to Darko Audio, I found out that the Chromecast Audio now works as a Roon endpoint with a reasonable sound quality for the $35 it costs. Another post on Darko outlines how the SQ can be improved with a high res setting for the Chromecast, an IFi 5v power supply and a connection cable that has an internet cable connection as well. The outcome is pretty good so for $100 you get a good Roon endpoint with some flexibility as well for future applications. Thanks Darko !!!

 

darko.audio

 

The adaptor comes from UGreen, Ethernet adaptor for Chromecast with power supply, available on Amazon for about $18

Perhaps you miss our article about $7.99 Roon Ready endpoints a while back. No sample rate limitations like the Chromecast. 

 

 

 

[diw]

On 7/10/2018 at 6:02 PM, The Computer Audiophile said:

Perhaps you miss our article about $7.99 Roon Ready endpoints a while back. No sample rate limitations like the Chromecast. 

NO, I remember that article but it also said that the Nano was a geek challenge....accordingly to the Darko post the Chromecast now passes 24/96 so maybe there is a new version....it also gives you some options...at its simplest it passes an analog output from wifi, at its best rate it passes 24/96 via Toslink from an ethernet connection....and sometimes life is too short to geek about saving $20 in favour of plug'n'play. Still , lots of choices!!

Quote

 

 

 

 

On 7/10/2018 at 6:02 PM, The Computer Audiophile said:

Perhaps you miss our article about $7.99 Roon Ready endpoints a while back. No sample rate limitations like the Chromecast.