I have been listening to QoBuz for two days now and something has struck me about it’s sound. I don’t mean HiRes vs non HiRes. I mean the inherent sound of QuBoz.
Obviously QoBuz play the files that they are given but I have noticed that albums have a softer sound than the ‘same’ album on Tidal. In fact Tidal albums sound close to my ripped CDs and QoBuz doesn’t; Qobuz is softer, more rounded, and slightly more relaxed. And this has happened with each album that I have compared so far for example Japan’s Gentlemen Take Polaroids - have a listen to the opening of Methods of Dance, the tone and punch of the bass drum is different as is the soundstage and sound of the sax. It seems to be something other than different versions. It’s not as though there are that many versions of the albums that I have compared.
I am listening on Auralic Altair G1 via ARC SP17, Quad 909 and Harbeth P3ESR so this isn’t exactly a hyper revealing system and yet the difference is clearly there it’s so obvious that no effort is required to discern the difference. I haven’t had time to check on the other system yet.
What have you guys found?
Obviously QoBuz play the files that they are given but I have noticed that albums have a softer sound than the ‘same’ album on Tidal. In fact Tidal albums sound close to my ripped CDs and QoBuz doesn’t; Qobuz is softer, more rounded, and slightly more relaxed. And this has happened with each album that I have compared so far for example Japan’s Gentlemen Take Polaroids - have a listen to the opening of Methods of Dance, the tone and punch of the bass drum is different as is the soundstage and sound of the sax. It seems to be something other than different versions. It’s not as though there are that many versions of the albums that I have compared.
I am listening on Auralic Altair G1 via ARC SP17, Quad 909 and Harbeth P3ESR so this isn’t exactly a hyper revealing system and yet the difference is clearly there it’s so obvious that no effort is required to discern the difference. I haven’t had time to check on the other system yet.
What have you guys found?