[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!

[bart1981]

Where the **bleep** is HIFI?

[bart1981]

Spotify, it is time to release HIFI. NOW.

[Herbaceous]

Apparently the issue is that Spotify was going to cash in on hifi audio by charging users more for it. 

Competitors got the jump on Spotify and released lossless free of charge.

Spotify has been trying to work out how to monetise it ever since. This involves making another subscription tier with lossless and other “features” that they can charge a premium for. My guess is they’re trying to work out what “features” they can charge for that won’t **bleep** people off. 

They’re trying desperately to claw back what they assumed was going to be a lot of revenue.

They should just release it because I can’t imagine what further features they can add that will make people feel like they’re actually getting value for money. 

[mctesterson]

Maybe they designed the "hifi" service in a way that's very inefficient to maintain over time.  In that case, they'd have to charge $X more every month just to break even, and $Y more every month for it to be profitable.  So not releasing it, in a competitive climate where other services can deliver high-resolution audio for less than Spotify can, might be the best way for them to avoid losing money.

Meanwhile, many other services already offer high-resolution audio at subscription prices comparable to Spotify.  If you care enough about high-resolution, you've already moved on to other services.  If you sorta care about high-res but care more about other features that Spotify leads the market in - like exclusive podcasts, premium audiobooks, etc. - then you stick around but whether Spotify ultimately provides high-resolution isn't going to shake you from your loyalty to Spotify.

If I were Spotify, I'd seriously start to question whether I move forward with high-resolution audio.  Might as well let the competition have their cute little niche of high-res - they'll never be able to offer their subscribers Joe Rogan, so f 'em!

[Herbaceous]

HiFi is already available to Spotify employees. It was ready to go a long time ago. This is all just about monetising lossless. 

And I have moved on. But hifi audio is only useful under certain circumstances/set-ups. For that reason I use Apple Music when I want lossless/spatial audio and Spotify when it’s not needed.

Ultimately I don’t want to pay for two music streaming services and would like to just stick with Spotify, Apple Music is clunky and Spotify’s algorithm is infinitely better. For this reason I often let my Apple Music subscription lapse and have been subscribing through offers that provide free months of Apple Music.  I refuse to pay for it continually. 

Spotify needs to get a move on. I don’t care if they charge more for it as long as it’s less than paying for two different services. If they find people aren’t subscribing to HiFi they will simply have to drop the price.

If Apple improve their algorithm I will simply get rid of Spotify. But not offering lossless audio is not an option when most (maybe all) other streaming services offer it. 

[markbyrn]

Back in September, the Verge suggested (based on coding that was found) that Spotify will at some point offer lossless part of a 'superpremium' tier that would include 24-bit lossless audio, AI playlists, advanced mixing tools, and other features.  It sounds reasonable that Spotify would need more than just offering lossless at a higher price, considering others don't charge extra.  Unfortunately, and given the lack of any information from Spotify on the matter, I think the comments from the Spotify CEO over the summer are telling; he still believes lossless is a niche market for 'aficionados' as he called them.  So until he changes his mind or there's a new CEO, I don't think we'll see lossless anytime soon. 

[AdvanTech]

👋🏽 yes

[LifeofBrajan]

I agree

[bart1981]

STILL WAITING FOR SUPREMIUM.

[Samppa3]

Still waiting for Hifi..

Supremium that's horrible name, I wonder who and why came up with that.

I suggest that keep the old name Premium and give all the benefits/features to the current subscribers.

No need to raise the subscription prices as you won't be giving more money to the people that have made the music.