Qobuz

Qobuz
TypeMusic service
Launch date18 September 2007; 17 years ago (2007-09-18)
Availability25 countries
Websitewww.qobuz.com

Qobuz (US: /ˈkoʊˌbʌz/, UK: /ˈkəʊˌbʌz/[1]) is a French digital music store and streaming service, launched in 2007 by Alexandre Leforestier and Yves Riesel.[2] Qobuz is now owned by Xandrie SA. In June 2023, Qobuz offers over 100 million tracks on its service.[3]

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.[4]

Streamed music is available in MP3 at 320 kbit/s, CD-DA quality lossless (16-bit/44.1 kHz)[5] and hi-resolution quality lossless (up to 24-bit/192 kHz) for some tracks.[6] 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).[7]

Qobuz's name comes from the musical instrument kobyz/qobyz.[2]

In October 2024, Qobuz expands its audio quality offer by introducing support for DSD (Direct Stream Digital) and DXD (Digital eXtreme Definition) formats[8]. The same month, it launches a specific offer for students, enabling them to benefit from a discount on monthly subscriptions[9].

  1. ^ Wayne Coyne (of The Flaming Lips) | How to pronounce Qobuz, retrieved 19 September 2022
  2. ^ a b "Qobuz – Our history and values". Qobuz. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
  3. ^ "Qobuz review". TechRadar. 17 June 2023.
  4. ^ "What are the different audio formats available for download? | Qobuz Help Center". help.qobuz.com. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
  5. ^ "What is in the streaming catalogue?". Retrieved 18 May 2021.
  6. ^ "Qobuz - Discover and understand high-quality music with Qobuz streaming and downloads". Retrieved 18 May 2021.
  7. ^ "What are the different audio formats available for download?". Retrieved 18 May 2021.
  8. ^ "MSN". www.msn.com. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
  9. ^ Coirault, Camille (3 October 2024). "Qobuz part à la conquête de Spotify, Deezer et Apple Music avec une offre étudiants à prix imbattable". Presse-citron (in French). Retrieved 18 November 2024.