Spotify is prepping the launch of a lossless audio version of its streaming service, according to The Verge. The new subscription tier is said to be called Spotify Hi-Fi and will offer higher bandwidth lossless audio quality to members.
Currently, Tidal is the only major music streaming service to offer an optional "lossless" audio tier, although other, lesser known lossless services do exist.
Anyone get this invitation for Spotify Hi-Fi? Looks awesome! pic.twitter.com/2aeYXMIHJD — Cody Kloepfer (@Semantics) March 1, 2017
Tidal says tracks heard through its "CD quality" lossless service aren't compressed, so users are said to hear the music the way the artists intended – though whether one can tell the difference between compressed and uncompressed tracks can depend on the listener. What Spotify defines as lossless remains to be seen.
Spotify began testing the service with a small group of users on Tuesday, according to reports, offering the tier for $5 to $10 above the $10 per month price of a standard Spotify subscription.
However, users who received the invitation to sign up for the Hi-Fi service either got an error message or were told the service was unavailable in their area at the time.
A Tidal HiFi subscription costs $19.99. Apple Music streams at a bitrate of 256Kbps, while Spotify's current Premium tier streams at a maximum 320Kbps.
Top Rated Comments
Spotify uses OGG Vorbis (equilivent or slightly worse than MP3) with a choice between 96kbps, 160kbps, and 320kbps
Apple Music/iTunes uses 256kbps AAC (MP4) with the option of using 80kbps AAC+ On cellular connections (sounds similar to ~160 AAC)
Tidal uses a choice between 96kbps AAC+, 320kbps AAC, and Apple Lossless (Hi-Fi)
SoundCloud is 128kbps MP3
LOL.
Yes I know Tidal exists and yes I know you could buy Lossless digital copies for many years and yes I know most people can't discern from 256KBS AAC w/ VBR & Losslesss but it is funny that my Mom listening to Pearl Jam's Ten on her Hi-Fi system was better sounding that the majority of people consuming music today.
I personally am waiting for Apple to offer FLAC / Lossless tracks in Apple Music. I'm an Apple Fanboy and don't see the point in going another route. I use a 256GB SD Card in my car w/ FLAC tracks and my 256GB iPhone is loaded up with Lossless tracks from iTunes. My Synology has a terabyte of uncompressed music going back to the 50s that I've transferred over from my CD collection. I see no point (personally) in paying $10 a month to listen to music I already own. I only wish Apple had continued with and released a 1TB iPod so I could finally have all of my music with me. I could always do what Puff-Daddy did and just keep multiple iPods on me. I can't find the story but I think he traveled with 5 iPods to hold his entire music collection.