Spotify Launching 'HiFi' Lossless Streaming Option Later This Year

[MacRumors]

Spotify today announced plans to introduce a new "HiFi" premium tier later this year, which will provide higher-quality lossless audio. According to Spotify, the feature will offer CD-quality music that will let fans experience more depth and clarity in their favorite tracks.

Streaming music services like Tidal, Deezer, and Amazon Music have offered lossless audio options but to date, Spotify and Apple Music have not provided higher quality streaming options.

Spotify is Apple Music's main competitor, so with Spotify planning a HiFi music option, Apple could be planning to also offer higher quality streaming in an effort to remain competitive. A lossless audio tier would also pair well with Apple's high-end AirPods Max headphones that were released in late 2020.

There's no pricing information available at this time, but Amazon Music's lossless tier is priced at $14.99 per month ($12.99 for Prime subscribers), while Tidal charges $19.99 per month and Deezer charges $14.99 for its high fidelity plan. Spotify plans to launch HiFi in select markets later in the year, and it will be a premium tier add-on.

HiFi was introduced at Spotify's Stream On event, which can be watched in full on YouTube.

At the event, Spotify also said that it plans to expand to more than 80 new markets in Asia, Africa, Europe, and Latin America, which allows the service to reach over 1 billion potential new customers. A full list of countries where Spotify will soon be available can be found on Spotify's website.

Other announcements included Spotify's new Barack Obama and Bruce Springsteen "Renegade" podcast, new interactive podcast features for creators like polls and Q&A tools, and new music promotion resources for artists.

Article Link: Spotify Launching 'HiFi' Lossless Streaming Option Later This Year

 

[vagos]

As far as I know Spotify currently streams 320kbps mp3. Ain't that CD-quality ?

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

This is a great addition!!! So stoked.

 

[GigabitEthernet]

If only they could fix shuffle.

 

[Morod]

No. CDs are closer to 1,000kbps. Above 320 is not usually noticed.

 

[dba415]

Apple Music not innovating in this space

 

[Fabian90]

As far as I know Spotify currently streams 320kbps mp3. Ain't that CD-quality ?

nope, CD is 1411 Kbit

 

[Mike_Trivisonno]

"Other announcements included Spotify's new Barack Obama and Bruce Springsteen "Renegade" podcast...." lol. Those two deserve each other.

 

[Macaday]

Hopefully this will now push Apple to do it. It’s not for everyone but would be very welcomed by me.

 

[Bornee35]

Apple Music not innovating in this space

yeah get that sweet HIFI straight to your bluetooth 320kbps codec. It's a gimmick.

 

[nycSAN]

Not sure why Apple hasn’t done this. They have ALAC already. Make it Apple Music+, include in higher end One bundles. It’s kind of obvious.

 

[testcard]

“…Premium subscribers in select markets will be able to upgrade their sound quality”. Slightly ambiguous - is this a no-cost option for existing Premium subscribers or a new, more expensive tier above Premium?

 

[iGüey]

It will be the time to buy an old fashioned fancy valves amp!

 

[ouimetnick]

I don't see how high res audio streaming will be a benefit for AirPods Max customers. The bluetooth streaming technology that Apple uses will down sample any high res music.

 

[Apple_Robert]

As far as I know Spotify currently streams 320kbps mp3. Ain't that CD-quality ?

It is. If I am not mistaken, that is the max for the standard mp3.

 

[FactVsOpinion]

Spotify today announced plans to introduce a new "HiFi" premium tier later this year, which will provide higher-quality lossless audio.

I honestly believe this would just be paying more money for no audible difference.

Maybe your dog will appreciate it.

Check this out:

 

[Apple_Robert]

nope, CD is 1411 Kbit

I don't believe you can create a mp3 at that rate (unless something has come along I don't know about), though. I believe that that is what his point was.

 

[MJaP]

Well I don't know the authenticity of this as the link no longer works but according to a forum post from 2005 on Apple's discussion forum...

'I have just done some research on AAC, and found the following text "AAC compressed audio at 128 Kbps (stereo) has been judged by expert listeners to be indistinguishable from the original uncompressed audio source. (obtained from http://www.apple.com/quicktime/technologies/aac/)"'

Hmmm... what sort of "experts" did they get?!

 

[Kylo83]

I’ve never listened to Apple Music with my airpods and thought the audio isn’t good enough I need higher quality sound lol

 

[Bornee35]

I honestly think this would just be paying extra for no audible difference.

zero, especially with a bluetooth output. AirPods will turn that HIFI 1411 kbps into 265kbps

 

[Apple_Robert]

I honestly believe this would just be paying more money for no audible difference.

Check this out:

A lot of people will still fall for the marketing, and gladly hand over more of their money.

 

[XXPP]

lossless audio - CD-quality
Choose one.

 

[4jasontv]

Can someone please explain the appeal of Spotify? Every time I read about them I cringe. Now they want to charge extra to get the same audio quality we had in the '80s? Why? Because other services do the same thing? Streaming audio is all they do - of course they should be better quality than everyone else. For what they charge they should be offering Atmos or High-Resolution audio formats standard..

LOL. So many people giving me a thumbs down for asking what this company does well. If you don't actually answer the question I am going to assume you are giving Spotify the thumbs down.

 

[AppleUser2]

As far as I know Spotify currently streams 320kbps mp3. Ain't that CD-quality ?

'CD Quality' is at least 3 times that BUT the bigger question is can people tell the difference? Answer to that is often down to headphones, phone, DAC etc. Personally the difference between TIDAL MQA and Apple Music is night and day using my Momentum 3s and Dragonfly Red DAC. Will be please if AM offer a lossless+ service.

 

[XXPP]

Well I don't know the authenticity of this as the link no longer works but according to a forum post from 2005 on Apple's discussion forum...

'I have just done some research on AAC, and found the following text "AAC compressed audio at 128 Kbps (stereo) has been judged by expert listeners to be indistinguishable from the original uncompressed audio source. (obtained from http://www.apple.com/quicktime/technologies/aac/)"'

Hmmm... what sort of "experts" did they get?!

With ears.