[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!

[Innocent_Excel]

As Spotify once again proved that they are unable to give us better quality, the next time it will probably be possible in one of these years when it is a leap year: 2028, 2032 and 2036.

[rollerotr]

I've got my spotify account linked with Hulu...and I had been using the audiobook feature. But now I am finding my books through my public library and using the Libby and Hoopla apps. For now, the only reason I keep Spotify is that I am grandfathered in with there "includes Hulu with ads" for the same price. But I rarely watch Hulu now (I kept it for The Handmade's Tale). I use Qobuz for my music needs. So way do I keep Spotify? I never use for music.

[Innocent_Excel]

This is truly getting ridicilous. Over 10 years old thread and Spotify can't keep up with the time and do something.

[pediacax]

Thanks for keeping us in the loop! 🎶 HiFi audio is definitely something we’re excited about too. Looking forward to hearing more updates—quality sound is worth the wait! 🎧

[Jondavis1992]

Still. **bleep**ing. Waiting. 

utter shite Spotify. You’re a disgrace. Tidal and Spotify running side by side. Spotify to finish. 

[Jondavis1992]

ridiculous. 

[MrBue]

Happy new year, Spotify...and another year without HiFi / Lossless. Really well done, Spotify.

[pediacax]

Qobuz’s lossless FLAC streaming is indeed impressive, especially for classical music. While their catalog is improving, Spotify’s massive library is hard to match. Still, with the rise of high-quality streaming, it’s only a matter of time before platforms like Spotify offer similar options. Apple might get there first with an audiophile tier, which could shake up the market!

[Innocent_Excel]

I still don't quite understand, why couldn't Spotify simply adopt better audio quality to their service?

This has in fact been the most requested feature and while they were first and most music streaming service, they shouldn't have changed the course to podcasts and audiobooks and other nonsense first. Music and audio quality is the most important thing for music streaming service, not podcasts and other things.
Even if some people listen to music from cellphones, tablets and laptops (without good soundsystem or speakers) and while some claim that there are absolutely no difference in the sound between lossy, lossless and hi-res material, there's still no reason for Spotify to not to enable the better sound quality. Even if the smaller streaming services can provide it, then why can't Spotify? It certainly won't be about the price or money, unless Ek wants to prioritize things in order to get more money to himself.

The ever slowing mind of Spotify is still thinking how it can milk and increase the subscription prices as the other companies gave lossless/hi-res for free without raising their current prices. Spotify ain't even the cheapest on the market and they still can't give us hifi, even if they promises so. Time to go away from this company.

[Domi-71]

Spotify is losing market shares and it is more than deserved.
Over the next few weeks, I will be testing other services with decent sound quality and will leave Spotify once I will have chosen the most appropriate for my needs (embedded service in different streaming devices).
My only regret is to have waited too long, they just don't care about their client base. It's a shame !