Announcements

Help Wizard

Step 1

NEXT STEP

FAQs

Please see below the most popular frequently asked questions.

Loading article...

Loading faqs...

VIEW ALL

Ongoing Issues

Please see below the current ongoing issues which are under investigation.

Loading issue...

Loading ongoing issues...

VIEW ALL

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

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!

Updated on 2022-01-07

Hey folks,

 

We know that HiFi quality audio is important to you. We feel the same, and we’re excited to deliver a Spotify HiFi experience to Premium users in the future. But we don’t have timing details to share yet.

 

We will of course update you here when we can.

 

Take care.

Comments
Helheimr

We just need Sonos to support Apple Music lossless. 

Definitely very disappointed with Spotify and how they treat paying customers.  

londonguy73

Well, that's it then. Just signed up to tidal since they have now launched their connect service. Id love to stick with Spotify as I've been with them for years but they are getting so far left behind here I'm even starting to worry about their future. I'd happily pay a bit more for the hi fi service but there is no excuse for not having lossless streaming in this day and age. 

Zimmund

Sad to see this being ditched. Don't take your status for granted!

Crash7386

I am now looking for an alternative as well. I came back to Spotify on their announcement of HiFi last year, which clearly was a load of BS. It won't be TIDAL for me, but maybe back to Amazon HD. Seems its never gonna happen here, just a bunch of fake news. 

LawLee

et al,

 

During my sabbatical from Spotify look what I found!

 

Everybody's been talking about Amazon and Apple and Dolby Atmos music. I use Amazon Music Unlimited but honestly their Android tablet app is a dumpster fire. But I was auditioning Atmos music because it can connect directly to my system. Still I subscribed to Qobus though, and was rooting for them. Qobuz's last mention about Atmos was in January of 2020 in the well respected whathifi online site.

 

Qobuz talks Amazon Music HD, 3D audio, new features and more | What Hi-Fi? (whathifi.com)

 

As I was perusing their website to find out if they've done anything here with Dolby Atmos I was shocked to find this rows upon rows of Atmos mastered and remastered music. And I haven't even heard a peep from them about Atmos.

 

Qobuz Atmos.jpg

 

Here's the cool thing. My Yamaha receiver using MusicCast connects directly to Qobuz, without needing a Chromecast receiver or an external streaming DAC. The spatial sound on some of these recordings takes it to the next level. On my receiver the display switches between telling me that I'm processing the stream from FLAC to Dolby Surround: viola...

 

20220109_111430.jpg20220109_111434.jpg

 

Not only do the major services now have CD and hires music. But apparently little Qobuz has quietly rolled out Dolby Atmos music too. Now Apple, Amazon and Tidal already had it.

 

The competition wasn't just waiting around. As soon as the Spotify Car revved their engine and sputtered in February, the other services accelerated past and lapped them. Spotify you need to be talking about Dolby Atmos now, which is possible at 16bit, 44.1kHz I believe. So Spotify Hifi quality should suffice.

 

This could be why the delay. I hope they're retooling their offering for Dolby Atmos support.

 

Jonas51

After having tried Apple Music, I recently started a trial on Amazon music HD - they even connect to my bose system without having to use a manual casting option.  Sound difference is night and day, just like Apple. I'll switch over and convince my family to do the same.

 

Good luck, though you do not deserve any.

Pietras

C'mon Spotify, it's 2022 and we're stuck with 160kbps on web player and a measly 320 kbps in an app.
Seriously, get your act together, because it feels like you've sat down on your laurels or popularity, and just cut off coupons off of that, instead of focusing on delivering a competitive service. Not to mention the podcasts, which are limited to 96kbps quality!

Are you kidding me!?

I'm moving to Tidal. Go suck a fat d!ck.

Innocent_Excel

In Finland, news articles now also question if Spotify has ditched Hifi due to Apple making mess of their original plans.

The articles also point to this original source from 9to5mac:

https://9to5mac.com/2022/01/09/spotify-hifi-support-still-missing/

Some really good comments.

lappymusicman

It’s not just Apple who have upset things. For around the same price as Spotify you can also have Amazon Music HD, Tidal CD quality, Deezer and Qobuz so Spotify are really up against too much competition to stand still or offer the same with no price increase. 

Innocent_Excel

Yep I know (and Im trialing each at the moment in case Spotify fails to deliver Hifi), it all escalated this way and other services have each brought their plans more to the competition and all this time, now as the others have really put good things on the table, Spotify has done nothing but been quiet spectator.