[All Platforms][Music] HiFi Quality - Lossless Streaming 16bit 44.1khz

[timiambeing]

I've just started a trial of Qobuz - they offer the standard 320kbps as well as lossless FLAC streaming (and high res downloads if you purchase them) the sound quality is noticeably better and on classical it's just wonderful to get all that resolution through your hi-fi or headphones! The catalogue has a way to go to get to Spotify's level, but they are getting there. The iPad app isn't' too bad (the desktop app is in need of an upgrade but I hear they are putting all their efforts into mobile apps right now).

So - lossless streaming - if Qobuz can do it then so can Spotify, they must have the same source - and obviously if you are asking £20 a month then those record labels and distributors take enough notice to make the high res tracks available for streaming. What this all means is soon, very soon, we will get lossless streaming and closely followed by high res downloads - but if Spotify aren't careful it will be Apple who get there first with an audiophile premium offering, and when they do it will be a much harder market place to make money in!

** please don't lump this suggestion with the main one on lossless downloads, that's a different idea entirely guys!

[timiambeing]

I've just started a trial of Qobuz - they offer the standard 320kbps as well as lossless FLAC streaming (and high res downloads if you purchase them) the sound quality is noticeably better and on classical it's just wonderful to get all that resolution through your hi-fi or headphones! The catalogue has a way to go to get to Spotify's level, but they are getting there. The iPad app isn't' too bad (the desktop app is in need of an upgrade but I hear they are putting all their efforts into mobile apps right now).

[timiambeing]

So - lossless streaming - if Qobuz can do it then so can Spotify, they must have the same source - and obviously if you are asking £20 a month then those record labels and distributors take enough notice to make the high res tracks available for streaming. What this all means is soon, very soon, we will get lossless streaming and closely followed by high res downloads - but if Spotify aren't careful it will be Apple who get there first with an audiophile premium offering, and when they do it will be a much harder market place to make money in!

[timiambeing]

Good news!

Lossless audio quality is finally starting to roll out to Spotify Premium users! 🔊

Check out this post for more info:

➜ Spotify Premium: Now Streaming in Lossless Quality

[robigouk]

I agree with @tts42572 the main reason I love Spotify is because "it just works" - brilliantly.  Whether that's Spotify Connect, AI DJ, daylist, the desktop or web player having the mini pop out player, being to play it anywhere (Google home, smart tv''s etc) just makes it a pleasure.....but the others will soon improve their interfaces and if Spotify and that will change the market, especially if there's still no Hi-Fi.

[Patrikarian]

I really like the interface the algorithm the price the connection to other apps and the popularity of Spotify with other users, but really enjoy lossless quality from Apple Music but only that it’s a shame for me to switch to them for just that extra feature.With love Patrik

[mctesterson]

@robigouk you concisely summed up the likely reason why Spotify has not had any sense of urgency to release the lossless audio or even high-resolution audio.

And I will argue that it's their "it just works" that keeps their active subscribers and listeners metrics high ... and as long as those metrics are high, and users aren't discontinuing with Spotify to go to higher-quality content competitors in substantial numbers that will get Spotify's attention, they may never have incentive to release "Hi-Fi" or whatever.

After all, if you're delivering a crappy product within a slick user-interface that "just works," and people happily pay you for slick delivery of that crappy product month after month, why the **bleep** would you improve your product?

Likely the same reason why McDonalds has never come out with the "filet mignon" or "Wagu beef" burger!

Any Spotify subscribers/listeners who truly care primarily about sound quality, and who aren't - at a minimum - also subscribed to a different streaming music provider (there are now many to choose from) who offers non-crappy sound quality, are just squandering your days needlessly depriving yourselves of higher-quality audio while waiting around here, year after year, for Godot ... I mean Spotify Hi-Fi.

[rollerotr]

In this forum thread, I think many like me fall into a category of....having multiple music streaming services....knowing Spotify and Apple have the best UI experiences....wish we could get it all in one streaming service!!

On that note, I subscribe to Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal, and Qobuz. I recently dropped Amazon Music Unlimited and Deezer. I've given them all a whirl...and, and, the reason so many of us would pay double for Spotify HiFi is that the user experience is hands down the best. So we post, and post, and post, hoping Spotify will listen and introduce lossless at any cost...so we can cancel our other services. Hello, Spotify????

[MLos70]

I agree Spotify is very easy to use, and has a great intuitive interface.  But at the end of the day, it's a music streaming service, not a piece of art...  I've had Spotify Premium for  a little over 2 months now, and I've decided to switch to Qobuz.  I have an excellent Bose sound system with 11 speakers in my car which sounds amazing, except with Spotify.  It's like buying a Ferrari to drive 30 miles an hour all the time just because a Ferrari  looks good... Bye bye Spotify!

[rollerotr]

I would cancel Spotify if not for the audiobooks. It's less expensive than Audible, and it seems to have what I read.

I have a theory on why they have yet to offer a lossless tier. it goes like this: If they offer multiple choices at different prices, many typical users that have no issues with 320mbps (many don't even know what that means), would be confused and possibly upset that an upgraded lossless experience would cost them more money. These users (most) want premium and supremium, hifi, pro, etc. is just too confusing. Perhaps Spotify fears losing paid subscribers??

Any thoughts?

[mrhank3y]

Here's a good reason to leave Spotify, if the LACK of Lossless music FOR
FREE (which would not be confusing) isn't good enough...

Qobuz: $0.04390 per stream
Tidal: $0.01284 per stream
Apple Music: $0.006 to $0.008 per stream
Amazon Music: $0.004 to $0.005 per stream
Spotify: $0.003 to $0.005 per stream

They pay artists LESS THAN HALF the amount Apple do.

[Repitsu]

Okay, spotify, it’s about time to feauture Flac, I’m done with low-res. I wanna hear depth, and it’s an easy fix, so what’s slowing you down. 

[H3ZZ]

Why isn't it still availible??

[robigouk]

Well another week of waiting.  I know there's changes in their pricing structure going on as the other week I was able to downgrade my Family Plan which was being called "Family Premium" to "Basic Family" which was exactly the same but no free audiobooks for me (the main account holder) for £2 less a month.  There was other Basic plans (again just removing free audiobook offer) but these have disappeared though I guess everything is being tweaked, will there be a HiFi packaged as well as basic so users can choose?  Let's hope - and hope it really will happen soon (FYI I'm in the UK).