Official Qobuz Issues Thread

[MarkusBarkus]

On 1/11/2021 at 1:01 PM, MarkusBarkus said:CD - res appear to download. Hi-res interrupted. Tried individual files too. I will try on a different network/machine at friend's house another time.

I was finally able to download the files I purchased. This was achieved on a laptop that previously failed, but this time used on a different network, so it's not the laptop or browser.

FYI: browser was Firefox.

That said, I do not believe the network was the issue, as I later tried and succeeded in downloading the CD res files at home, *and* the download failed repeatedly on the second network, until we tried track-by-track.

 

This issue was with the hi-res files, and with archiving related actions.

 

By selecting the hi-res files a track at a time, it is possible to get the file, but all of the hi-res tracks then came over without meta-data, which is a hassle, and must be added.

 

In the case of the CD res files, I could download the entire offer as a Tar file. Of course, you also have to download a tool to unpack the files.

 

For those of you happily using Qobuz, are you going through this process, or are you using the Qobuz app, which I have to assume is a better experience?
 

Frankly, I don't think I would go through this process a second time. I had intended to purchase the plan that allowed streaming and discounted downloads. I had planned to purchase several things I have been streaming.

 

Lastly, I have to say, the CS support and UX I had were awful. 
 

It took days to receive email replies, on multiple occasions. 
 

The download experience not using the Q app on hi-res files is amateurish. I recognize that is harsh, but wow, that was a klugey series of work-arounds.

 

Perhaps, downloading/using the app is better? I may try that at some point, but recall: I am on a trial membership, evaluating my potential relationship to a new service.
 

Streaming: A+

Catalog: A-

Downloading: D-
(since I finally could download, I couldn't grade as F).

 

Files:

Tardo Hammer: Simple Pleasures--CD.

Tsuyoshi Yamamoto: Speak Low--CD. 
Kenny Dorham: Una Mas--192/

Kenny Dorham: TrompetaToccata--192/

Lee Morgan: The Cooker--192/

[The Computer Audiophile]

22 minutes ago, MarkusBarkus said:

I was finally able to download the files I purchased. This was achieved on a laptop that previously failed, but this time used on a different network, so it's not the laptop or browser.

FYI: browser was Firefox.

That said, I do not believe the network was the issue, as I later tried and succeeded in downloading the CD res files at home, *and* the download failed repeatedly on the second network, until we tried track-by-track.

 

This issue was with the hi-res files, and with archiving related actions.

 

By selecting the hi-res files a track at a time, it is possible to get the file, but all of the hi-res tracks then came over without meta-data, which is a hassle, and must be added.

 

In the case of the CD res files, I could download the entire offer as a Tar file. Of course, you also have to download a tool to unpack the files.

 

For those of you happily using Qobuz, are you going through this process, or are you using the Qobuz app, which I have to assume is a better experience?
 

Frankly, I don't think I would go through this process a second time. I had intended to purchase the plan that allowed streaming and discounted downloads. I had planned to purchase several things I have been streaming.

 

Lastly, I have to say, the CS support and UX I had were awful. 
 

It took days to receive email replies, on multiple occasions. 
 

The download experience not using the Q app on hi-res files is amateurish. I recognize that is harsh, but wow, that was a klugey series of work-arounds.

 

Perhaps, downloading/using the app is better? I may try that at some point, but recall: I am on a trial membership, evaluating my potential relationship to a new service.
 

Streaming: A+

Catalog: A-

Downloading: D-
(since I finally could download, I couldn't grade as F).

 

Files:

Tardo Hammer: Simple Pleasures--CD.

Tsuyoshi Yamamoto: Speak Low--CD. 
Kenny Dorham: Una Mas--192/

Kenny Dorham: TrompetaToccata--192/

Lee Morgan: The Cooker--192/

I just tested downloading a 24/192 album I purchased a while ago and had the same issue as you. I have 1 Gbps up/down fiber internet service and am using macOS 11.1 with Safari. Here's what happened when I tried to download the album. I recorded the screen. 

 

[MarkusBarkus]

...watching your video reminds me: a progress bar that remains in place after success or failure is a big no-no for UX design. You have to dismiss it and check to see status. 
 

Thank you for checking on that workflow, @The Computer Audiophile

 

OK, Qobuz team: a few things to consider. 

[botrytis]

I would say look at the connection between you and Qobuz server. I bet there is an issue between.

