Spotify has officially unveiled the introduction of lossless audio streaming, putting an end to years of uncertainty and unmet expectations. Initially hinted at back in 2017 and reiterated in 2021, this feature faced multiple delays, leading to widespread doubt. Now, Spotify has confirmed that all Premium subscribers in chosen markets will gain access over the forthcoming two months without any extra fees.
In contrast to Apple Music and Tidal, which divide high-quality audio into different tiers, Spotify is integrating lossless audio into the existing Premium plan. The company has assured users that there will be no new HiFi or Music Pro subscription options, nor any alterations to current subscription costs.
The first wave of markets includes Australia, Austria, Czechia, Denmark, Germany, Japan, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Portugal, Sweden, the US, and the UK, with plans to extend access to about 50 countries shortly.
Spotify will notify users within the app when lossless audio becomes available. Subscribers can then visit the media quality settings to activate lossless streaming. An indicator in the Now Playing bar and the Connect Picker will signal when lossless streaming is operational.
At launch, devices from brands such as Sony, Bose, Samsung, and Sennheiser will support lossless audio playback, with Sonos and Amazon devices expected to offer compatibility starting next month.
Spotify’s lossless audio is capable of reaching 24-bit / 44.1 kHz FLAC, which is similar to CD-quality sound. Competing platforms, including Apple Music, Tidal, and Qobuz, currently provide Hi-Res FLAC up to 24-bit / 192 kHz, although the discernible difference is often minimal for most users without advanced audio setups. Nonetheless, this limitation opens up possibilities for Spotify to potentially introduce a “deluxe” tier in the future for passionate audiophiles.
This development places Spotify ahead of YouTube Music, which is currently the only prominent streaming service that does not support lossless audio. Google has not suggested any intentions to alter that situation.