Qobuz

Qobuz launched in Paris in 2007 with an explicit commitment to audio quality that set it apart from the streaming services that were beginning to emerge around the same time. Where competitors defaulted to compressed lossy formats that made catalogue size and convenience the primary selling points, Qobuz built its service around lossless FLAC streaming and hi-res audio downloads, targeting audiophiles and discerning listeners who were willing to pay more for the format quality they believed mattered. The service expanded from France into multiple European markets and eventually reached North America in 2019, finding an audience among high-fidelity audio enthusiasts who had never been well-served by mainstream streaming.

The Qobuz platform delivers lossless CD-quality audio at 16-bit/44.1kHz and hi-res content up to 24-bit/192kHz, with files sourced directly from labels in studio master quality. The service integrates with a wide range of high-fidelity hardware — network streamers, DACs, amplifiers — through ecosystem partnerships that allow Qobuz to serve as a streaming source without requiring a smartphone or computer in the playback chain. A digital downloads store runs alongside the streaming service, allowing one-time hi-res purchases for listeners who prefer ownership over subscription access.

Audio streaming failures at Qobuz are particularly frustrating for users who have invested in high-end playback equipment specifically to take advantage of the service's quality advantage. Buffering and dropouts on hi-res content — which demands more bandwidth than standard streaming — are the most common degradation symptom. Library sync failures mean curated playlists and favourites disappear temporarily. The download store going offline prevents both new purchases and re-downloading of previously purchased hi-res files, which matters to audiophiles who treat digital purchases as a permanent asset. App authentication failures lock users out entirely on desktop and mobile.

Outage.gg tracks Qobuz service availability through reports from audiophiles, music enthusiasts, and hi-fi hardware users. If Qobuz streaming is buffering, downloads are failing, or the app is inaccessible, the live status page shows what the Qobuz community is experiencing right now.