Qobuz Connect

• True 24-bit/48 kHz: If the specific track on Qobuz is mastered at 24-bit/48 kHz, it can stream at that exact Hi-Res resolution.

• CD Quality (16-bit/44.1 kHz): If the Qobuz track is standard CD-quality, it streams as lossless 16-bit/44.1 kHz FLAC.

• Downsampled Hi-Res: If the Qobuz track is a higher-resolution file (such as 96 kHz or 192 kHz), Sonos hardware and software limits force the stream to downsample—usually dropping to 16-bit/44.1 kHz FLAC—because Sonos speakers do not support sampling rates above 48 kHz. [1, 2, 3]

That info is what Sonos plays from Qobuz service. Although Sonos doesn’t downsample anything. Qobuz will send CD quality 16-bit/44.1 kHz for anything that’s above 48k sample rate. (You set your preferred hightest quality for Sonos in your account settings on the Qobuz web site.)

But I think the question was, what does Airmusic send to sonos? Does it send what the Qobuz app is receiving? If the Qobuz app is receiving over 48K sample rate, what is being sent? What protocol is being used? Because, if it’s sending via Airplay, then it’s not even lossless.

I could find no information regarding this in the Airmusic app description or web site.

Exactly as Kdowling writes..... what is the quality of the stream? If I play 24/192 from the Qobuz application, what quality will Sonos play it in? In the Airmusic application, you can set the wav format. but I'm afraid that the stream will only be in 16/44.1 quality. (I don't mean Airplay, but direct stream). I think it's better to play it directly from the Sonos application, where I know that the max. quality will be 24/48 kHz.,..unfortunately Sonos can't do more. So in other words... we don't know the quality from Airmusic, it's just more convenient to control that you can stream directly from the Qobuz application.

Since it is very rare for anyone to be able to hear a difference in 16-bit/44.1 kHz and higher bit-rate audio I don't want anything higher than CD quality as it just eats Wi-Fi bandwidth.

Now if I was selling audio gear or looking for clicks I'd push folks to the highest possible / most profitable bit-rate.

I assume this thread refers to Android users. However, I’ve seen the following terms used:

• Airmusic which is an Android app
• AirPlay which is iOS
• AirMagic which deals with Drones

Geeze Louise guys which is it? 😂

If you read the app info, you’ll see it is capable of using AirPlay and AirPlay 2. It’s #1 on their list of supported protocols.

Personally, 16/44.1 or 24/48 quality is enough for me...if I wanted better, I wouldn't use Sonos devices...but the original question was why Qobuz Connect still doesn't work...which is now supported by almost every large and small electronics manufacturer...except Sonos.

Qobuz would have to put the existing API that is used elsewhere by other companies into the Qobuz software. Sonos doesn’t have access to that code base, so they’re not able to do it. You may want to ask Qobuz why they haven’t done it yet. 

I agree with this. The one benefit I enjoy with higher res files is not bit-rate/sample rate, but many are remasters (or even remixes) and are better sounding because of that. I don’t mean files that are just converted to higher res. That shouldn’t even be allowed or maybe they should need to be disclosed as such.

Remastering can go either way, I have heard some tracks that are amazingly better than the original mix, they got a competent audio engineer rather than the original louder and boomier is better fool.

Some, particularly Atmos remixes, are unlistenable on speakers but decent on headphones. 

But as you point out that isn't a bit-rate issue.