Spotify has announced that it is going to launch a HiFi tier to their service later this year. It is a catch-up product that uses lossy compression to help make better use of the bandwidth available to users. The company says that the tier is a differentiator from its competitor Apple Music.
HiFi tier is a catch-up product for Spotify
Spotify’s lossless streaming tier is expected to launch in the near future. Spotify HiFi will be a premium tier that will offer higher-quality audio streams. The company hasn’t announced when it will be launched, but it will probably be rolled out later this year in select markets.
Spotify has been under pressure to release its hi-fi tier. Some users complained that the streaming service was lacking in high-quality audio. Others pointed out that other services, like Tidal, already offered this feature. However, a recent survey revealed that more than half of consumers are willing to pay a small monthly fee for higher quality sound.
Spotify’s lossless tier could launch as soon as October, according to analysts. It would come in addition to a Premium plan, which currently costs $10 a month.
Apple Music and Amazon Music are both also offering lossless audio. Amazon recently launched its HD streaming service and offers a free 3-month trial. Qobuz and Deezer have also launched services that offer high-res res tracks.
Spotify’s lossless tier will be available on a new Connect-enabled device, which is expected to launch before older devices. Spotify Connect is a wireless connection that allows users to play Spotify streams through their headphones.
Spotify will offer a free trial for anyone who wants to try out the new tier. Users who sign up for the trial will get a month of Premium. If they want to keep the subscription, they will be able to upgrade to the HiFi tier.
Spotify’s HiFi tier will feature CD-quality, lossless audio. Spotify hasn’t outlined the technical specifications of the new streams, but it is expected to be higher-bitrate than standard Spotify.
HiFi tier is a differentiator from Apple Music’s fast growing alternative
A new feature that is coming to Spotify is a high-fidelity audio service. The plan is to offer a sonic upgrade for customers who are willing to pay for higher-quality streaming. This could lure more users away from smaller rivals, and could help build Spotify’s market share.
Spotify is a long-time streaming app with nearly 400 million subscribers. It has a good selection and offers a unique user experience. In addition, it is profitable. However, it faces increasing competition from big-tech companies.
Apple Music, on the other hand, offers a slew of new features. One of these is a Carpool Karaoke spin-off, which will be available soon. Another is the Spatial Audio feature, which offers three-dimensional effects for songs.
There are four different tiers of subscription in the U.S.: Free, Student, Premium, and Premium Plus. Each tier has its own unique set of benefits. With a student plan, you can listen to up to five albums for $4.99. While this may sound expensive, it’s actually much more affordable than other services.
Spotify’s HiFi tier is a differentiator, though. At launch, the plan was a tiny niche segment. Today, the feature is set to expand and bring users away from smaller rivals.
Spotify’s ‘Ambient Chill’ playlist has more than 400,000 followers. Users can search for a song they want to share, or paste a preview into an iMessage.
The company has a low churn rate, and its customer satisfaction is high. However, it has lost some major artists. Those who want to see more of their favorite musicians can sign up for a free trial.
The lite app is growing in popularity in developing countries. It’s crucial for tech companies to expand into these markets.
HiFi tier isn’t expected to be available in time for New Year’s
Spotify HiFi is a streaming service that will allow Premium subscribers to access higher quality audio streams. The service will work with a set of Bluetooth-enabled speakers known as Spotify Connect.
Spotify has been testing CD-quality audio streams as early as 2017. It was announced last year that Spotify HiFi will be available in the near future. However, no concrete details on the launch date have been provided.
The upcoming service would be priced slightly higher than the usual Premium subscription. In addition to lossless sound, Premium subscribers will get a Headphone Tuner and Audio Insights. This service is expected to debut in a number of markets.
Spotify is currently working with a number of the world’s largest speaker manufacturers. According to the company, the higher fidelity sounds will come in phases. Newer Connect-enabled devices are likely to get the HiFi upgrade before older ones.
While it is unclear when the Spotify HiFi feature will actually be released, it is expected to launch sometime in 2022. The company has been testing it in a few key markets. As a result, it is possible that there will be a free trial to test out the new feature.
The service will be offered to both existing and new subscribers. A Spotify representative said that the company is still in talks with music labels. They are also planning to release a lossless quality setting.
The app is expected to launch with a playlist section that showcases albums and artists. It will then move to a page that displays the various curated playlists.
The Spotify HiFi tier was originally intended to be launched in 2021. Several months later, it was announced that the launch date had been delayed.
HiFi tier uses lossy compression to make better use of the available bandwidth
It looks like Spotify has decided to jump into the lossless streaming game with the introduction of their HiFi tier. Lossless audio refers to files that are compressed but retain their original quality. This is different from high-res or high-resolution audio, which refers to the higher quality of sound.
Streaming has been the dominant form of music consumption for almost a decade. But the competition between Apple and Amazon has prompted many consumers to want more quality from their music streaming. As a result, Spotify has introduced an upgrade tier for premium subscribers. The HiFi tier promises CD-quality, lossless audio.
However, there is some uncertainty as to whether or not the HiFi tier will actually launch. For example, while the Spotify website is live, there is no official release date for the upcoming service. And the company has not given any other concrete details on the HiFi tier.
Although Spotify has tested CD-quality streams as early as 2017, it has not yet confirmed that this feature will be included in its HiFi tier. Still, it is possible that the company is still talking to music labels about adding this feature.
In addition to allowing customers to choose between lossy and lossless streams, Spotify HiFi will also offer higher bitrates than standard Spotify. The highest settings will use a 320kbps bitrate, which consumes about 7-8 MB per song.
Aside from the data consumption, the difference between lossy and lossless audio may not be immediately noticeable to some users. It could take extended listening to notice the difference. Also, a Bluetooth connection may limit the quality of the stream.
Hopefully, this new service will improve the overall experience. If not, Spotify is more than willing to drop features that do not work.
HiFi tier isn’t guaranteed by Bluetooth
If you’re a Spotify Premium subscriber, then you may have heard about the company’s HiFi tier. This is a new streaming feature that promises to deliver CD-quality, lossless audio streams. It will work over the popular Spotify Connect platform and will be compatible with smart speakers.
Earlier this year, a Reddit user posted a video that indicated that the HiFi service had already been built. Apparently, the company plans to roll out its HiFi tier later this year, though the company has yet to release any details.
There is no word on pricing or availability, but a free trial is likely. A recent Amazon Music HD offer had users download three months of the service for free, and a recent Spotify offer offers a month-long free trial for Premium members.
The company has been in dialogue with music labels regarding licensing issues, which could make it difficult to launch the feature. Spotify’s CEO Daniel Ek has hinted at these problems, but has so far provided no concrete details.
While announcing the new Spotify HiFi tier last February, the company said the experience would be available by the end of 2021. In June, Apple announced the same feature, bringing lossless audio to their music service.
With the release of Apple Music’s lossless feature, a number of other companies joined the HiFi train. For instance, Qobuz, Deezer and Tidal are all offering lossless streaming services, and even Amazon has jumped into the game with its own hi-res catalog.
Even though these services have introduced high-fidelity streaming features, their maximum quality settings are still very low. So, how will Spotify compare? Will its new offering compete with the likes of TIDAL and Apple?