Spotify likely to offer lossless audio streaming soon

According to The Verge, a number of Reddit users have gotten a prompt for a new Hi-Fi streaming service for $5 to $10 above the $10 per month price for Spotify Premium. However, those who tried clicking through further were either told it wasn’t available in their area or received an error message.

Both AppleInsider and the The Verge conclude that the notices are an A/B test of pricing, as screenshots with varying pricing and benefits have since popped up over the web, with some users seeing lossless audio as the only added feature, while others have seen benefits like a free vinyl and discounts on limited-edition vinyls.

Either way, this new service could directly affect Tidal, which prides itself on providing lossless audio to its users. It would also give Spotify a way to differentiate itself from Apple Music, as Apple has yet to present a Hi-Res audio streaming feature despite famously ditching the 3.5mm audio jack for the Lightning port.

With the rapid adoption of USB-C by Android manufacturers, it would seem the market is ripe to move to Hi-Res audio streaming, as millions of smartphone users have devices that can take advantage of higher fidelity audio.

Even if only a small portion of Spotify’s users take up this Hi-Fi streaming option, the new revenue could go a long way towards pushing the company back into the black. So, expect Spotify Hi-Fi to be officially released sooner rather than later.

Sources: The Verge, AppleInsider, Reddit