[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!

[Fabiieno]

Hello everyone, does anyone have any ideas to improve the sound quality of Spotify to match competitors like Deezer?

Don't you want to listen to music in HQ or Hi-Fi? Add artificial intelligence (AI).

A spotify browser that is easier to manage your music when connected to your car via Bluetooth 

[Samppa3]

https://www.digitaltrends.com/home-theater/spotify-ceo-ek-teases-hifi-again/
https://www.theverge.com/2024/7/23/24204520/spotify-ceo-hifi-audio-deluxe-plan-confirmed
Just bring it on and release it already, as you're way past your time so late with this one already!
But please, don't increase the price if you're not going to pay more to the bands and artists that have done the music!

"So bring it on
Bring it on
Every little tear
Bring it on
Every useless fear
Bring it on
All your shattered dreams
And I'll scatter them into the sea

Into the sea"

[PaulMac]

Thanks @Samppa3 for posting the article.

The highlight for me was "Ek said the effort is still “in early days.” For those keeping score at home, it has been 1,247 days since Spotify first announced HiFi.)'

So we can now safely say HiFi will definitely be delivered some time later this year. Or possibly next year. Or the following year. Or some time within the next decade. Maybe. 

[petsy48]

Loved your take on this!👍🤣❤

[mctesterson]

With Spotify's premium subscribers increasing "higher than anticipated" -- without any Hi-Fi feature enticement necessary -- there is less incentive for them to ever release the Hi-Fi feature at this point. 

As several of us have noted before in this thread: Unless premium subscribers start canceling their subscriptions in significant numbers, and flooding Spotify with complaints confirming they are canceling specifically due to lack of Hi-Fi streaming quality, there is little reason for Spotify to take on the risks of releasing and maintaining a Hi-Fi feature (e.g., increased storage and bandwidth costs to serve the audio; getting the UI and marketing "right" to avoid confusion about different streaming quality options, getting all the Settings right to avoid complaints about increased mobile data usage costs from their customers, etc.).

https://www.kiplinger.com/investing/stocks/stock-market-today-stocks-slip-ahead-of-mega-cap-earnings

Spotify rises on bottom-line beat

Spotify (SPOT) was another post-earnings gainer, with the audio streaming stock rising 12% after its results. For the three-month period, SPOT reported earnings that beat expectations, while the number of premium subscribers also came in higher than anticipated. Average revenue per user was up 8% due in part to recent price hikes.

CFRA Research analyst Kenneth Leon reiterated a Buy rating on SPOT after earnings. "We believe SPOT is an attractive growth stock, with 15% to 20% revenue growth and wider margins," Leon writes in a note to clients." The analyst also increased his price target by $20 to $375, representing implied upside of more than 13% to current levels.

[Samppa3]

@PaulMac

As I said before, I think Spotify will give us Hifi quality on Leap Day. I don't know the year, but it's probably one of these (choose your own):

- 2024

- 2028

- 2032

- 2036

- 2040

I really don't like the way they've taken this go on for so long time as it should have been here already number of years ago.

@mctesterson

This is a problematic situation, because as long as the number of subscribers increases, it is hardly a priority for Spotify to provide better sound quality, even after all these promises and years. So far, Spotify has managed to maintain its position as the market leader, and that's why it seems funny that, despite everything, it still has outdated, poor sound quality compared to its competitors and still pays compensation really meagerly.
I think the best thing, however, was that Spotify overlooked and chased this issue for far too long, which even helped that a few competitors decided to respond with their own offer to add better quality to the current price without having to raise the subscription price.
In my opinion, the only justification for Spotify's price increase is that they would pay even better and significantly higher compensation to music creators. If this doesn't change, I don't see any point in using or advocating for Spotify, even though the app has otherwise served my music listening needs and provided me with a wide selection of music.

[Jokke]

Spotify confirms a Deluxe plan with higher audio quality and enhanced controls - Neowin

[schjano]

“Spotify HiFi will be available later this year.” CEO, February 2021.

[LawLee]

All,

Personally I can't see myself coming back to Spotify for a higher cost than I pay having Tidal with the same or higher quality. I think Daniel Ek is delusional.

[petsy48]

Agreed!