Spotify Rumored to Launch HiFi Audio as Part of New Top-Tier 'Supremium' Subscription Plan

[MacRumors]

Spotify is planning to introduce a more expensive premium tier that includes high-fidelity audio, Bloomberg reports.

The subscription tier, dubbed "Supremium" internally, will become Spotify's most costly plan and include HiFi audio. Spotify first announced its intention to offer HiFi audio in 2021 but subsequently delayed the launch of the feature for unknown reasons.

Spotify's existing "Premium" tier costs $9.99 for individuals or $15.99 for families. To maintain the appeal of this subscription plan following the launch of "Supremium," Spotify will give Premium subscribers expanded access to audiobooks via a specific number of free listening hours or titles.

Apple Music gained support for Lossless audio in 2021 and users do not need to pay more to get access to it. There are no Apple Music subscription tiers, so Lossless audio is included in all plans with the exception of the Apple Music Voice Plan. An Apple Music subscription costs $10.99 per month for individuals or $16.99 for families. Apple Music is also included in all of the Apple One subscription bundles, which range from $16.95 per month to $32.95 per month.

With Spotify Premium costing just $1 less than Apple Music, it seems highly likely that the streamer's Supremium Tier will come in at a higher price point than Apple's rival service. Spotify's new top-tier plan will apparently launch this year starting in non-U.S. markets.

Article Link: Spotify Rumored to Launch HiFi Audio as Part of New Top-Tier 'Supremium' Subscription Plan

 

[Apple Fan 2008]

Just get Apple Music at those prices.

 

[lazyrighteye]

Superium sounds like Apple naming convention for the triple-stacked chip above Ultra.

 

[Ch3ckM4te]

They’re gonna “Supremium” themselves into the ground.

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

What's up with the fancy word, "Supremium"?

I prefer Apple Music any day. The music quality is really unmatched.

 

[AnaphaseAway]

im willing to bet most people who want the higher fidelity audio dont give a **** about free audiobooks included in the price so you might as well use apple music

 

[gaximus]

Did Spotify Premium really not already have HiFi Audio? I'm kinda shocked.

 

[AhRiHmAn]

Superium sounds like Apple naming convention for the triple-stacked chip above Ultra.

That’s exactly what I wanted to say , Supremium sounds like something Apple could name a product 😂

 

[De4our]

I have Tidal’s HiFi service and have compared it to Apple Music’s Lossless albums (as well as Spotify but they’re compressed obviously) and it’s interesting that Tidal noticeabley leans more into the low’s, it’s a beefier sound, and Apple Music accentuates the highs, less oomph but more sparkle.

From A to B comparisons between different albums it’s hard to say which one is “better” necessarily, but if you like the rap and pop genre’s for instance Tidal is definitely the way to go, but for rock and anything with dense composition they can definitely sound muddier than Apple Music.

I’m interested to see where Spotify HiFi falls, currently comparing the compressed (but still 320kbps) to Apple and Tidal the sound is very “flat,” like you’ve capped the high’s and accentuated the mid’s. I’d love to stop paying for both Tidal and Spotify, currently I use Spotify for playlists and then sync between the two services to get the better sound…not very cost effective lol.

(Just my e-cents!)

 

[RedTheReader]

I’m amazed that Apple not only entered this segment earlier than Spotify but years earlier than Spotify.

 

[erikkfi]

Just take a page from Apple and call the second-best tier "Max" (as in maximum, literally defined as: "as great, high, or intense as possible or permitted") and then put something above it, like Ultra or whatever.

 

[BMox81]

A little too late to the party for me I’m afraid. I’m moving back to Apple One once our family sub expires at the end of the week.

 

[syklee26]

Apple's lossless files are not quite lossless as they are mostly under 96hz. If Spotify can make all losslesses 192, then there could be demands, but it is highly unlikely that they could pull that off, so there is no reason to pay more than Apple Music, unless you feel that Spotify algorhythm is worth extra money. I don't feel that way, so I am staying Apple Music (plus it is not even really $10.99 as I subscribe to Apple One Premium)

 

[Srom89]

Spotify is planning to introduce a more expensive premium tier that includes high-fidelity audio, Bloomberg reports.

The subscription tier, dubbed "Supremium" internally, will become Spotify's most costly plan and include HiFi audio. Spotify first announced its intention to offer HiFi audio in 2021 but subsequently delayed the launch of the feature for unknown reasons.

Spotify's existing "Premium" tier costs $9.99 for individuals or $15.99 for families. To maintain the appeal of this subscription plan following the launch of "Supremium," Spotify will give Premium subscribers expanded access to audiobooks via a specific number of free listening hours or titles.

Apple Music gained support for Lossless audio in 2021 and users do not need to pay more to get access to it. There are no Apple Music subscription tiers, so Lossless audio is included in all plans with the exception of the Apple Music Voice Plan. An Apple Music subscription costs $10.99 per month for individuals or $16.99 for families. Apple Music is also included in all of the Apple One subscription bundles, which range from $16.95 per month to $32.95 per month.

With Spotify Premium costing just $1 less than Apple Music, it seems highly likely that the streamer's Supremium Tier will come in at a higher price point than Apple's rival service. Spotify's new top-tier plan will apparently launch this year starting in non-U.S. markets.

Article Link: Spotify Rumored to Launch HiFi Audio as Part of New Top-Tier 'Supremium' Subscription Plan

How about making it $50 per month for a normal subscription which is what it should've always cost, so you can actually pay the artists an acceptable rate per stream. 😥

 

[Prabas]

If you don't have any Windows devices, Apple Music is probably better. If you do, Apple Music app on Windows is absolute trash (web app doesn't have any features).

What I find interesting that I listen to music more on Spotify because of those "for you" mixes that change daily. Apple Music takes more time to find what you're looking for. If it's like 25% more expensive than current premium I'll probably stick with Spotify.

 

[Unggoy Murderer]

Just get Apple Music at those prices.

This. Plus you have the knowledge that the artist is getting paid a lot more per play than they do with Spotify. ($0.01/play on Apple Music vs $0.0033/play on Spotify).

 

[tripsync]

sounds like a taco bell plan

 

[headlessmike]

Did Spotify Premium really not already have HiFi Audio? I'm kinda shocked.

Spotify announced lossless audio, aka HiFi, a couple of years ago but have yet to actually offer it at any tier.

Rumor has it that Apple providing lossless and Hi-res audio at no additional cost caught Spotify off guard, killing their plan to charge extra for it at the time.

 

[traderdude123]

I tried both Spotify and Apple Music. Spotify sounds better to me.

 

[MauiPa]

Nope nope nope. Spotify doesn’t deserve anyone’s money until they pay the artists better

 

[wanha]

"Supremium" is Spotify's attempt to extract even more money from their user base

 

[Brad7]

Really funny to see all these businesses thinking they can weather the recession by raising prices 😂, driving people away instead of toward them. They will learn soon.

 

[Mr. Dee]

This is called, beating a dead horse. There really isn't much else they can do in terms of expansion.

 

[arkitect]

At last! (Or so I would have thought a few months ago.)

But… I think I'll stick to their lossy offerings since I use Bluetooth Headphones mostly nowadays. There is no chance of my 59yo ears hearing any difference.
Both Apple and Amazon's lossless music made no difference to my listening pleasure.

And if I want to fool myself that I still have the hearing I had decades ago, well, then I'll listen to my ALAC files in macOS Music app. 😄

 

[PhantomStar]

Honestly most people would probably won’t be able to tell the difference between the audio quality. Not worth it for me.