Spotify has announced plans to introduce a HiFi audio streaming feature, allowing users to enjoy CD-quality sound through a premium subscription. This much-anticipated expansion finally begins this October! It will roll out next to more than 50 countries, including the U.S., U.K., Australia, and most European countries.
The firm originally proposed the concept of a hi-fi tier back in 2021. They boasted that it would bring an unprecedented, high-definition listening experience to audiophiles. Since then, the launch has faced several delays, largely stemming from licensing concerns. Despite these setbacks, Spotify’s CEO, Daniel Ek, recently indicated that the company is in the “early days” of implementing lossless streaming support.
Starting this month, Spotify customers will be able to stream lossless-quality songs through Wi-Fi. Users are just a click away from turning on this handy new feature. Simply head into Settings and Privacy, tap Media Quality/Quality of the Media, then select “Lossless” for Wi-Fi streaming, cellular streaming, and downloads. It is important to note that lossless streaming will not be applicable on Bluetooth-connected devices. This restriction is a result of bandwidth constraints.
The rollout is quickly approaching subscribers in between countries. In addition to the ten listed, these include Austria, Czechia, Denmark, Germany, Japan, New Zealand, the Netherlands, and Portugal. As Spotify looks to deepen its feature set with new offerings, it’s important not to overlook the premium experience that users expect.
Clues in the app’s code have indicated that this highly-anticipated feature would be coming for months now. The introduction of a lossless tier will come at a premium price point, signaling Spotify’s intent to cater to a more discerning audience willing to invest in superior sound quality.