Sublime+: $299.99/year for full Hi-Res streaming and substantial (40-60%)ĭiscounts on purchases from the Qobuz Hi-Res (up to 24-bit / 192 khz) download store. It will be available on all Mac/iOS/Android/Windows operating systems.Īs previously announced, the finalized US pricing plan is below: The world’s first and only certified Hi-Res streaming and download service, Qobuz has already secured a 2 million+ track Hi-Res catalog, and will be launching to the public at large following the beta testing. Music aficionados looking for a premium audiophile experience can join the waitlist for the Qobuz beta here. Initial US market beta users are being onboarded this week. Qobuz confirms it "has secured exclusive editorial content and prioritized hard-to-find jazz and classical cuts to round out the diverse catalog."Īt launch, Qobuz will be available on all Mac/iOS/Android/Windows operating systems.Qobuz, the European-based certified Hi-Res streaming and download service whose launch in the US has been highly anticipated in the audiophile community, announced today that it is now available for registration to US customers as an open beta. In this announcement dated November 28, 2018, Qobuz says the "launch date will be announced soon," and confirms the company is working on preparations, following the opening of its US headquarters in NYC, again heading to AXPONA and CES in 2019 as the Official Streaming Platform, while it is also working on its content catalog licenses. The 16-bit CD quality streaming only Hi-Fi option comes at $19.99/month ($199.9 annually), while the cheapest option for $9.99/month allows for 320 kbps MP3 quality streaming ($99.99 annually) but Qobuz still calls it "Premium." Why would Qobuz opt for the discontinued and undesirable MP3 codec, when there are much better and more efficient codec options is another relevant question. For those users that just wish to have streaming, there's the Studio plan, for $24.99/month, allowing for unlimited Hi-Res (24-bit /up to 192 khz) streaming ($249.99 annually). That's the Qobuz Sublime+ option for full Hi-Res streaming, which also includes "substantial" (40-60%) discounts on purchases from the Qobuz Hi-Res (up to 24-bit / 192 khz) download store. Also, that top-tier "unlimited hi-res streaming" option is not cheap.Īs Qobuz now confirms, the beta version of Qobuz is currently being tested in the US preceding wide release, and the finalized pricing is now confirmed to be $299.99/year. Technically, it can be done - uncompressed WAV files and even DSD files can be streamed using today's broadband services - but scaling on-demand libraries with millions of hi-res files to millions of users in a large market has never been done. But claiming hi-res (24-bit at 96kHz at least) in FLAC is a completely new ballgame, considering the challenges to scale the service to million of users. The company's premium reputation is also based on its focus on deep metadata, complete digital booklets, interactive articles and reviews, and exclusive playlists, all available conveniently in-app on every platform. Available so far in eleven European countries, Qobuz is a popular streaming and download service of choice for users looking for the highest possible quality and the company offers in fact an extensive catalog of hi-res recordings in its download catalog and makes it possible to stream that catalog also in 16-bit/44.1kHz FLAC (lossless) format, like TIDAL already does. US music enthusiast, like those in many other countries, have been eagerly awaiting Qobuz’s arrival since its 2007 founding in France. Qobuz allows unlimited importing of music in any quality on all the user’s devices, and, with its up to 24-bit/192k Hi-Res download store, will continue to offer consumers options that flow substantial revenues back to creators." The 24-bit streaming FLAC files can be played on any equipment and require no special processing. "A revolutionary development in accessibility of a high quality music library, Qobuz offers the most true Hi-Res music of any streaming service. Providing the first opportunity music fans in the United States will have to experience true Hi-Res audio streamed, Qobuz has already secured a multi-million track Hi-Res catalog ahead of launch, and today announces its US pricing plan." According to the announcement, Qobuz "has spent the fall laying the groundwork for its early 2019 US launch.
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