Qobuz Connect availability for dCS products?

[jsec (Juha Saarinen)]

It seems that the vendor list for Qobuz Connect now includes dCS: https://help.qobuz.com/en/articles/314578-list-of-brands-integrated-into-qobuz-connect

It would be great to know when to expect update from dCS and to which products. Hopefully it will be available through out the portfolio? I haven’t seen any updates from dCS side on this. Now that Qobuz seems to be ready, it would be great to understand how and when dCS will do their part on it.

[James (James Cook)]

Hi Juha,

There is a thread already running on this topic, which I posted an update on yesterday:

Qobuz Connect is finally out of beta! Is dCS ready?

We don’t have Qobuz Connect implemented in any products currently. It is being actively worked on and is very high up our development queue, so we hope to have some news for you soon.

[jsec (Juha Saarinen)]

Thanks James and sorry that I missed your post yesterday!

[aublumberg (Andre Blumberg)]

Qobuz Connect now available for dCS Vivaldi, Rossini, Bartók, Lina and Network Bridge - dCS Products / Software Release Notes - dCS Community

[T38.45]

I don’t get it…so why is that cool? I have Qobuz in Mosaic and it works like a charm.

[Ermos (Erno)]

Update went smoothly.

From the Release Notes:

https://dcs.community/uploads/short-url/4C79EnQfe0VMu1R4oXfKDgwxwFT.pdf

1.1. Versions
Network firmware: 527
Mosaic app version: v1.44 (161)

@James My Mosaic app says under versions:

App version 1.4.4 (162)

All good?

[aublumberg (Andre Blumberg)]

You don’t need to change then. This is just another option to go direct from Qobuz to dCS. Applicable for example when there is no Mosaic like on a computer and use the Qobuz app instead. Different strokes for different folks. Good to have options.

[JohnW (John Went)]

Yes, all good. The latest Mosaic version on the 16th June was 1.4.4 (162) for Android and (161) for iOS, they’re both identical.

[Ermos (Erno)]

Thank you!

[PAR (Pete)]

@aublumberg

ou don’t need to change then. This is just another option to go direct from Qobuz to dCS. Applicable for example when there is no Mosaic like on a computer and use the Qobuz app instead. Different strokes for different folks. Good to have options.

I agree, at least from a logical viewpoint. However you mention it as an option. Does firmware 162 with app 1.4.4 allow a choice between the existing Mosaic/Qobuz regime nad Qobuz Connect so that they may be compared subjectively? If not then I am not in any rush to upgrade the firmware as , logically, I do not anticipate any improvement to SQ.

[aublumberg (Andre Blumberg)]

Pete, there is no ‘toggle’ feature for A/B comparison. Qobuz Connect doesn’t require Mosaic, so you could manually switch from Qobuz Connect (via Qobuz app) to Qobuz via Mosaic and then compare. If you wanted that is.

[PAR (Pete)]

Thanks Andre. However use of a Qobuz app requires installation on a device such as a computer or phone. Connectivity to dCS unit is then compromised by use of e.g. USB . So not a true Mosaic v. Connect comparison IMO.

[Anupc (Anup)]

Pete, as Andre says, you can actively switch between Qobuz Connect, Tidal Connect, or Spotify Connect, and Mosaic at will! The originating source stream will switch instantaneously enough for you to be able to do A/B comparisons.

[Phil (Phil Harris)]

@PAR

However use of a Qobuz app requires installation on a device such as a computer or phone. Connectivity to dCS unit is then compromised by use of e.g. USB . So not a true Mosaic v. Connect comparison IMO.

Hi @PAR,

Please be aware that Qobuz Connect (even if installed on a PC) does not require the device running the Qobuz app to be connected to the DAC via USB … Qobuz Connect finds Qobuz Connect compliant devices on your network and then the Qobuz App acts as a “Remote Control” to that device.

Cheers

Phil

[T38.45]

so the Qobuz app/pc/mac whatever is not in the music data path then?

[Paul_Bemelmans]

Nope. Exactly like Tidal Connect. Or, for that matter, Mosaic.

[Lee (Lee Scoggins)]

Update went well for me too.

[August (August H)]

Updated and now listening.

[Anupc (Anup)]

To preempt the inevitable “Why doesn’t my dCS appear on Qobuz Connect?”, or “Why does dCS take so long to appear in my Qobuz App”.

Qobuz doesn’t publish how its Connect service works, so, here’s an IP-Packet flow diagram that explains exactly how the Qobuz App actually discovers the dCS, shows it as available for Qobuz Connect, and what happens when dCS is subsequently selected.

As explained previously, network discovery, whether it’s dCS Mosaic, UPnP Servers, Roon end-points, or any of the “Connect” services (Qobuz, Tidal, Spotify), they all rely on IP Multicast for device discovery.

If your dCS DAC doesn’t appear or takes a long time to appear, you probably have Multicast problems in your home network.

After discovery works as it should, thereafter, the music streaming works in the same way it does with Mosaic/Qobuz. The only difference is that instead of Mosaic instructing the dCS to fetch the tracks/albums from Qobuz Servers, it’s Qobuz Connect that instructs your dCS to fetch those tracks/albums from the Qobuz Servers.

[Erwan (Erwan Réguer)]

I have no discovery/access issue, yet doesn’t work for me…

Qobuz connect for dCS

Does not work for me. The update went well, but when trying to connect with the Qobuz app, it’s as if the tracks I was trying to play on the Bartok eventually failed to be played and were skipped. I can see the Bartok screen showing the correct track, but the timer stays at 0 on the Bartok whereas the timer elapses for about 5 seconds in the Qobuz app before the track is eventually skipped, and same problem with the next track. The Bartok was eventually able to play something after a dozen of…

Not a big deal as I’m not the target, but if I can somehow help debug things for other users… @Phil