Article: JPLAY for iOS Is Now Available

[Bernd Hofmann]

Played several hours with the app now and think i can confirm what chris said: A great app and probably the best of the uPnP Bunch i tried. There are some problems here and there (lost connection to my asset Server).

 

But the app itself is very fast, search, play, etc. Not tried playlists though. I might give it a try for a year, use it as alternative to Roon and see how things play out over the time of subscription. At least its much better to integrate my library with my qobuz subscription then with mconnect. Will use a new WiiM Pro as renderer.

 

Thanks for the Headsup!

[sjj]

Started a trial and had no issues with setup and use using Ropieee/XL and Minimserver. I find the layout, features and functionality head and shoulders above Mconnect. I think this makes software like Moode and Ropieee/XL (for non Roon users) more usable with services like Qobuz. Would like to see the incorporation of webradio. I did fine that there is alot of functionality/info but it takes a while to find and learn where some things are located or how to access them - an example, Album Info/story is a couple of scrolls down after selecting an album. During my use so far sound quality is the same as my other software (picoreplayer).

[Apollo]

Well, I am a lifetime Roon user + HQPlayerEmbedded as well.

The main reasons I am going to support Jplay for IOS, at least for the 1st year:

1) the 1st non-roon player that supports integrating local and streaming music. This is really key for me, so great job done.

2) except for the controller (IOS only) a real multiplatform solution : Windows, Mac, Linux, …., all capable of supporting this.

3) superfast 

4) (hopefully) a player that will focus on quality, instead of functionality all in the wild ( do you hear me Roon!)

5) a developper willing to interact and support its customers, without his ego sitting in the way (do you hear me D….)

6) to summarize 4 & 5  finally real competition to Roon.

 

My only request would be for an extended trial time, in order to get it really working.  Still some testing and work to do before I can really start ‘enjoying’ it.

My 1st year subscription stands in any case.

Looking forward to the day Jplay for IOS is my preferred music player.

 

[Mike Rubin]

The comments and the sales pitch at the app store have me completely confused:  does this app address sound quality or does it just route traffic as a UPnP controller?

[The Computer Audiophile]

1 hour ago, Apollo said:

Well, I am a lifetime Roon user + HQPlayerEmbedded as well.

The main reasons I am going to support Jplay for IOS, at least for the 1st year:

1) the 1st non-roon player that supports integrating local and streaming music. This is really key for me, so great job done.

2) except for the controller (IOS only) a real multiplatform solution : Windows, Mac, Linux, …., all capable of supporting this.

3) superfast 

4) (hopefully) a player that will focus on quality, instead of functionality all in the wild ( do you hear me Roon!)

5) a developper willing to interact and support its customers, without his ego sitting in the way (do you hear me D….)

6) to summarize 4 & 5  finally real competition to Roon.

 

My only request would be for an extended trial time, in order to get it really working.  Still some testing and work to do before I can really start ‘enjoying’ it.

My 1st year subscription stands in any case.

Looking forward to the day Jplay for IOS is my preferred music player.

 

100% !

 

These are some of the major reasons why I’m so enthusiastic about it as well. 

[Mike Rubin]

Bug reports and comments here or is there a support thread elsewhere?

[AudioDoctor]

2 hours ago, Apollo said:

Well, I am a lifetime Roon user + HQPlayerEmbedded as well.

The main reasons I am going to support Jplay for IOS, at least for the 1st year:

1) the 1st non-roon player that supports integrating local and streaming music. This is really key for me, so great job done.

2) except for the controller (IOS only) a real multiplatform solution : Windows, Mac, Linux, …., all capable of supporting this.

3) superfast 

4) (hopefully) a player that will focus on quality, instead of functionality all in the wild ( do you hear me Roon!)

5) a developper willing to interact and support its customers, without his ego sitting in the way (do you hear me D….)

6) to summarize 4 & 5  finally real competition to Roon.

 

My only request would be for an extended trial time, in order to get it really working.  Still some testing and work to do before I can really start ‘enjoying’ it.

My 1st year subscription stands in any case.

Looking forward to the day Jplay for IOS is my preferred music player.

 

 

This is how I feel about Jplay as well at the moment.

 

I have to try and keep in perspective that this is version 1 of 1 and as there is with any software there will be hiccups, but overall it is a great bit of software, works well, minor quibbles aside. I will happily support the continued development of jplay.

