Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Spotify Readies Premium Tier With Hi-Fi Audio and AI Features

I am all in on this. Apple Music will win me back when they fix their apps and make it all feel nice. Spotify has absolutely killed it in terms of UI and Lossless will absolutely get me to upgrade to their bigger tier. I hate not using the standard Apple apps because I think they could be so great but honestly they deserve the loss for how bad the Music apps have gotten.
 
  • Like
  • Disagree
  • Haha
Reactions: haydesigner, AhRiHmAn, thatguywill and 1 other person
Great to have options so having a separate tier for those who want higher quality audio seems like a plus to me, as are having alternative platforms to subscribe to. I happen to prefer Spotify over Apple Music, YouTube Music and Amazon's music services purely based upon UI and algorithm. None of the music streaming services are perfect, and I do wish for some UI improvements on Spotify as well but otherwise its fine for me - I don't require any additional audio improvements from it since I only ever listen over bluetooth speakers or bluetooth headphones.
 
They STILL haven’t done this? What a joke. Apple music or qobuz make getting lossless and hi-res so easy and painless. Spotify makes money hand over fist, how can they be SO behind the times?
 
This seems like Apple’s Pro phone tier. Purposely gimping the lower tiers to differentiate and justify charging more.
 
Imma go ahead and audiophile that under "waste of money".

And why's everything gotta be "pro"? It's been grinding my gears since proDOS.
 
  • Disagree
  • Like
Reactions: krell100 and Cayden
JEY said:
And why's everything gotta be "pro"?
Click to expand...

It works wonders in marketing, as it rubs the nub and everyone likes to think what they do and what they are is a bit “pro” .. “serious” … “not just your average user….”

“Im a power user who needs PRO equipment and services”
 
brofkand said:
I love Spotify, I'm not sure I will upgrade to this tier however. We'll see.
Click to expand...
I used to love Spotify but then they started carrying on with Apple and not doing the things (like HiFi streaming) they promised.

It took me a while to bite the bullet.

Used a $4 to log in and move 99% of my 10000 song playlists across seamlessly.

Apple Music is better than it was previous times I trialed it and now it's pretty much everything I was doing in Spotify. With better res songs and music videos.
 
Hope people paying for the lossless/hi-fi plan are smart enough to listen over wired or AirPlay. Audio over Bluetooth is not full quality yet
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: JEY
So they're baiting us with Hi-Fi just to shove AI down our throats?
 
I used Spotify for 10+ years but got tired of waiting for lossless music and moved to Tidal + Apple music. Now I am mot going to go back
 
Not interested in having AI features on the Music app and especially not happy having to pay more for it. Not sure how many will subscribe to a costlier plan.
 
  • Love
  • Like
Reactions: haydesigner and mganu
Even with pretty expensive headphones, speakers, and monitors, I’ve never been able to tell the difference between lossless and 256 kbps audio. I’ve also spent a good amount of time mixing music (primarily as a hobbyist, but I did mix a few independent releases), and I still can’t tell the difference even on my own mixes comparing the WAV files and the AAC/OGG on streaming platforms. I can’t imagine people being able to tell the difference when more passively listening to music in untreated spaces or over Bluetooth
 
  • Like
Reactions: janwerbinski
Cayden said:
Even with pretty expensive headphones, speakers, and monitors, I’ve never been able to tell the difference between lossless and 256 kbps audio. I’ve also spent a good amount of time mixing music (primarily as a hobbyist, but I did mix a few independent releases), and I still can’t tell the difference even on my own mixes comparing the WAV files and the AAC/OGG on streaming platforms. I can’t imagine people being able to tell the difference when more passively listening to music in untreated spaces or over Bluetooth
Click to expand...

All my CD’S are in 320 and FLAC. And each time I change between the two, FLAC seems “quieter” for my head. I can’t explain it, but it feels “warmer” of gentler somehow. I perceive it as noticeably different and thus…better.
 
brofkand said:
Wouldn't that be as much up to Apple as Spotify?
Click to expand...
I thought so too, but since most others can get it to work and Spotify can't it seems to be down to Spotify.
I think they have to much invested in their "connect" service.

There's a little bit more written about it here.

9to5mac.com

There is no excuse for failing to action Spotify HomePod support

My colleague yesterday referenced the fact that Spotify is demanding greater freedoms from Apple, but hasn’t yet taken advantage of...
9to5mac.com 9to5mac.com
 
  • Like
Reactions: brofkand
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back