[MarkusBarkus]

...I tried on two networks. Looks like uploader code issue to me. 

[The Computer Audiophile]

Two items I noticed when inspecting this. I covered up the URL details. 

 

 

[Talisman]

There's a little bug in the Qobuz desktop player with playlists. If a user selects a series of tracks to delete from a playlist, and those tracks happen to be near the bottom of the screen, the "Remove from playlist" option is truncated off the bottom of the screen. The user must scroll down to reveal the option to remove those tracks.

 

[David Craff]

1 hour ago, Talisman said:

There's a little bug in the Qobuz desktop player with playlists. If a user selects a series of tracks to delete from a playlist, and those tracks happen to be near the bottom of the screen, the "Remove from playlist" option is truncated off the bottom of the screen. The user must scroll down to reveal the option to remove those tracks.

 

 

Thanks for this feedback, I will create a ticket to fix it.

 

Regards

[Talisman]

4 minutes ago, David Craff said:

 

Thanks for this feedback, I will create a ticket to fix it.

 

Regards

I appreciate that, David!

[Tinnitus Andronicus]

I may have mentioned this here before, I can't recall for sure, but for better or worse...

 

There's got to be something that can be done about multiple artists with the same name where all releases by every artist bearing the same name come up when you search for one of those artists. I can't say if this issue is particular to Qobuz because I have not used Tidal or Spotify or Pandora or any of the other streaming services so I don't know if there is a technical fix for this issue or not. Nor can I say if the problem is down to the digital distributors who supply the files to Qobuz and other streaming services.

 

There are two different artists named Propaganda and both the 80s synth-pop group and the other one are filed together under Propaganda. Same deal with Kendra Smith, there's the one or two albums by the 80s white bassist from LA along with releases by a Black woman bearing the same name. The worst case yet I've come across is when I search for Melanie. The artist page that comes up gives the correct biography for the beloved flower girl folksinger whose career was launched in the late 60s, but there appear to be at least three different Melanies in the listed releases, including a Black woman, a Middle-Eastern singer, possibly a German Melanie, in addition to the handful of albums by "The" Melanie scattered among the many other recordings by alternate Melanies.

 

On Discogs.com the solution is to have multiple artists with the same name distinguished by having a number in parentheses following the name. I would love to see something similar implemented with Qobuz so I could see with ease only those recordings pertaining to the artist I'm interested in when I pull up a search page.

 

And the other thing which I have mentioned before, is to somehow file alternate spellings of a name under a single artist, the primary example being that releases by the 60s vocal group the Fifth Dimension are mostly found under 5th Dimension.

 

That's all, thanks for reading.

[rando]

On 1/18/2021 at 12:25 PM, Tinnitus Andronicus said:

I may have mentioned this here before, I can't recall for sure, but for better or worse...

 

As usual search is your friend.  You already know the full and complete answer, but let's go ahead and revisit it... for reasons.

 

They have contracted a service to go through the entire catalog + new entries which seeks out duplicate copies of albums, incorrect album art, and sorts combined artists.  This is a very slow process.  They are a very small and committed team who are honestly working as hard as they can on all of the issues repeatedly mentioned. 

 

The elephant in the room here is how much effort a massively pressing piracy concern took away from more seemly organizational concerns.  

[Mark Dirac]

19 hours ago, rando said:

a massively pressing piracy concern

I didn't notice that elephant. What did it look like? When was it it stumbled into the room?

[Balthazar B]

35 minutes ago, Mark Dirac said:

I didn't notice that elephant. What did it look like? When was it it stumbled into the room?

Just google qobuz piracy reddit. That'll give you a taste of the elephant's nether regions.

[asdf1000]

46 minutes ago, Balthazar B said:

That'll give you a taste of the elephant's nether regions.

 

Hilarious. And gross.

 

46 minutes ago, Balthazar B said:

Just google qobuz piracy reddit.

 

Wow! I had no idea people were publicly discussing (and doing) such a thing. I hope Qobuz has fixed that loophole by now.

 

It seems the reddit thread has had no action the past 10 months, so I assume it's been fixed by Qobuz now.

 

The price of 12 months Qobuz Studio plan is only ~50% more than Spotify (depends on where in the world you are, exchange rates etc) but you get top notch quality! 

 

 

[rando]

There are a number of voices that were quite prominent in making Qobuz believe this site held a pool of international members with whom their participation could be mutually beneficial.  Many of which undoubtedly would like to see a prevailing air of courtesy and respect maintained outside of those happier days. 

