Qobuz
French high-fidelity music streaming and digital download service.
Last updated August 22, 2026
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Overview
Qobuz is a French digital music service combining subscription streaming with a download store. It is positioned toward listeners who value sound quality, editorial context, and ownership of downloaded music rather than relying solely on a mass-market streaming catalog. The service offers standard compressed playback alongside lossless CD-quality and high-resolution lossless audio, with selected recordings available at resolutions reaching 24-bit/192 kHz. Its download formats have included FLAC, WAV, AIFF, ALAC, lossless WMA, MP3, AAC, and other options depending on the release. The company was founded in France in 2007 by Alexandre Leforestier and Yves Riesel. Its name refers to the kobyz, also spelled qobyz, a traditional stringed instrument associated with Central Asian musical culture. Qobuz initially operated as a French-focused service, but developed an international presence during the 2010s. It entered eight additional European markets in December 2013, later expanding into Spain and Italy in 2017. The United States became a market in 2019 after the company established a US headquarters in 2018. Further expansion during 2021 brought the service to Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Australia, and New Zealand. In 2022 it added Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Colombia, Chile, and Portugal; Canada followed in 2023, and Japan in October 2024. Qobuz encountered financing difficulties and was acquired by Xandrie SA in 2015. The acquisition provided the corporate ownership under which the service continued its international development. The company subsequently attracted investment from Nabuboto and Quebecor Group, including a reported €11.7 million financing round in August 2019 and a further €10 million raised by the two shareholders in September 2020. These figures describe reported financing transactions rather than public-company revenue or market capitalization. The service has emphasized editorial programming as well as technical specifications. Between 2014 and 2020, Qobuz partnered with Gramophone magazine, enabling the publication to use Qobuz for recommended playlists. Qobuz also maintains a download business, allowing customers to purchase individual albums or tracks for local ownership. Subscription tiers have included Studio, focused on streaming, and Sublime, which combines streaming with discounts on digital purchases. Plans have been offered for individuals, couples, families of up to six users, and students, subject to market availability. In 2020 Qobuz discontinued its separate MP3-quality subscription tier and concentrated its subscription proposition on lossless listening, although MP3 remained available in parts of its product offering. The company also introduced family subscriptions. During the first months of the COVID-19 pandemic, Qobuz announced that it would return all revenue from each new subscriber's first paid month to rights holders, presenting the measure as support for the music ecosystem during an unusually disruptive period. Qobuz is available through Windows and macOS applications, iOS and Android devices, a web player, Chromecast, Samsung televisions using TizenOS, and Roon. Its service is integrated into selected hi-fi products from manufacturers including Arcam, Cambridge Audio, and Naim Audio. In March 2021, Qobuz became the first music platform to offer 24-bit streaming on Sonos speakers. In October 2024 it expanded its supported high-resolution formats to include DSD and DXD for eligible recordings. In May 2025 it launched Qobuz Connect, allowing compatible hi-fi equipment to receive streams directly from Qobuz servers while users control playback through the Qobuz mobile or desktop application. Qobuz remains operated by Xandrie SA and competes in the international streaming market through a specialist, audiophile-oriented proposition.
History
Qobuz began in France in 2007, founded by Alexandre Leforestier and Yves Riesel. The brand name derives from the kobyz or qobyz, a traditional stringed instrument. From its beginning, Qobuz differentiated itself from general-purpose digital music services by combining a streaming catalog with a download store and by emphasizing recording quality, classical music, jazz, editorial recommendations, and hi-fi listening. The service initially concentrated on France. Its first significant international expansion came in December 2013, when it entered the United Kingdom, Ireland, Germany, Austria, Belgium, Switzerland, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands. Between 2014 and 2020, Qobuz worked with Gramophone magazine, which used the platform for recommended playlists. This partnership reinforced the company's association with specialist music criticism and curated discovery. Qobuz later experienced financial difficulties after failing to secure sufficient financing. Xandrie SA acquired the company in 2015, becoming its operating owner. Under Xandrie, Qobuz continued to develop its subscription and download businesses. It expanded into Spain and Italy in 2017 and opened a US headquarters in 2018 before launching in the United States in 2019. The company reported an €11.7 million financing round involving Nabuboto and Quebecor Group in August 2019, followed by a further €10 million raised by those shareholders in September 2020. The COVID-19 period produced both a commercial and strategic turning point. In April 2020, Qobuz said that it would pass all revenue from each new subscriber's first paid month to rights holders. That initiative was intended to support labels, artists, and other participants in the music supply chain during widespread disruption to live performance and music businesses. Later in 2020, Qobuz ended its separate MP3-quality subscription plan and concentrated its subscription identity on lossless audio. MP3 remained available as an option in parts of the service, while family subscriptions were introduced. In the same year, Qobuz worked with Quebecor to launch QUB Music in Canada. International availability widened again in 2021, reaching Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Australia, and New Zealand. In 2022 the service entered Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Colombia, Chile, and Portugal, followed by Canada in 2023 and Japan in October 2024. This expansion gave Qobuz a presence across Europe, North America, Latin America, Oceania, and selected Asian markets. Technology remained central to the brand's proposition. Qobuz supports MP3 at up to 320 kbit/s, CD-quality lossless audio, and high-resolution lossless tracks reaching 24-bit/192 kHz where supplied by rights holders. Purchased files have been offered in formats such as FLAC, WAV, AIFF, and ALAC. The service is accessible through desktop and mobile applications, a browser player, Chromecast, Samsung Tizen devices, Roon, and selected networked hi-fi products. In March 2021 it introduced 24-bit streaming on Sonos speakers. In October 2024 it added DSD and DXD support for compatible content. In May 2025 Qobuz launched Qobuz Connect, allowing direct streaming from Qobuz servers to supported hi-fi equipment while playback is controlled in the Qobuz application. The brand continues to operate as a specialist, high-fidelity alternative to broader mass-market streaming platforms.
