JBL 4305P and 4329P Active Speakers and MP350 Classic Add Qobuz Connect and Spotify Connect Lossless via Firmware Update

From a protocol perspective, Qobuz Connect and Spotify Connect take subtly different approaches that matter to listeners chasing transparency. Qobuz’s model emphasizes native decoding on the endpoint, allowing high‑resolution PCM streams to pass directly into the device’s internal processing without intermediate transcoding. Spotify’s Connect implementation, while historically tied to lossy delivery, is architecturally similar in that it hands off stream management to the hardware itself. The practical takeaway is reduced network jitter sensitivity and more predictable buffering behavior, which is especially relevant in systems where the speakers themselves act as the final digital audio renderer rather than relying on an external streamer.

Seen in a broader context, this firmware positions JBL’s classic‑leaning active speakers closer to dedicated network streamers in terms of functionality, without adding another box to the rack. For setups built around active monitors, this closes a long‑standing gap between studio‑derived loudspeaker design and modern audiophile streaming workflows. The result is a cleaner, more deterministic playback chain that plays to the strengths of active loudspeakers: short signal paths, tightly controlled amplification stages, and minimal opportunities for digital contamination before the drivers ever move.