Qobuz

[Stunsworth]

Don't get too excited!

Harmonia Mundi releases are not available on the streaming service other than a sixty second sampler, which is available without signing up anyway. This has been the case since HM appeared on the site last year and I hoped things would change, but no joy so far

I'm listening to Paul Lewis play Scubert on Harmonia Mundi at the moment. I've no idea at this stage if other albums are restricted to 60 seconds per track.

[GrahamH]

I'm listening to Paul Lewis play Scubert on Harmonia Mundi at the moment. I've no idea at this stage if other albums are restricted to 60 seconds per track.

That's interesting because I can only listen to the 60 seconds per track on the basic service. From another post I guess you've subscribed to the lossless service so maybe this is an unadvertised extra benefit of that plan.

[Cheapskater]

Thanks to Steve & others encouragement here, I registered with Qobuz (no streaming subscription) and then emailed them regarding D/L from UK. Very quick and efficient response with the following result -

We have updated your account.
You can now buy on our site.
Qobuz thank you for your confidence and wish you good shopping.
Musically yours.
Cordially.
Michel Girard
Support et Service Clients

This seems to have been a sucessful conclusion!

[Dave2002]

Aha, another web site which tries to get you to sign up using Facebook! Spotify tried this, but backtracked. Looks like it's possible to get onto Qobuz without Facebook, but maybe you don't get the best deals.

I still have no intention of joining Facebook.

[Stunsworth]

That's interesting because I can only listen to the 60 seconds per track on the basic service. From another post I guess you've subscribed to the lossless service so maybe this is an unadvertised extra benefit of that plan.

Yes, I subscribe to the lossless service. I've come across some albums limited to a minute per track, all the albums on ECM for example. The reason given is that it's a rights issue.

[Stunsworth]

Aha, another web site which tries to get you to sign up using Facebook! Spotify tried this, but backtracked. Looks like it's possible to get onto Qobuz without Facebook, but maybe you don't get the best deals

I created an account, and sign in, using an email address and password. The two options appeared next to each other, so it wasn't difficult to ignore the Facebook one.

[Dave2002]

I created an account, and sign in, using an email address and password. The two options appeared next to each other, so it wasn't difficult to ignore the Facebook one.

I'm sure it's possible, but the page I saw suggested that one got better deals with Facebook. However, at least it's possible to create an account. It wasn't possible to do even that when Spotify tried the "force everyone on to Facebook" trick.

[neiltingley]

Don't get too excited!

Harmonia Mundi releases are not available on the streaming service other than a sixty second sampler, which is available without signing up anyway. This has been the case since HM appeared on the site last year and I hoped things would change, but no joy so far.

I've no problems with HM releases. I have the Rene Jacobs Creation on my playlist plus two Herreweghe discs.

[neiltingley]

Are you using windows ? If so try the sound output options - i.e asio4all or Kernel Streaming. Better sound.

[neiltingley]

I'm listening to Paul Lewis play Scubert on Harmonia Mundi at the moment. I've no idea at this stage if other albums are restricted to 60 seconds per track.

Some are restricted by this is by the copyright holder. Qobuz are stuck in the middle! I've found this with a very few newish albums.

[robk]

I emailed Qobuz about permission to download. Although I have not received a reply from them, I found this evening that I can now download from the site. Hurford's Bach and the Aeolian Haydn Quartets now downloaded successfully. I agree that the lack of a PDF booklet is disappointing but it is such a good deal.

[Thropplenoggin]

Just signed up to their monthly premium offer. Looks like a winner thus far, with a search facility that actually searches. Au revoir, infuriatingly useless Spotify!

[neiltingley]

I noticed that too. I am a software engineer by profession and I think Qoboz have some really smart people working for them. Many things just work and I am often surprised about how well certain things are thought out - for example the Asio4all support in the windows player. The obvious thought they put into their offering is why I am so enthusiastic!

[GrahamH]

Of particular note is that so far as I know they're the only site where I can stream Hyperion releases, though it's cheaper to buy them direct.

Sorry, I know it's bad form to reply to my own post!

I noticed last night that there were no longer any Hyperion releases on the site, either to stream or buy. I hoped this was a temporary thing so emailed support, but received this reply this morning:

Hello,
The label Hyperion is not available now.
This problem won’t be temporary.
We are really sorry.

Thank you for your understanding.
Best regards.

Not good news.

[Thropplenoggin]

Sorry, I know it's bad form to reply to my own post!

I noticed last night that there were no longer any Hyperion releases on the site, either to stream or buy. I hoped this was a temporary thing so emailed support, but received this reply this morning:

Hello,
The label Hyperion is not available now.
This problem won’t be temporary.
We are really sorry.

Thank you for your understanding.
Best regards.

Not good news.

Just as I signed up, too. And Harmonia Mundi only allows a 1 minutes sample of each of its discs. Disappointing, but I expect they feel it doesn't pay to allow their work to be streamed. The irony being, once I've sampled something on Spotify, I've usually bought the disc.