Spotify isn’t just for people who love listening to music in the car. It’s for those who love music in the house as well, and now the company has announced plans to launch an app that can stream music to your hifi. But will it change the way that you listen to music?
Lossless streaming isn’t the gamechanger brands are making it out to be
Lossless streaming may not be the game changer that brands are making it out to be, but that doesn’t mean it’s not a good thing. Lossless streaming lets you listen to music that isn’t compressed, allowing you to enjoy high-resolution sound. That’s better for your ears and spurs support for hardware, protocols, and communication standards. However, there are still a few issues with the technology that make it less than ideal for a mainstream experience.
Currently, lossless audio is only available through the likes of Tidal, Deezer HiFi, and Amazon Music HD. While these services are popular, they aren’t the only ones offering hi-res audio. Some non-Android DAPs also offer a lossless audio option.
Streaming services can be great for ripping through your phone’s data quickly, but for the highest quality sound, you need a dedicated set of speakers. This means you need to invest in a high-grade pair of headphones, or a good set of wireless earbuds. You’ll need a set that supports aptX Lossless. Unfortunately, the number of manufacturers offering aptX Lossless headphones is small.
It’s not surprising that many manufacturers haven’t included apps for lossless streaming services. Adding new functionality could increase costs for end users. Even if your music library isn’t too large, you’ll need to pay for a subscription to get higher-quality streams. If you don’t have unlimited data, you may want to download your music.
While it’s not a surefire game changer, Lossless streaming is gaining momentum. While Apple hasn’t been able to capitalize on the trend, other companies have. As a result, the potential for future hardware sales is significant. But for now, Apple’s gear is in the “Lossy” Age, and it’s too early to tell whether it will change that.
Until then, there’s plenty of room for competitors. Qobuz and Spotify are both planning to launch high-quality music streams, while Amazon has the ability to compete in this space. For now, though, it’s unlikely that anyone else will be able to take the lead in the streaming wars. Until that time, you can enjoy your favorite music the way it was meant to be heard.
It’s in “constant dialogue” with music labels
A flurry of rumors, leaks and press releases have been flying around for the past few months regarding a rumored new Spotify feature: the HiFi tier. There have been reports that the feature was supposed to hit the shelves by the end of the year. The company execs have been mum on the matter. In fact, even Spotify CEO Daniel Ek has yet to provide a firm timeline for the release.
One could argue that it is not surprising since the service is caught up in licensing negotiations. Even if that is not the case, the feature has been slow to roll out. Despite the delay, Spotify has been hard at work testing the feature with the help of a select few lucky few. Whether or not they will make it is a different matter. However, it is still not surprising that the company is taking the time to learn about its customers and listen to their feedback. This is especially important when it comes to the aforementioned HiFi tier.
Until such time as the feature is rolled out in earnest, it will remain an exclusive feature for the foreseeable future. While that might not be a bad thing, it is certainly unfortunate for Spotify fans who have long been patiently waiting for a new and improved streaming service. Hopefully, the new year will bring more news about the long-awaited aural delight. We will definitely be keeping an eye on this product and its various iterations. Let’s just hope the next one is the best.
It’s expected to launch in several markets
Spotify HiFi is an on-demand lossless streaming service that will allow Premium subscribers to upgrade their sound quality. The service uses lossless encoding to deliver CD-quality audio that can be played on speakers.
Lossless audio is expected to sound much wider and richer. It can also show details not normally heard in a song. That means HiFi should be an experience unlike any other. This could boost the credibility of the company in the eyes of audiophiles. However, it is unclear what Spotify’s catalog will include.
It has been reported that Spotify plans to expand into more than 80 new markets in the coming years. India, for instance, is a key market for the company. In 2021, India is expected to bring 74 million monthly active users to the platform.
Spotify’s HiFi feature was supposed to launch in select markets by the end of 2021. But it hasn’t been confirmed when or how it will be available.
It’s possible that Spotify will tinker with the feature indefinitely. It’s been said that the company has a history of teasing new features and then deciding to cancel them without announcing it.
Spotify also has a strong brand recognition and is the world’s number one music streaming service. However, it’s facing stiff competition from Amazon Music HD and TIDAL. Having more listeners will open up more opportunities for artists to make a living.
However, there’s still no word on how much Spotify will charge for the service. Some have speculated that it will cost between US$5 and $10 a month. While this may seem like a lot, it’s probably a drop in the bucket compared to competitors.
With Spotify’s HiFi service, fans will have the option to listen to lossless audio and the service will come with an ad-free version. The service will likely be priced at a higher rate than the usual Premium subscription. Nonetheless, it’s expected to become a popular feature.
Until then, the service will be live on the Spotify website. Spotify will release more information about the Hifi tier in the future.
