| Qobuz | |
| Type: | Music service |
| Availability: | 25 countries |
Qobuz (often stylized as qobuz) is a French digital music store and streaming service, launched in 2007 by Alexandre Leforestier and Yves Riesel.[1] Qobuz is now owned by Xandrie SA. In June 2023, Qobuz offers over 100 million tracks on its service.[2]
For additional subscription fees, tracks are available at CD-quality and "Hi-Res" quality (24 bits up to 192 kHz). Individual tracks can also be purchased without any DRM restrictions.[3]
Streamed music is available in MP3 at 320 kbit/s, CD-DA quality lossless (16-bit/44.1 kHz)[4] and hi-resolution quality lossless (up to 24-bit/192 kHz) for some tracks.[5] The formats available for individually-purchased songs are WAV, AIFF, ALAC and FLAC for hi-res quality, lossless WMA for CD quality music, and MP3, standard WMA and AAC for lossy quality (at 128 kbit/s or 320 kbit/s).[6]
Qobuz's name comes from the musical instrument kobyz/qobyz.
In October 2024, Qobuz expanded its audio quality offer by introducing support for DSD (Direct Stream Digital) and DXD (Digital eXtreme Definition) formats,[7] which allow for up to the equivalent bitrate of 24-bit/176.2kHz and 32-bit/352.8KHz respectively. The same month, it launched an offer for students, enabling them to benefit from a discount on monthly subscriptions, which must be verified every 12 months to verify eligibility.[8]
Qobuz was founded in 2007 by Denis Thébaud. From 2014 to 2020 the company had a partnership with the British classical music magazine Gramophone, under which the magazine uses Qobuz to publish recommended playlists.[9]
Qobuz was unable to secure financing, ran into financial difficulties, and in 2015 Qobuz was acquired by Xandrie SA.[10]
In April 2020, during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, Qobuz gave 100% of the revenue from each new subscriber's first paid month back to the rights holders.[11]
In 2020 Qobuz ended its MP3 quality subscription plan, focusing instead on lossless streaming. However, MP3 is available as an option. A family plan was also added.[12] In partnership with Quebecor, a Canadian media and telecommunications company, Qobuz launched the music streaming service QUB Music.[13]
In October 2024, Qobuz extends its services to Japan, the world's second-largest music market. This marks an important step in Qobuz's international expansion, with new access to the Asian market.[14]
Qobuz has apps for Microsoft Windows, macOS, iOS and Android compatible devices. On Windows and macOS devices, 30-second clips are available without a subscription, however a paid subscription is required to listen to full tracks. On mobile devices, a paid subscription is required to listen to any music.
Qobuz can also be used on Google Chromecast devices and TizenOS (as used on Samsung televisions) devices.[15] It's also available on the music server management service Roon.[16] A web player version (accessed via an internet browser) is also available.
The Qobuz app is built in to some devices (such as streaming amplifiers) from brands such as Cambridge Audio, Audio Pro and Naim Audio. In March 2021, Qobuz became the first music platform to offer 24-bit audio streaming on Sonos speakers.[17]
Qobuz launched in eight European countries in 2014: United Kingdom, Ireland, Germany, Austria, Belgium, Switzerland, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands then, in 2017, in Spain and Italy.[18] In 2019, Qobuz became available in the United States after opening a US headquarters in 2018.[19]
In 2021, Qobuz was made available in six new countries: Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Australia and New Zealand.[20] In 2022, Qobuz offered its service in six new countries: Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Colombia, Chile, and Portugal[21] and in 2023 it was launched in Canada.[22]
Qobuz offers the base subscription, Studio Premier, and Studio Sublime which adds a discount on digital purchases and can only be purchased annually. Both of these subscription plans are also available for two accounts or up to six.[23]
In August 2019, Qobuz raised €12 million from Nabuboto and the Quebecor Group. In September 2020, the two shareholders raised a further 10 million euros.[24]