 

I apologize if I didn't see it, is there an official support email where Marcin would like people to send bugs and/or issues using the software?

[AudioDoctor]

One minor gripe, when I purchase an album from Qobuz, I generally delete that album from my favorites, if it was there at all. Jplay includes those in the library, giving me duplicates. It's not a huge deal, just odd.

 

 

[One and a half]

8 hours ago, The Computer Audiophile said:

Which paid alternatives are you using that are better?

Audirvana remote, probably had the same amount of bugs, now not so many.

[One and a half]

44 minutes ago, AudioDoctor said:

One minor gripe, when I purchase an album from Qobuz, I generally delete that album from my favorites, if it was there at all. Jplay includes those in the library, giving me duplicates. It's not a huge deal, just odd.

 

 

Both Audirvana and JPLAY remotes list your purchases from Qobuz, maybe it's a 'feature' of Qobuz. Audirvana displays in the album list on an icon of a home are local files, whereas a turntable looking Q indicates that album is available on Qobuz. Qobuz don't normally offer the providence of the album, FWIW, I've never seen MFSL listing on Qobuz, probably never will.

[AudioDoctor]

1 minute ago, One and a half said:

Both Audirvana and JPLAY remotes list your purchases from Qobuz, maybe it's a 'feature' of Qobuz. Audirvana displays in the album list on an icon of a home are local files, whereas a turntable looking Q indicates that album is available on Qobuz. Qobuz don't normally offer the providence of the album, FWIW, I've never seen MFSL listing on Qobuz, probably never will.

 

Only jPlay puts those purchased albums in the main library view giving duplicate albums, one local and one on Qobuz.

[Apollo]

3 minutes ago, AudioDoctor said:

 

Only jPlay puts those purchased albums in the main library view giving duplicate albums, one local and one on Qobuz.

Well, when you buy an album at Qobuz, it is added to your Favorites (in Qobuz).

When you download your purchased album and add it to your scanned storage, Jplay does not know where that album is coming from. Hence 2 identical albums.  

 

 

[AudioDoctor]

1 minute ago, Apollo said:

Well, when you buy an album at Qobuz, it is added to your Favorites (in Qobuz).

When you download your purchased album and add it to your scanned storage, Jplay does not know where that album is coming from. Hence 2 identical albums.  

 

 

I checked my favorites, they are not there.

[Apollo]

Just now, AudioDoctor said:

I checked my favorites, they are not there.

Did you check in Qobuz app/website?

[AudioDoctor]

Just now, Apollo said:

Did you check in Qobuz app/website?

 

of course. I put jplay side by side with the Qobuz app and went through them both together.

[Apollo]

Strange.

Maybe worthwhile to check for 1 album at the Qobuz website.

In Roon, behaviour of exchange between Roon and Qobuz is different Hen you use either thr app or the website.

 

Still quite strange

[One and a half]

9 hours ago, The Computer Audiophile said:

Wow @stefano_mbp and @One and a half, I think you guys should stick to the absolute perfect app that you’re already using, and let others with a touch more tact, patience, and reasonable expectations work with @Marcin_gps to resolve any issues that pop up. 

We have been patient since April 15, 2021. The premier at the Polish audio show was in October 2022, let loose a couple of days ago. I'll stick with JPLAY, since @Marcin_gps has very fine products which I have invested in, still use to this day without fault. Software is a never-ending development (look at Apple and Microsoft, the kings of stuff ups) and will always dissatisfy users, annoy them enough, they will abandon like I did with Roon (now 2nd year Roon free, bit like giving up smoking).

[Jud]

3 hours ago, Apollo said:

the 1st non-roon player that supports integrating local and streaming music.

 

Audirvana has had this for a long time. (I'm not trying to turn this into an Audirvana vs. JPlay thread - please enjoy JPlay and the new remote. I just wanted to note this item for anyone who was unaware.)

[The Computer Audiophile]

38 minutes ago, Jud said:

 

Audirvana has had this for a long time. (I'm not trying to turn this into an Audirvana vs. JPlay thread - please enjoy JPlay and the new remote. I just wanted to note this item for anyone who was unaware.)

My guess is he meant UPnP control point, not counting full apps like Audirvana. 

[The Computer Audiophile]

6 hours ago, AudioDoctor said:

 

This is how I feel about Jplay as well at the moment.

 

I have to try and keep in perspective that this is version 1 of 1 and as there is with any software there will be hiccups, but overall it is a great bit of software, works well, minor quibbles aside. I will happily support the continued development of jplay.

