Spotify HiFi: Will We Ever Get Lossless Audio Streaming?
If you feel like you have been waiting for high-quality audio on Spotify forever, you are not alone. It has been over three years since the company officially announced “Spotify HiFi” at their Stream On event in February 2021. Since then, the feature has become almost mythical in the tech world. While competitors like Apple Music and Amazon Music have offered lossless streaming at no extra cost for years, Spotify users are still stuck with a maximum bitrate of 320 kbps.
However, recent leaks and code discoveries suggest the wait might finally end soon. The plan has evolved from a simple toggle into a potential new tier dubbed “Supremium” or a feature set called “Music Pro.” Here is everything we know about the timeline, the rumored pricing, and the specific features Spotify plans to use to justify the higher cost.
The Timeline of Broken Promises
To understand why this feature is delayed, we have to look at the market shift that occurred right after Spotify’s initial announcement.
In February 2021, Spotify promised CD-quality, lossless audio format to your device and Spotify Connect-enabled speakers. At that time, high-fidelity audio was a premium feature in the industry. Services like Tidal charged $19.99 per month for their top-tier audio quality. Spotify likely intended to launch HiFi as an add-on costing an extra $5 to $10 per month.
The strategy collapsed in May 2021. Apple Music announced it would upgrade its entire catalog to Lossless and Hi-Res Lossless at no additional cost to subscribers. Amazon Music immediately followed suit, dropping the extra charge for its “HD” tier.
Suddenly, Spotify’s plan to charge extra for HiFi was economically unviable. Co-President Gustav Söderström later admitted in interviews that the industry changed “for a bunch of reasons” and the company had to rethink how to differentiate their offering. The delay has not been about technology; it has been about economics.
"Supremium" vs. "Music Pro": What Are We Getting?
Throughout 2023, reports circulated about a new, expensive subscription tier internally called “Supremium.” The idea was a $19.99 monthly plan that included HiFi audio along with other perks like audiobook access.
However, more recent code snippets discovered in early 2024 suggest a pivot in strategy. Instead of a separate tier, Spotify appears to be preparing an add-on package tentatively named “Music Pro.”
This distinction is important. A “Supremium” tier would force you to switch plans entirely. A “Music Pro” add-on suggests you could keep your current Premium (Individual, Duo, or Family) plan and pay an extra fee just to unlock the high-end audio features.
The Technical Specs
Current Spotify streams top out at 320 kbps using the Ogg Vorbis codec. According to code found within the app, the new lossless offering will support:
- Lossless audio: Up to 24-bit/44.1kHz quality.
- FLAC files: This is the standard format for lossless audio, offering significantly higher detail than MP3 or Ogg Vorbis.
- Bitrate: Likely jumping from roughly 320 kbps to 1,411 kbps (CD quality) and potentially higher for Hi-Res tracks.
Features Beyond Just Audio Quality
Because Apple and Amazon give away lossless audio for roughly $10.99 per month, Spotify knows it cannot charge extra for just audio quality. To justify a higher price point, leaks indicate they are bundling several exclusive features into the Music Pro/Supremium package.
1. Headphone Optimization
Code discovered in the Spotify app references a “headphone optimization” feature. This tool appears to use patent-pending technology to adjust the output signal specifically for the model of headphones you are wearing. Leaked lists of supported devices include popular models like Apple AirPods Max and various Sony WH-1000XM series headphones.
2. Advanced Library Tools
Power users often complain about Spotify’s basic library management. The new tier is rumored to include advanced mixing tools and the ability to filter your liked songs by mood, activity, or genre instantly. There are also references to more granular control over playlist order and transition speeds.
3. AI-Powered Playlists
While Spotify has rolled out basic AI DJ features to everyone, the premium tier may offer advanced generative playlists. This would allow users to type specific prompts (e.g., “upbeat jazz for cooking pasta on a rainy Tuesday”) to generate unique, curated mixes.
Predicted Pricing and Launch Date
The pricing question is the most contentious. Bloomberg reported in 2023 that the “Supremium” tier was targeted at $19.99 per month.
If Spotify pivots to the “Music Pro” add-on model, the pricing structure might look different.
- Base Premium: $11.99/month (following recent price hikes).
- Music Pro Add-on: Expected to be roughly $5.00/month.
- Total Cost: Approximately $17.00/month for a single user.
This price point is risky. Tidal recently cut its price to $10.99, merging its HiFi and HiFi Plus tiers. This means Spotify would be the most expensive music streaming service on the market for audiophiles.
When Is It Coming?
There is no confirmed date. However, during earnings calls in late 2023 and early 2024, CEO Daniel Ek confirmed that a higher-priced tier is still in the works. With the code for “Music Pro” appearing in recent app builds, a launch in late 2024 seems plausible.
Is Lossless Worth the Extra Money?
Before you commit to paying more, you must understand the hardware limitations.
If you listen to music exclusively through Bluetooth headphones (even high-end ones like AirPods Pro or Bose QuietComfort), you cannot hear true lossless audio. Bluetooth technology requires audio to be compressed to travel wirelessly from your phone to your ears. While newer codecs like aptX Lossless are improving this, the vast majority of current hardware cannot transmit the full data rate of CD-quality music.
To actually benefit from Spotify HiFi, you will need:
- Wired headphones or speakers.
- An external DAC (Digital-to-Analog Converter) for your phone or computer.
- Or, Wi-Fi enabled speakers (like Sonos or high-end receivers) using Spotify Connect.
If you primarily use Bluetooth earbuds at the gym or on the bus, the current 320 kbps “Very High” setting is likely indistinguishable from lossless audio.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will Spotify HiFi be free for Premium users? It is highly unlikely. While Apple and Amazon offer it for free, Spotify’s business model relies on higher margins. All leaks point to a price increase, either through a new tier or an add-on.
Does Spotify have Spatial Audio like Apple? There are no concrete rumors suggesting Spotify is launching a direct competitor to Apple’s Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos. The “Headphone Optimization” feature might attempt to mimic a wider soundstage, but it appears to be different from Dolby Atmos mixing.
Will my current playlists automatically upgrade to HiFi? Yes. Once you subscribe to the lossless tier, the app will stream the higher-quality versions of the songs in your existing library, provided the label has supplied a lossless file to Spotify.
Why is Spotify taking so long? The primary reason is licensing and profit. Music labels charge streaming services more for high-definition files. Since Spotify operates on thinner margins than tech giants like Apple or Amazon, they need to figure out a way to pass that cost to the consumer without losing subscribers to cheaper competitors.