- 2025
Qobuz Connect launches
[1]The company introduces direct streaming and application-based control for compatible hi-fi products.
- 2024
Japan launch and expanded high-resolution formats
[1]Qobuz enters Japan and adds DSD and DXD support for eligible recordings.
- 2021
24-bit Sonos streaming
[1]Qobuz introduces 24-bit audio streaming on Sonos speakers.
- 2020
Lossless-focused subscription strategy
[1]Qobuz ends its separate MP3 subscription tier, adds family plans, and continues offering lossless-focused subscriptions.
- 2019
United States launch
[1]Qobuz becomes available in the United States after establishing a US headquarters the previous year.
- 2015
Acquisition by Xandrie SA
[1]After financing difficulties, Qobuz is acquired by Xandrie SA.
- 2013
First major European expansion
[1]Qobuz launches in eight additional European countries, including the United Kingdom, Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, and the Netherlands.
- 2007
Qobuz is founded in France
[1]Alexandre Leforestier and Yves Riesel establish Qobuz as a digital music service combining streaming and downloads.
Products and positioning
Premium, editorially oriented music service for audiophile listeners, combining high-resolution streaming with downloadable music purchases.
Music streaming subscription
Qobuz Studio
Qobuz Studio is the service's core streaming subscription. It is designed around lossless and high-resolution listening, with catalog availability and maximum resolution determined by the supplied recording. The plan has been offered in individual, multi-user, and student variants depending on market.
Music streaming and download subscription
Qobuz Sublime
Qobuz Sublime combines the streaming benefits of the Qobuz subscription service with discounts on eligible digital music purchases. It serves users who both stream regularly and maintain a purchased collection of downloadable albums or tracks.
Digital music store · 2007
Qobuz Download Store
The Qobuz download store allows customers to buy individual releases for local ownership rather than accessing them only through a subscription. Available formats vary by title and have included FLAC, WAV, AIFF, ALAC, MP3, AAC, and other lossless or compressed options.
Hi-fi playback integration · 2025
Qobuz Connect
Qobuz Connect is a playback-control feature launched in 2025. On compatible hi-fi equipment, streams are delivered directly from Qobuz servers while the Qobuz mobile or desktop application acts as the controller. It supports the service's available audio formats, including high-resolution playback.
Music streaming service · 2020
QUB Music
QUB Music was launched in 2020 through a partnership between Qobuz and Quebecor. It was developed for the Canadian market as a related music-streaming service.
Marketing campaigns
- 2020First-month rights-holder revenue initiative
International
During the early COVID-19 crisis, Qobuz committed the full revenue from each new subscriber's first paid month to rights holders.
Outcome. The measure was presented as financial support for the music ecosystem; a longer-term quantitative outcome was not specified.
Brand decisions
2025
Launch of Qobuz ConnectProduct launchBackground
Qobuz sought to improve integration with networked hi-fi hardware and reduce dependence on third-party control applications.
Action taken
The company launched a feature allowing users to control compatible products through Qobuz applications while streams are delivered directly from Qobuz servers.
Aftermath
The feature strengthened Qobuz's hardware-integration and audiophile positioning.
2020
Qobuz shifts subscriptions toward lossless audioStrategyBackground
The company sought to reinforce its specialist, high-fidelity positioning.
Action taken
Qobuz ended its separate MP3-quality subscription plan, while retaining MP3 as an available option in parts of its offering and adding family plans.
Aftermath
The subscription proposition became more explicitly centered on lossless streaming.
2015
Xandrie SA acquires QobuzM&ABackground
Qobuz encountered financing problems and financial difficulty after being unable to secure sufficient funding.
Action taken
Xandrie SA acquired the service and became its operating owner.
Aftermath
Qobuz continued operating and subsequently pursued international expansion and additional financing.
Recent events
TuneCore partners with Qobuz for music distribution[3]
Reported:
TuneCore partnered with Qobuz to make music from TuneCore's artist roster available on Qobuz, including lossless music files.
Sources3 sources
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