 

I apologize if I didn't see it, is there an official support email where Marcin would like people to send bugs and/or issues using the software?

 

Absoltely. We are all in this together. If we can provide @Marcin_gps constructive feedback, we will have an even better app. Options are good. 

[The Computer Audiophile]

1 hour ago, One and a half said:

I'll stick with JPLAY, since @Marcin_gps has very fine products

 

Completely agree. In addition, most people probably don't know that Marcin is a really good person a well. He is known in the industry as one of the good guys. Supporting him and JPLAY will benefit us all with even better products.

 

If people want to sit out version 1.0, I compeltely understand. I'm all-in. I beta tested it forever and purchased my yearly subscription minutes after he let me know it was live. 

[The Computer Audiophile]

On 12/9/2022 at 10:50 AM, stefano_mbp said:

A fast check … not impressed at all.

An example (one for all):

artists details for each track are totally missing

this is for JPlay app (red arrow)

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.

and this is for Lumïn app

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.

absolutely insufficient especially in relation to the cost … and Lumïn app is free …

I agree that I’m using a quite complex Minimserver configuration but it is compliant to UPNP standard and Lumïn app can render it in the right way, absolutely not the same for JPlay.

It seems JPlay is reading just one artist for the track ….

… and each entry in Lumïn app track details can be searched in the library like a real cross reference 

 

Here is what it looks like in JPLAY/ MinimServer in my system. 
 

 

 

[The Computer Audiophile]

Here’s what the Linn app shows. 
 

[skyline]

So far it can’t find my Lumin U1 mini.

 

I’ll keep trying.

[Mike Rubin]

I guess bug reports are being listed here, so I will add my own few:
 

(1). Playing to HQPlayer Embedded, I have several DLNA servers that I like to use for specific tasks or backup, but JPlay only finds MinimServer reliably.  LMS (with the DLNA add-on) and JRiver each have appeared once on the settings picklist, but it has been only momentarily.  I tried to select each when it did appear.  LMS started to index but disconnected quickly and disappeared from settings after it did.  JRiver disconnected and disappeared as soon as I tried to index it.  Neither has appeared on the pick list since.

 

(2).  Even MinimServer often disconnects after I start to play music.  If I need to change the musical selection, I get an error message saying “Error sending action to renderer,” BUT the new selection does start playing anyway.  HOWEVER, the control buttons all are disabled. The only way to shut down play rather than move on to another selection from the library is to use the free app, HQPD Control.

 

(3).  Sometimes, JPlay just stops even though tracks remain in the queue.  It can still be used to select something to play, even the remaining queue tracks, so it hasn’t crashed, but it’s easily confused and not so robust.

(4). Removing a previously enabled server crashes the app. 

 

These aren’t bugs, but annoyances:  (1). I don’t use Tidal or Qobuz, but I can’t get them to disappear from the server picklist, where they take up valuable space. I would love to remove them from the picklist. Same for my Sonos TV soundbar, which has a DLNA server but no library because its capabilities are so limited that I don’t bother.

 

(2).  Like Audirvāna, JPlay displays an empty “favorites” list in its landing page. If I want to work off a listing of artists rather than the nonexistent favorite artists, I have to start drilling down in order to select it.  I surely am not the only user who doesn’t bother with favorites, yet there’s no way to change the default view to one that more people would use.  It’s particularly weird, because all of my albums, not just favorites, display on the landing page list.  I really don’t understand this at all.

 

Finally, I still don’t understand the niche here.  The marketing page for the app shows an artist bio screen similar to what is displayed from Roon’s limited artist database when it has something to display, but I haven’t actually encountered an artist bio screen in JPlay yet.  There also is a claim on that page that sound quality is enhanced because JPlay uses fewer network resources or something like that, but I don’t know what that means in my use case, as I usually am playing into HQPlayer rather than just an DLNA renderer.  As a controller, JPlay is attractive, but not robust enough thus far to justify a fee that is so much greater than those charged for the various traffic cop DLNA controllers that are available on the Apple (and Android) stores.  This sounds terribly critical, I know, but I don’t mean it to be.  I want JPlay to succeed, especially if it can fetch Roon-like credits or bio information in response to my own metadata rather than metadata that the software has to “identify.”  
 

Bugs, though:  those gotta be fixed or at least determined to be due to defects in my network rather than JPlay code.