Written by:- Isabel Gallagher
Another day, another rumour about Spotify HiFi. According to some recently uncovered code in Spotify’s desktop and web apps, it looks like lossless audio might finally be coming to the world's biggest music streaming platform. That’s right, after years of vague promises and backpedals, Spotify seems to be preparing for what may be called “Spotify Music Pro.”
But hold your breath (again), because we’ve been here before.
For those unfamiliar with the term, lossless audio refers to high-quality music files that preserve all the original sound data during compression. In simple terms, it means you're hearing the track exactly as it was recorded, without any of the subtle details being stripped away. Standard streaming services use lossy compression, which removes parts of the audio to save bandwidth, often sacrificing clarity and depth.
With high fidelity music streaming, you get a much richer, fuller sound, but to truly unleash the full potential of lossless streaming, you need the right tools to bring that sound to life, and that’s where we come in. For high-quality listening on the move, the GO pod MAX, iDSD Valkyrie or iDSD Diablo 2 deliver uncompromised lossless performance over Bluetooth. At home, the ZEN Blue 3 - recently awarded a HiFi Choice Recommendation- is the perfect addition to your laptop or TV setup. And for detailed desktop listening, the NEO iDSD 2 offers accurate playback and powerful amplification, revealing every layer of your music in full clarity.
Anyway, back to Spotify. In February 2021, the company announced its Spotify HiFi tier - lossless streaming “coming later this year.” Fast-forward four whole years, and users are still pressing play on compressed audio, while the rest of the streaming world has moved on.
As exciting as this uncovered information is, let’s not pretend this is cutting-edge tech. Tidal has offered CD-quality streaming for nearly a decade. Qobuz has been doing this since 2007. Even Deezer, beat Spotify to it years ago. And then there’s Apple Music, which not only launched Apple Music Lossless streaming shortly after Spotify’s 2021 announcement, but it did at no extra cost, not to mention Dolby Atmos and hi-res 24-bit/192kHz audio. Safe to say Apple walked all over Spotify.
So, what’s taken them so long?
One reason could be licensing issues. Streaming in Lossless often means renegotiating deals with labels, and when your song catalogue is over 100 million that’s no easy task. That said, every other major streaming service seems to have managed it just fine. Another explanation could be distraction. Spotify’s attention has clearly been elsewhere, pouring resources into features like Spotify Wrapped, the AI DJ, and the ever-evolving generative playlist ‘Daylist’ - which I have to admit I am a fan of.
Then there’s the fact that this new tier isn’t just about lossless; they’re supposedly bundling in extra tools and features, which obviously takes more time to develop.
According to a report from The Verge, the upcoming Spotify Music Pro tier may also include:
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Advanced mixing tools (to sort playlists by BPM, for example)
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AI playlist creation
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Soundcheck (a feature to analyse your listening habits)
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30 hours of audiobook access per month
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Early-access concert tickets
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DJ remixing tools
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Optimisation for specific headphones and speakers
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Karaoke features
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And even the option to add another user to your Premium plan
In other words, Spotify’s not just tacking on higher-quality audio, they’re counting on these extra features to justify the price increase. And it might need to. Reports suggest this new tier could cost an additional £6 per month on top of the regular Premium subscription. That brings your monthly total to around £17–£18 if you want access to Spotify Lossless.
Is It Worth the Wait…and the Cost?
Let’s put it in perspective. Apple Music Lossless streaming costs £10.99/month and includes hi-res lossless, Dolby Atmos, spatial audio, all without an upcharge. Even Amazon Music Unlimited includes lossless and hi-res options as part of its standard subscription.
Meanwhile, Spotify’s lossless ambitions still feel hypothetical: no confirmed catalogue size for lossless tracks, no guarantee of matching Apple’s hi-res specs, and maybe the biggest yet, it doesn’t actually exist.
Spotify CEO Daniel Ek has teased that the new tier will include “all of the benefits that the normal Spotify version has, but a lot more control, a lot higher quality across the board, and some other things that I’m not ready to talk about just yet.” Which could mean anything, or nothing.
Final Thoughts
To be clear, Spotify still has its strengths, one of the best recommendation engines in the market, an intuitive and polished user interface, and the largest subscriber base globally.
But in terms of audio quality, it’s falling behind. Even casual listeners with fair headphones are looking for lossless. It’s no longer a luxury, but a standard.
So when (or if) Spotify HiFi finally lands, will it be worth the extra money, or will it just be too little, too late? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments.
If you’re going to pay extra for lossless audio, you might as well hear it properly. Check out our lossless bluetooth products available at iFi.
