Spotify Lossless Lands - It’s Official!
Spotify Lossless has been a long time coming, and it is finally here.
Way back in 2017, we were promised lossless audio from the streaming giant that is Spotify. In 2021, it almost happened until we discovered the new Hi-Fi tier was CD-quality. Then, earlier this year, Music Pro was hinted at.
Now, it appears that the long wait is over, thanks to the newly announced 'Spotify Lossless.' We are told that this offers audio streaming up to 24-bit/44.1kHz in FLAC across "nearly every song" in Spotify's extensive 100 million+ catalogue. That's just higher than CD quality (16-bit/44.1kHz).
You can upgrade to Lossless if you are already a Spotify Premium (£12/$12 per month) subscriber at no extra cost. Naturally, those who refuse to pay for music carefully created by musicians, engineers, and producers will miss out. However, current Spotify users will receive a notification once Lossless becomes fully available across mobile and desktop apps, as well as via third-party devices that support Spotify Connect.
Yes - Lossless works with Spotify Connect too, which will undoubtedly broaden its appeal. Launch partners include Sony, Bose, Samsung, Sennheiser, Denon, Marantz, Bluesound and Yamaha, with Sonos support available "in the coming weeks".
Additionally, Cambridge has also confirmed that all its StreamMagic Gen 2-4 products are ready for Spotify's new streaming service. This includes MXN10, AXN10, CXN100 and EXN100, as well as the new Evo 150 SE streaming amplifier and the Evo One.
It is recommended that, to thoroughly enjoy Lossless, you need to use hardwired Ethernet or Wi-Fi streaming and wired headphones and speakers, or use Spotify Connect to stream music directly to compatible products, as Bluetooth just won't cut it.
To enable Spotify Lossless, you need to tap your profile icon and then head to settings and privacy. From there, tap on media quality and then select the option to enable Lossless quality – you'll have to do this for Wi-Fi, Cellular and Downloads options where needed. You'll know it's switched on when the Lossless indicator appears in the Now Playing view or bar.
Spotify Lossless will roll out incrementally to more than 50 countries throughout October, with premium subscribers in Australia, Austria, Czechia, Denmark, Germany, Japan, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Portugal, Sweden, the US, and the UK gaining access from launch.
We cannot wait to hear how Spotify Lossless stacks up against our current favourites, Qobuz.
Join the Streaming Service chat
Gallery
Jay Garrett
StereoNET’s resident rock star, bass player, and gadget junkie. Jay heads up StereoNET as Editor for the United Kingdom and Europe regions. His passion for gadgets and Hi-Fi is second only to being a touring musician.
Posted in: Technology | Music
JOIN IN THE DISCUSSION
Want to share your opinion or get advice from other enthusiasts? Then head into the Message
Forums where thousands of other enthusiasts are communicating on a daily basis.
CLICK HERE FOR FREE MEMBERSHIP
Trending
applause awards
Each time StereoNET reviews a product, it is considered for an Applause Award. Winning one marks it out as a design of great quality and distinction – a special product in its class, on the grounds of either performance, value for money, or usually both.
Applause Awards are personally issued by StereoNET’s global Editor-in-Chief, David Price – who has over three decades of experience reviewing hi-fi products at the highest level – after consulting with our senior editorial team. They are not automatically given with all reviews, nor can manufacturers purchase them.
The StereoNET editorial team includes some of the world’s most experienced and respected hi-fi journalists with a vast wealth of knowledge. Some have edited popular English language hi-fi magazines, and others have been senior contributors to famous audio journals stretching back to the late 1970s. And we also employ professional IT and home theatre specialists who work at the cutting edge of today’s technology.
We believe that no other online hi-fi and home cinema resource offers such expert knowledge, so when StereoNET gives an Applause Award, it is a trustworthy hallmark of quality. Receiving such an award is the prerequisite to becoming eligible for our annual Product of the Year awards, awarded only to the finest designs in their respective categories. Buyers of hi-fi, home cinema, and headphones can be sure that a StereoNET Applause Award winner is worthy of your most serious attention.