 

Numerous of the outstanding issues will persevere for some time to come.   I felt mention of one which may not have fully registered with everyone could possibly diffuse some of the building tensions.  We started out as, have built the framework to be, supportive of @David Craff et al in equal amounts as they offer personal support when it is asked for.  Give them the benefit of the doubt they are working as hard as they claim and keep in mind a little encouragement wouldn't go astray.        

[Mark Dirac]

16 hours ago, rando said:

We ... have built the framework to be, supportive 

I'm an enthusiastic fan of Qobuz, as others are fans of DACs, headphones etc. But for me, there's nowhere to chat and gossip about Qobuz. I don't think there are any other products/services whose main thread is titled "issues"? The other thread, "features", is helpfully focussed carefully upon product management feedback. Is it perhaps a pity that most discussion of Qobuz is always associated with "issues"?

[The Computer Audiophile]

5 minutes ago, Mark Dirac said:

there's nowhere to chat and gossip about Qobuz

Start all the Qobuz threads you want. It would be great. 

[rando]

1 hour ago, Mark Dirac said:

But for me, there's nowhere to chat and gossip about Qobuz.

 

Discussion is rightfully centered in the Music section of the forum.    

[deho]

I see by following this post that some Qobuz specialist are ready to help .... And I need help !

 

I own a superb Technics SE-R1 +SU-R1, its SQ on my B&W 802D3 is sublime. But, the SU-R1 is not able to stream Qobuz (my favourite source) songs when in higher resolution than standard (16/44).  All Hi-Res songs blocks, lags, pauses and restarts. I'm fighting with Technics for a year, without any success nor response but a short answer stating that "Qobuz flow is very high !"

 

I'm quite surprised that a so called Reference streamer is not able to read Qobuz (Tidal the same) songs in Hi-Res ! Could a Qobuz technically knowledgeable person explain to me why Qobuz flow would be so "special" according to Technics sayings ? All other streamers I know from 100$ to 100K$  read Qobuz Hi-Res songs without any glitches .... 

 

Is there also around someone with relationship with Technics who could help them to move and respond ?

[Balthazar B]

@deho, how are you feeding the digital data into the SU-R1?

[deho]

1 hour ago, Balthazar B said:

@deho, how are you feeding the digital data into the SU-R1?

Synology router with double connection (4G + ADSL) to my ethernet (cat 6 wired) home network and to the RJ45 input of the SU-R1 through an AQVox switch. I try to control it through mConnect on my iPad but it doesn't work with Hi-Res songs. It works well when I feed the SU-R1 with Qobuz through a Mac Mini and Audirvana. My frustration comes from the fact that I should not have to pass by a Mac or anything else but rather stream directly the Qobuz flow to the SU-R1 streamer and control it only with mConnect

[deho]

I made several checks and the speed of my internet connexion or home network are not the culprits ... I rather suspect a bad implementation of DNLA/UpNp standards by Technics .... which generate some kind of incompatibility with Qobuz (or Tidal) Hi-Res streams ....

[rando]

1 hour ago, deho said:

It works well when I feed the SU-R1 with Qobuz through a Mac Mini and Audirvana. My frustration comes from the fact that I should not have to pass by a Mac or anything else but rather stream directly the Qobuz flow to the SU-R1 streamer and control it only with mConnect

 

Thus determining this is not a Qobuz issue.  Nor is it a Tidal issue by your own admission in the following post. 

 

Please consider making a new thread where your system issues can be dissected.

[deho]

2 hours ago, rando said:

 

Thus determining this is not a Qobuz issue.  Nor is it a Tidal issue by your own admission in the following post. 

 

Please consider making a new thread where your system issues can be dissected.

One of the culprit is probably the Technics streaming card. But I'm also questioning that Qobuz issue since the DNLA output in the Qobuz app. doesn't (yet) work seamlessly with several streamers. I wonder and try to understand if there is a special formatting/encoding of the raw Qobuz flow which makes some streamers more sensitive to reading problems ? Audirvana apparently reformat the Qobuz flow and make it more universally readable ... isn't it ?   

[deho]

I'm not having a judgement about Qobuz which is my main source of music for several years ... I'm just trying to understand what can happen in my reading problems : why is it working seamlessly with standard resolution songs and not with high resolution ones ?