Spotify is getting ready to roll out its long-awaited Hi-Fi tier, bringing users a lossless audio quality experience. The new feature rumors of this new feature first emerged back in 2022. Today, though, it has produced lots of buzz, as Spotify jitters to catch up with their streaming competitors such as Apple Music, who have long offered lossless audio alternatives.
According to sources with knowledge of the development, there is more thrilling news concerning Spotify’s forthcoming Hi-Fi tier. Users will be able to listen in high-fidelity sound while using up to 1 GB of data per hour. Once again, Spotify had lofty ambitions to roll out the Hi-Fi tier last year. In the end, they chose not to bring it forward in 2022. CEO Daniel Ek has confirmed plans to launch this feature in the future, indicating that Spotify is committed to enhancing its audio quality offerings.
Features of the Hi-Fi Tier
Spotify has leaked plans to introduce a Hi-Fi tier at about $20 per month. This will allow subscribers to experience lossless streaming without the need to downgrade their existing subscription plans. Rumors have circulated that a new “Music Pro” tier is in the works. This latter option would offer all those same advantages, but without increasing your subscription tier to gain access to lossless audio. By offering this flexibility, users may be more likely to engage who might otherwise not be ready to sign up for a pricier plan.
Now teasing references to lossless streaming have started showing up inside Spotify’s app code. The mark Acoustic Sounds uses to denote lossless audio in the “Connect to the device” menu sidebar. Plus, they will notice these tags appearing next to artists’ names in the Now Playing bar. These indicators suggest that Spotify is preparing its infrastructure for the imminent launch of this feature, which aligns with its ongoing efforts since at least 2021.
Competitive Landscape
The emergence of Spotify’s Hi-Fi tier comes as a direct response to Apple Music’s successful implementation of lossless audio. Apple Music is starting to run with the momentum on the high-fidelity front. In turn, Spotify is hoping to improve its core service so that it can continue to be successful in the growing streaming space. Spotify’s lossless audio features have been the subject of speculation for years. This mirrors a newfound user demand for enhanced sound quality.
Despite setbacks in launching the Hi-Fi tier, Spotify has been actively developing the feature and addressing user feedback on audio quality. Lossless streaming alternatives have proven to increase user engagement and retention significantly. This decision will undoubtedly be a big push for subscribers to opt for higher fidelity for their listening experience.
