Spotify officially launched lossless audio streaming for Premium subscribers on September 10th, ending a 4-year wait. This service, previously known as “Spotify HiFi,” was ultimately integrated into the existing Premium plan at no extra cost.
Audio Quality Specifications and Technical Details
Spotify’s lossless feature supports up to 24bit/44.1kHz FLAC format, with audio quality slightly higher than CD standard (16bit/44.1kHz). Users can enjoy the highest audio quality currently available on the platform across Spotify’s vast catalog of over 100 million songs.
The feature must be manually enabled on each device, requiring users to go to “Settings” > “Media Quality” and select “Lossless” for Wi-Fi, cellular data, and downloads.
Global Rollout Plan
The lossless feature will gradually roll out to over 50 markets by October 2025. Initial launch regions include the United States, Australia, Austria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Japan, New Zealand, Netherlands, Portugal, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.
Premium users will receive notifications when the feature becomes available and can start using it immediately without additional fees.
Network Bandwidth and Device Requirements
Due to larger lossless audio files, Spotify recommends a stable 1.5 to 2 Mbps internet connection for the best listening experience. Lossless files may require slightly longer loading times, especially when first played.
Important Limitation: Due to bandwidth constraints, lossless quality is not available over Bluetooth connections. Users can utilize Spotify Connect to stream over Wi-Fi to compatible devices to enjoy lossless audio quality.
Device Support and Partners
Initial launch partners include renowned audio brands such as Sony, Bose, Samsung, Sennheiser, Denon, Marantz, Bluesound, and Yamaha. Sonos support will arrive “in the coming weeks”.
These partnerships ensure users can fully experience the advantages of lossless audio quality on high-quality audio equipment.
Competitive Landscape Analysis
This launch finally brings Spotify in line with competitors like Apple Music and Amazon Music, which have offered lossless audio services for several years.
Spotify’s strategy is to include lossless functionality as standard equipment in the Premium plan, rather than launching a more expensive dedicated plan, which differs from some competitors’ pricing strategies.
Victory for Audiophiles
For users seeking high-quality music experiences, this feature represents a significant breakthrough. The 24bit/44.1kHz audio quality can present richer musical details, with particularly noticeable differences on high-end audio equipment.
Professional recording studios and music producers often use similar specifications for mastering, and now general consumers can access music close to original recording quality.
Impact on the Music Industry
Spotify’s lossless audio launch may encourage more music creators to focus on recording quality while pushing the entire streaming music industry toward higher audio quality standards.
With the proliferation of 5G networks and decreasing storage costs, lossless audio quality is expected to become standard equipment for streaming platforms rather than a premium feature.
Usage Recommendations and Considerations
Before enabling the lossless feature, users should confirm network environment and device compatibility. Due to larger file sizes, pre-downloading frequently listened songs in Wi-Fi environments is recommended to avoid excessive mobile data usage.
For users with wired headphones or high-quality audio systems, lossless audio quality improvements will be most noticeable. General consumer-grade headphone users may find it harder to perceive significant differences.
