You may have heard that Spotify is working on a new tier of streams that will allow you to stream high-res music to your HiFi. This is great news for those who love music but don’t own a high-res capable device.
Apple Music
If you’re wondering whether to sign up for Spotify or Apple Music, you may want to consider some of the new features. Both services offer free tiers, so you can test the waters before signing up for a full subscription.
Spotify has added a few new features to its mobile app, including a new navigation bar that makes search and browsing easier than ever. For example, users can see what their friends and followers are listening to. They can also create collaborative playlists.
Apple Music’s Radio tab lets you explore hundreds of Apple-curated music stations. Each one combines a curated playlist with live broadcasting. You can select from a wide variety of genres and listen to music 24 hours a day.
The best part is that the functionality is not limited to the Apple device. In fact, the service can be streamed to Chromecast devices on your local network. This feature also works with Sonos speakers.
One of the most significant changes introduced in February 2020 was a new navigation bar that resides near the top of a playlist. By tapping the navigation bar, you can access the following: a local music files tab, a group session option, and a search tab. Among the other notable improvements, you can now use a unified play button, and the navigation bar can be used in conjunction with the shuffle feature.
Another noteworthy feature is the new “Listen Now” section that is based on your listening habits. You can filter the music you’re about to listen to by genre, album, artist, or other attributes.
Apple Music and Spotify are both great services, but they do have their flaws. One is that it has a smaller library than its competitor. But, you can listen to over 75 million tunes on the service. And, it’s compatible with devices made by other companies, such as Amazon Echo smart speakers.
However, Apple Music outpaces its rivals in several categories. Its unique features include the ability to stream music on your car, and its deep integration with Apple’s ecosystem. Plus, you can get a lot more for your money with a subscription.
Tidal HiFi
As you may know, Spotify has been promising a new ‘HiFi’ tier. This tier would offer higher-quality streams and better sound quality than the standard subscription plan. However, the pricing details have not yet been revealed. It is likely that Spotify will offer a trial before the launch of the HiFi tier.
Tidal has also announced changes to its platform. For example, it has introduced new payment options for artists. Now, Tidal will pay streaming royalties as well as direct-to-artist payments. In addition, it has added a free tier. The free tier will stream music at 160kbps.
Tidal’s catalog contains more than 90 million songs. These songs can be downloaded in lossless formats such as FLAC and AAC. You can listen to these files at home on your computer or smartphone. Alternatively, you can share them on social media.
You can also check the feeds of your favorite musicians. Their profiles include discography, playlists, and links to their social accounts. If you find an artist you like, you can add their playlist to your favorites.
Tidal’s catalog also features a number of independent distributors. For example, Warner Music Group, Universal Music Group, and EMI Music Group are represented in the Tidal catalogue. Those who opt for the HiFi tier will also have access to MQA master audio files.
Tidal has a number of interesting subscription plans. Besides the free tier, there is a Family and Premium subscription plan. There are also Student and Free Student packages. All of these plans come with ad-supported access to Hulu and SHOWTIME.
Spotify has a few different features that are similar to those of Tidal. They include ‘Wrapped’, a list of your favorite artists from around the world. Also, you can share a card with a song you enjoy.
Another feature called ‘My Activity’ will allow you to see where your streams are going. This is an important step toward more transparency. Users can also track how their listening habits impact their favorite artists.
Both services also offer a wide variety of genres. Tidal is especially good for Hip-Hop fans. Its hip-hop catalog is quite extensive, offering a wide selection of playlists.
Spotify’s current hi-res streams
Spotify is one of the most popular music services in the world. It has more than 30 million subscribers and a catalog of over 80 million songs. Despite its size, the service has been adding new features at a rapid pace. In addition to its flagship streaming service, the company also launched a video podcast platform and a lossless audio tier.
When Spotify first announced its HiFi tier, the company touted its ability to deliver CD-quality, lossless audio streams. However, when it comes to details, the company is a bit tight-lipped.
Unlike other streaming services, Spotify hasn’t announced an exact release date for the feature, nor have they provided any technical details. But it’s likely that it will make its way to a select group of markets later this year.
One of the reasons why Spotify hasn’t made an official announcement about its HiFi tier is because of licensing issues. The company recently said it’s in “a constant dialogue with labels.” This could explain the delay in launching the feature.
A Reddit user uncovered a video that seems to show the interface for Spotify’s new lossless tier. There’s also a slide-out menu that reveals the strength of your internet connection, and the type of stream you’ll receive.
Despite these efforts, Spotify is lagging behind the competition. Apple Music offers hi-res streaming and Tidal supports immersive audio.
While Spotify’s HiFi tier may not offer the same level of quality as the Apple Music Hi-Res Lossless feature, it will be a significant step up from the company’s current Very High quality. Of course, no streaming service is perfect, and there’s no guarantee that the music quality on Spotify’s new tier will be better than what you get from competing services.
Although Spotify hasn’t confirmed the actual release date of the HiFi tier, a survey suggests that it’s likely to arrive soon. As it often does, the company is rolling out new features to key markets first.
Ultimately, Spotify will be judged on how well its new feature fared, and how many consumers are willing to pay for it. That will be important, because if the service can’t compete with the big guns, its competitors are sure to win.
Spotify’s delay in launching the feature
Spotify has said it is launching a lossless streaming tier in the future, but has not revealed a release date. The company has said that the new plan would provide CD-quality audio on all devices.
When Spotify first announced a lossless music tier, it was expected to cost a subscription fee of $5 to $10 per month. However, it was then announced that the tier was a trial run, and would be available to a select group of users in the near future.
But the launch of the tier is now delayed. In fact, it has been pushed back indefinitely. While the company has not provided a clear reason for the delay, it’s possible that it’s due to licensing issues. Several artists have voiced their displeasure with the company’s payment system.
Meanwhile, the company is also facing competition from Apple Music, Deezer, and Qobuz. If Spotify is unable to bring the new tier to market, it will have to face Apple and Deezer again, as well as competitors such as Tidal.
Last year, the company announced plans for a HiFi tier. This promised to offer high-resolution streams for a supplemental fee. It was supposed to be available in select markets by the end of 2021.
Spotify said last month that the HiFi tier had been delayed. That left many users frustrated and unsatisfied. During its earnings report, Spotify executives addressed the issue, but did not commit to any timeline.
In a recent survey, Spotify asked its users about the HiFi tier. It also asked whether they’d switch back to a Platinum plan if they were given the option. Whether or not you are interested in the tier, you can take the survey to find out when it might be rolled out.
Unless you are an audiophile, you may not even know the difference between a lossless and high-bitrate compressed music library. Most people cannot tell the difference. So, it makes sense that Spotify wants to provide you with the best sound quality possible.
Now that the HiFi tier is indefinitely delayed, it’s unclear when the feature will be ready to roll out. You might have to wait until 2020, if you’re lucky.
