Key Takeaways
1. Spotify has introduced lossless music streaming in its standard Premium tier, not as a new subscription level.
2. Users can stream audio up to 24-bit / 44.1 kHz FLAC, which is better than CD quality but lower than some competitors.
3. The difference in audio quality may be hard to notice without specialized equipment, and users must manually enable the feature on each device.
4. The rollout of lossless audio is planned for over 50 countries by October 2025, with notifications sent to Premium users through the app.
5. For optimal experience, Spotify recommends using wired headphones or speakers, as streaming 24-bit audio over Bluetooth is currently not possible without high-resolution codecs.
Spotify has at last introduced support for lossless music streaming on its service. This announcement follows years of anticipation, with the initial discussions dating back to 2017. Contrary to earlier reports, this high-fidelity streaming feature will not be part of a new premium subscription tier, which is a relief for many users.
Details on Lossless Audio
Lossless audio will be included in the standard Premium tier, allowing users to stream music at a quality of up to 24-bit / 44.1 kHz FLAC. While this level is better than CD quality, it falls short compared to what platforms like Apple Music, Qobuz, and Tidal provide. Specifically, those services support streaming up to 24-bit / 192 kHz.
Noticing the Difference
However, the distinction between the superior quality from competing services and Spotify’s offering will be almost imperceptible without specialized audiophile equipment. The company has mentioned that lossless streaming will function on all devices, but users will need to manually switch on this feature from every device they use to listen to music.
Rollout Plan
Currently, Spotify aims to implement lossless audio streaming in more than 50 countries by October 2025, including the US, UK, Germany, Denmark, New Zealand, and Japan. When this feature is available, Premium users will receive a notification through the app, and they can activate it via the Settings and Privacy tab.
The company also recommends using wired headphones or speakers to fully appreciate the lossless audio streaming option. Streaming 24-bit audio over Bluetooth is not achievable at this time without high-resolution codecs. However, streaming via WiFi is feasible with devices that support Spotify Connect, such as the Yamaha RX-V6A, which is currently priced at $699.95 on Amazon.
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