Can Qoboz Connect sound better than Qobuz viz Aurender Conductor?

If it costs less and sounds wonderful to you, then I say stay with your approach. 

The thinking behind the opposite position is that the digital-to-digital conversion (DDC) that takes place in a streamer is (electronically) noisy and is best done outside of the enclosure where digital-to-analog conversion takes place.

In an integrated amp, where multiple functions take place inside the single enclosure, adding one more function, i.e, DDC, into the mix may have a negligeable effect.

You guys enjoy your Qobuz connect. I will sit here and wait for the software update which should give us this option on my Antipodes that "should be available mid 2025". 

I have done a demo in my own room comparing Cambridge Stream Magic, Qobuz Connect and JPlay. I have done similar demos in other systems. 

My quick learning is that Qobuz Connect sounds better than the software used by any streaming manufacture. I also feel Qobuz Connect consistently sounds better than Roon. 

In the demos I have done, JPlay sounded better than Qobuz Connect. Not enough for me to bother switching, but easily enough to say with confidence that if you really want the best streaming software, I would strongly suggest you explore JPlay or other 3rd party software solutions beyond Roon. 

I have an Aurender N20. Just enabled Qobuz Connect and compared Qobuz to Qobuz via the Aurender Conductor App.

Qobuz offers a noticeable difference in presentation. Not better or worse just a different presentation. In my system it's slightly more airy and to me thinner sounding in the midrange. The Conductor//Qobuz offers more body to instruments and Voices. I prefer the Conductor/Qobuz connection. Now my system is just on the warm side of neutral and I am very satisfies with the sound. If you have a warmer sounding system you may very well prefer Qobuz Connect. If your system is on the bright side of neutral Qoboz Connect maybe too thin and bright. It really depends on your system which you will prefer. 

One other note is I hear a cleaner more defined midrange with Conductor/Qobuz.

Hi Folks,

I’m in basic agreement with DISPLAYNAME.  For my system, in assending order of quality it’s Roon Nucleus, dCS Bartok’s streamer app, Qobuz Connect and then JPlay.  But be careful, each has its own output volume and louder always sounds better.  Each has its native volume level and JPlay is the loudest.  The differences are minor.