[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!

[pabeadle]

I have a 6 month free trial with Apple Music. If by the end there isn't an update about HiFi, I'm probably gone. Spotify seems to take it users for granted. 

[LawLee]

What is Spotify thinking? What are they doing? I've been silent on these points, but this bugs me.

They've spent almost $200 million on things absolutely unrelated to their core music business. Daniel Elk has invested €100 million in a defense technology startup?

They paid Joe Rogan a $100 million contract for his podcast on Spotify and then they censor some of his content? Some of Spotify's own staff took issue that they even made this deal.

Who feels that $200 million would have been better spent fixing this Hifi issue? Who doesn't believe that investment would have got this done?

These two decisions alone show that Spotify is not a company that is ethics-oriented, or music-oriented, but money-oriented. They've clearly taken their eye off their core business. Their competition has shrewdly exploited this.

Since earlier this year almost all of the music streaming companies have neutralized their advantages. Deezer, Apple, and Amazon offer podcasts as well. Tidal and Deezer offer free ad-based subscriptions. The other companies now offer hi-res music, Spatial, and Dolby Atmos music completely surpassing Spotify.  Everyone has dropped their prices. We are going to see Darwinian "survival of the fittest" in the music streaming industry moving forward.

I predict this is going to be a bruising year for Spotify. It's like watching a slow-motion train wreck. It's tragic to see but you can't take your eyes off of it...

Spotify is vulnerable. Amazon and Apple are circling like sharks, they've got deep pockets and they're brutally focused on taking market share. Even the little guys like Deezer, Tidal and Qobuz are positioned to grow out of this stumble. Google "Spotify Hifi". They've got paid adds in the search results and offers to tempt away the masses. Spotify needs to get this done, or they may be done, as market leader...

[user-removed]

Please vote for the below to have all your Artists displayed in your library, not just followed Artists..

https://community.spotify.com/t5/Live-Ideas/Your-Library-Show-all-Artists-in-Library-not-just-follow...

[paulove]

Spotify is focused on Podcasts now, that is why they have delayed HiFi as its not important enough. 

I left for Apple Music and will probably never return after having so much headaches with Spotify.

[Flanstario1]

@Yordan

I'm free user. Spotify HIFI will it be available for user free.

[mostlife]

I use Qobuz for Uncompressed downloads, and rip CD's using dbpoweramp cdripper, all to Uncompressed format. For Qobuz you need to download aiff first, and use Batch converter to concert to Uncompressed Flac. Spotify can *** themselves, unless IT Will be 100% Uncompressed 1411kbps high quality. There is no streaming service currently doing this, so I dont have high hopes anymore.

Case closes...

[Bobisz]

Well, goodbye spoty then. Grass is greener on the other side.

[Flexingrat]

We were promised HiFi by the end of last year - and still no date? What is the hold up?

[LawLee]

Ahem... They finally disclosed to the press...

What Hi-Fi?

Spotify finally responds to queries over HiFi launch delay

Engadget

Spotify is still working on HiFi streaming, but won't say when it's coming

Billboard

Spotify Gives Update on Delayed HiFi Audio Tier

Mashable

Spotify promised its HiFi tier is coming in 2021. It hasn't happened.

MacRumors

Spotify Still Can't Say When Its Delayed 'HiFi' Streaming Service Will Launch

XDA Developers

Spotify misses its 2021 HiFi deadline, delays the feature indefinitely

AppleInsider

Spotify blows through 2021 HiFi streaming deadline, with no release in sight

Android Police

It looks like Spotify's HiFi tier isn't coming anytime soon

9to5Mac

Spotify HiFi delayed indefinitely as company says it has no ‘timing details to share’

Thurrott

Spotify HiFi is MIA

[LawLee]

Sound Off: Spotify HiFi Appears Locked In Development **bleep**… For Now (forbes.com)

"Amid much trumpeting and hype last year, Spotify announced that it was going to launch a high-res audio tier before the end of 2021; but it seems that it did not prove to be the priority the company suggested it should be as it appears to have been parked for now – and possibly indefinitely. "

"The status of the feature was also changed to “under consideration”, effectively consigning it to an area for Spotify development where ideas are discussed and debated but not necessarily made live."...

"It was all so different in February 2021 at its Stream On event when the streaming company announced that Spotify HiFi was coming and that it was going to be a key product feature for it. It suggested it would initially launch later in 2021 in certain markets for Premium users (namely those who are paying subscribers) as it was “consistently one of the most requested new features by our users”. "