After years of hypothesis and delays, it’s official: Spotify Lossless is right here. The world’s largest streaming platform has lastly launched 24-bit/44.1kHz FLAC audio streaming, barely higher than CD high quality, for its Premium subscribers at no further price.
A Promise Years within the Making
Rumors of higher-quality streaming on Spotify date again eight years, with the corporate asserting a “Spotify HiFi” tier again in 2021 that by no means materialized. In that point, rivals like Tidal, Qobuz, and Apple Music captured the high-res streaming market, leaving many questioning if Spotify would ever catch up.
Now, Premium subscribers are beginning to see notifications that Lossless is on the market, with full rollout deliberate throughout greater than 50 international locations in October. Early launch markets embody the US, UK, Germany, Japan, Australia, Sweden, and extra.
How It Works
Spotify Lossless will probably be accessible on cellular, desktop, pill, and Spotify Join-enabled gadgets. Main audio manufacturers like Sony, Bose, Samsung, Sennheiser, Denon, Marantz, Bluesound, and Yamaha are already onboard, with Sonos help coming quickly.
To allow it, customers should go to Settings → Privateness → Media High quality and choose “Lossless” for Wi-Fi, Mobile, and Downloads. When energetic, a Lossless indicator will seem within the Now Enjoying view.
Spotify notes that to get the total profit, listeners ought to use wired headphones, audio system, or Spotify Join, since Bluetooth’s bandwidth nonetheless limits audio to compressed codecs.
The Market Impression
This long-awaited transfer might reshape the streaming panorama. Whereas Spotify has at all times led on usability, playlists, and discovery options, sound high quality has been a weak spot in comparison with its rivals. With Lossless now obtainable, the platform is signaling it’s able to compete instantly with hi-res leaders.
The query stays: how will Spotify’s Lossless audio examine in sound high quality to its long-standing rivals? Premium customers will quickly discover out.
