Spotify’s new Hi-Fi streaming tier will soon be available in select markets, and the company is teasing listeners with some details about what’s to come. As we’ve discussed before, the Spotify Hi-Fi service will feature a unique audio experience, allowing consumers to choose between CD quality and lossless audio streams, and it will pair with the service’s other features for an immersive and seamless user experience.
Lossless vs CD-quality audio
The world’s most popular music streaming service, Spotify, announced a new subscription tier last year, called HiFi. The tier promised CD-quality, lossless audio. At first, it was thought the tier would cost $5 to $10 a month.
In February, Spotify CEO Daniel Ek told users that HiFi was coming, but did not provide an exact launch date. He said it would be an upgrade for Spotify Premium subscribers.
When asked about the technical details of the higher-quality streams, Spotify declined to offer details. However, the company has already used HD-AAC, a lossless compression algorithm, in its Premium tier. This means Spotify will likely continue to support the format and make it available to Premium subscribers.
Lossless streaming services are gaining ground because they enable users to listen to music at a higher resolution. They give listeners the chance to hear details that were lost when the songs were compressed. By using a higher resolution, the files take up less space, meaning they consume less data when streamed. Also, they sound more full and immersive.
Several Spotify competitors, including Apple Music and Amazon Music, have rolled out similar features, with most of them free. Apple Music even offers Dolby Atmos support.
While Spotify has not yet released details about its lossless tier, users have expressed their interest in it. Some have even requested higher-resolution listening options. Others have posted comments on the company’s community forum entry.
Currently, the best that Spotify can offer is 320 kbps. But it has also reportedly done testing of higher-quality streaming in the past. And the company has been in constant contact with music labels to ensure the songs will be compatible with the service. It is possible that they will begin paying artists more money for HiFi streams, as well.
In order to access HiFi, you will need to use Spotify Connect. Bluetooth headphones that support the appropriate protocols are required. If you are on the Premium tier, you can also access lossless streaming through the Spotify app. However, if you’re on the Platinum tier, you can use the same connection for both the Spotify app and Spotify Connect.
Lossless vs wrapped experience
Spotify has had some issues with licensing content for its HiFi streaming tier. And with the rollout of HiFi, Spotify’s users have been frustrated with the lack of availability.
For the past year, there has been no official word from Spotify on when it would be launching the new tier. But a few months ago, Spotify CEO Daniel Ek said the service was coming, and that it would be launching in “select markets” by the end of 2021.
Since then, there has been a lot of hype surrounding the new tier, which promises to deliver “CD-quality” lossless audio. But does this mean that you should shell out more money? The truth is, most people cannot tell the difference between high-resolution files and compressed tracks. It might be worth investing in a lossless-streaming subscription for archival purposes or to support artists directly.
Meanwhile, Apple has also been rumored to be coming out with a new wireless pair of AirPods. This new version of AirPods would support lossless playback.
In the meantime, Tidal is offering a lossless plan. Amazon is also getting in on the action. They have offered lossless audio for free for a while, but now they are offering it with a paid tier.
One thing is for sure: it will be a challenge to convince Spotify users that they need to pay more for the purest rendition of a song. The company has already done its share of testing to ensure that the feature works.
If you want to try out the upcoming tier, you will need to buy a Bluetooth speaker and a Bluetooth headphone. The headphones need to have the correct protocols, while the speakers need to be connected via Bluetooth. So you won’t be able to listen to Spotify HiFi in the comfort of your home, but you can test out the feature at work or on the go.
Of course, you won’t be able to compare Spotify’s lossless feature to Tidal’s. You may also find that it does not make any difference in terms of sound quality.
Hi-Fi will be paired with seamless user experience
Spotify Hi-Fi is a subscription tier that allows users to listen to music in CD-quality audio. It is expected to launch later this year, but the exact date has yet to be confirmed. In the meantime, you can sign up for a free trial of the service.
The Hi-Fi tier will be available on Spotify Connect, which is a feature that lets users stream music wirelessly. You will need Bluetooth headphones or speakers with the right protocols in order to use the service. However, the service will not work with smart speakers, such as the Google Home or Amazon Echo.
The cost of the service is still unknown, but it is expected to be more expensive than the Premium tier. This is because Hi-Fi streams will be lossless, which means they will not be subject to any quality-lowering compression.
The new subscription tier will come with a host of other features, including personal playlists, easy music sharing, and offline playback. However, not all songs from the Spotify library will be available in high-res format.
Some of the top speaker manufacturers, including JBL and Bang & Olufsen, are working with Spotify to make sure they can support the new feature. There are also plans to expand the service internationally.
Spotify has yet to announce an official release date for the service, but it is a strong bet that it will be released in 2022. Whether it comes at the same time as TIDAL HiFi, or at a different time during the year, will depend on the type of device you are using.
While it has been long rumored that Spotify will offer a high-resolution streaming option, it was not announced until February of last year. After all, the company typically launches new features in key markets first.
As the world’s leading music streaming service, Spotify is in constant contact with music labels, and they are always on the lookout for ways to improve their services. But there’s one thing they’ve been missing: lossless audio. Until now, you could only play music at 320kbps or 256kbps.
Hi-Fi will be rolled out in select markets later this year
Spotify is making moves to enter the hi-fi music streaming market. The Swedish company has signed up a number of artists, including Billie Eilish, to promote the service’s expansion. However, it has been quiet about when the service will come to fruition.
Although the company hasn’t officially announced when it will release the feature, it has confirmed that it will be coming to select markets later this year. It’s unclear how much it will cost, but it will probably be a premium subscription service.
The company plans to offer a CD-quality lossless audio format. Lossless audio allows for more data and therefore a wider sound, which can add new details to a song. Depending on the headphones you use, your speakers, and the quality of your Internet connection, you’ll be able to experience a more immersive listening experience.
Currently, the only other services offering high-fidelity streaming music are Amazon Music HD, Tidal, and Deezer. Unlike Apple, Amazon doesn’t charge extra for improved audio.
While Amazon has been offering high-resolution audio for more than a year, Spotify has only launched a HiFi tier of its Premium plan. Though it doesn’t have a specific pricing structure, the service has been rumored to be priced at $20 a month.
In addition to introducing the HiFi tier, Spotify also announced the launch of a suite of tools for artists. These include a Headphone Tuner, Audio Insights, and Studio Sound.
Until the official release, you can try out Spotify’s HiFi feature for free. You’ll receive a free 30-day trial. During this time, you’ll be able to toggle HiFi on and off by tapping the icon in the bottom-left corner of the app.
According to a recent survey, users who pay for Spotify’s Platinum plan will also get Studio Sound. This includes a “limited ad podcast” and audio insights.
Spotify is planning to make its HiFi service available to its desktop web player and mobile app users. If you’re a Premium subscriber, you’ll be able to upgrade to the higher-quality audio stream through the Spotify Connect technology.