After a long period of teasing, Spotify has now made lossless audio available to Premium subscribers for free. The audio experience is not just about sound quality for many, but a significant improvement.
The first-ever release features music in 24-bit/44.1 kHz FLAC format, providing listeners with the studio-quality clarity they’ve been seeking. Spotify Premium users in over 50 countries, including the US, UK, Germany, Japan, and Australia, will be granted access in the coming weeks. Live notifications are visible when the app prompts you to modify your settings and displays a visual indication during playback.
Gustav Gyllenhammar, the VP of Spotify’s subscriptions, stated “The wait is finally over… Lossless sound is rolling out.” This is significant because Spotify has struggled to match the sound quality of its competitors such as Apple Music, Tidal, and Amazon Music HD.
What makes Spotify unique is that they didn’t hide this behind a paywall. Unlike Apple, which added lossless audio to its base tier years ago, Spotify’s move doesn’t require payment for a new “HiFi” option, which is an exceedingly expensive upgrade.
I believe that the real value lies in serving listeners and not just upselling them. The decision of Spotify to incorporate higher fidelity into its core offering instead of offering it as part of a premium add-on is aimed at improving user experience and listening integrity.
That said, expectations need tempering. This isn’t a big deal for casual listeners, with standard earphones or Bluetooth apps that compress the audio. Individuals with a strong focus on sound, particularly those using wired equipment or high-quality speakers, will find the upgrade to be highly beneficial.
Will the trend of switching to Apple or Tidal persist? Is it possible? Unlikely. But it says Spotify is finally serious about quality. If we’re honest, they were overdue, but today, they’re not just catching up; they’re leveling the field for every audiophile still on Spotify.
