Spotify Introduces Lossless Audio Streaming for Premium Subscribers
Spotify has officially launched a long-anticipated lossless audio streaming option, elevating the listening experience for its Premium members. This update comes after an extensive period of speculation and requests from users, marking a significant enhancement in sound quality available through the app.
Availability of Lossless Audio
Beginning today, Spotify is rolling out its lossless audio feature across multiple countries, including the US, UK, Australia, Germany, and Japan, among others. By the end of October, over 50 markets will have access to this high-fidelity audio option.
Supported Devices
Lossless streaming will be compatible with mobile phones, desktops, tablets, and a variety of Spotify Connect-enabled devices, which include select products from manufacturers like Sony, Bose, Samsung, and Sennheiser. Moreover, the feature will extend to Sonos and Amazon devices next month, further broadening accessibility.
Activation Process for Users
To take advantage of the lossless audio feature, users must manually enable it on each device they wish to use. This can be done easily through the Spotify app by navigating to the profile icon in the top left corner, then accessing Settings & Privacy > Media Quality. Users can choose to activate lossless audio for both Wi-Fi and cellular streaming, as well as for downloads. When successfully activated, a lossless indicator will appear during playback.
Data Usage Considerations
Spotify informs users that lossless audio consumes more data than standard streaming quality. As a result, various settings are available to manage data usage for Wi-Fi and cellular connections. Users can monitor how much data each quality setting—ranging from low to lossless—will require, ensuring they stay within their data limits.
Technical Specifications
Spotify’s lossless streaming supports up to 24-bit/44.1 kHz FLAC quality, providing a richer audio experience across the platform’s extensive music library. However, the company advises that the best quality is achieved when streaming over Wi-Fi using wired connections rather than Bluetooth, as the latter may not support the full capabilities of lossless audio.
Official Insights
Gustav Gyllenhammar, Spotify’s Vice President of Subscriptions, expressed excitement over the rollout of lossless streaming, stating that the company carefully developed this feature prioritizing user experience and sound clarity. "We’ve taken time to build this feature in a way that prioritizes quality, ease of use, and clarity at every step," he remarked.
A Long-Awaited Feature
Spotify’s journey towards implementing lossless audio has been prolonged, with initial reports dating back to 2017 regarding its impending launch. Though the company previously announced plans for a CD-quality streaming option that did not materialize, they have committed to including the lossless feature in their standard $12 Premium subscription without additional fees. This positions Spotify alongside competitors like Apple Music, which has offered similar quality enhancements since 2021.
With this new lossless audio feature, Spotify is poised to enhance the listening experience for its Premium users, bringing the platform in line with industry demands for higher quality music streaming.
