Qobuz to launch hi-res download service in the UK

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French music streaming service confirms it will add hi-res downloads to its UK site from March/April

Qobuz

Qobuz, the French hi-res music streaming service that was recently added to Sonos, has confirmed here at the Bristol Show that it will introduce hi-res downloads in the UK from March/April.

Currently the service offers streaming of FLAC files in CD-quality (16-bit/44.1kHz) for £20 a month or in MP3 (320kbps) for £10/month.

The download service will offer CD-quality albums for around €12 each and Studio Master hi-res ones (up to 24-bit/192kHz) for around €15 each. UK prices will be confirmed at launch. Unlike US rival HD tracks, which is due to launch in the UK soon, Qobuz offers high-quality streaming as well as digital downloads.

Either way, this is good news for those who want access to better-than-MP3 quality digital music. The company is currently in talks with other hi-fi manufacturers with the aim of offering its service on a wider range of products.

Qobuz has a library of more than 17 million tracks, and more than 5000 albums in Studio Master high-res quality.

By Andy Clough

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Andy Clough
Andy Clough

Andy is Global Brand Director of What Hi-Fi? and has been a technology journalist for 30 years. During that time he has covered everything from VHS and Betamax, MiniDisc and DCC to CDi, Laserdisc and 3D TV, and any number of other formats that have come and gone. He loves nothing better than a good old format war. Andy edited several hi-fi and home cinema magazines before relaunching whathifi.com in 2008 and helping turn it into the global success it is today. When not listening to music or watching TV, he spends far too much of his time reading about cars he can't afford to buy.