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vicrodh edited this page Mar 15, 2026 · 1 revision

QBZ — Native Qobuz Client for Linux

QBZ is a free, open-source, native desktop client for Qobuz on Linux. Built for audiophiles who care about how audio actually reaches their hardware.

Unlike browser-based players or web wrappers, QBZ uses a native audio pipeline with direct ALSA and PipeWire integration, delivering bit-perfect playback, exclusive device access, and per-track sample-rate switching — something no browser can do.

Browsers resample everything to 48 kHz through the system mixer. QBZ bypasses that entirely, sending audio straight to your DAC at its native sample rate — up to 24-bit / 192 kHz.

Why QBZ Instead of a Web Wrapper?

Web wrappers QBZ
Audio pipeline WebAudio (browser) — capped at 48 kHz Native ALSA/PipeWire — up to 192 kHz
Bit-perfect No (system mixer resamples) Yes (DAC passthrough, exclusive mode)
Sample rate switching No (fixed at system rate) Yes (per-track, automatic)
DAC control None Full (exclusive mode, hardware volume)
System integration Limited MPRIS, notifications, media keys
Offline playback No Yes (local cache + local library)
Resource usage Full browser engine Lightweight native app

Key Features

Audio

  • Bit-perfect playback with DAC passthrough and exclusive device mode
  • 4 audio backends: PipeWire (default), ALSA, ALSA Direct (hw: bypass), PulseAudio
  • Per-track sample rate switching — automatic, from 44.1 kHz to 192 kHz
  • DAC Setup Wizard for guided configuration of USB DACs
  • Gapless playback for uninterrupted listening
  • Loudness normalization (EBU R128 / ReplayGain)

Library and Playback

  • Local library with directory scanning, metadata reading, and CUE sheet support
  • Tag editor for local files
  • Queue management — shuffle, repeat, history
  • Offline mode with automatic reconnection and playback cache
  • Playlist import from Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal, and Deezer (fuzzy matching)

Integrations

  • Last.fm scrobbling (with offline queue)
  • ListenBrainz listen submissions
  • MusicBrainz credits and personnel data
  • Discogs alternative artwork
  • MPRIS media controls and desktop integration
  • Chromecast and DLNA/UPnP casting

Interface

  • 17 built-in themes including Dark, OLED, Nord, Dracula, Tokyo Night, Catppuccin, and more
  • Auto-theme generated from your wallpaper or desktop environment colors
  • Immersive player with 15+ visualization panels (spectrum analyzer, oscilloscope, coverflow, vinyl, and more)
  • Synchronized lyrics display
  • Musician pages, label pages, album credits

Install

QBZ is available on:

See the Installation page for detailed instructions.

Requirements

  • Linux (x86_64 or aarch64)
  • Qobuz account (any plan — Studio or Sublime recommended for Hi-Res)
  • Audio system: PipeWire (recommended), ALSA, or PulseAudio

See System Requirements for full details.

Getting Started

New to QBZ? Start with the Getting Started guide.

Want to set up your DAC for bit-perfect playback? See Audio Configuration.

Have a local music collection? See Local Library.

Screenshots

Screenshots coming soon.

Links

QBZ uses the Qobuz API but is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or certified by Qobuz. Qobuz is a trademark of Xandrie SA.

Website | GitHub | Issues | Flathub

QBZ Wiki

Getting Started

Audio

Appearance

Features

Help

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