Spotify Finally Launches HD Lossless Audio for Premium Subscribers

Following a four-year delay, Spotify is finally delivering on its promise to launch a high-definition audio service. The streaming giant has initiated a gradual rollout of its new lossless tier, which is exclusively available to Premium subscribers in select markets. The company acknowledged that the feature has been "eagerly awaited" and clarified that it will not be accessible to users on the free, ad-supported plan. Premium members will receive an in-app notification once the upgrade becomes available for their account.

This phased release will extend to over 50 countries and is anticipated to continue through October. Initial access is being granted to listeners in the U.S., Australia, Austria, Czechia, Denmark, Germany, Japan, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Portugal, Sweden, and the U.K. The lossless format utilizes FLAC (Free Lossless Audio Codec), an open-source compression technology that preserves the full quality of the original studio recording. Tracks will stream at up to 24-bit depth and 44.1 kHz sample rate, a substantial improvement over the previous maximum of 320 kbps using the lossy AAC standard.

For years, Spotify lagged behind major competitors in the high-fidelity streaming space. Apple Music introduced lossless audio in May 2021, while Amazon Music HD launched its offering back in 2019. Other services, such as Tidal, have offered premium sound quality for some time. In fact, Spotify had indefinitely paused its own high-definition plans in 2022, making this week’s announcement a notable reversal. Gustav Gyllenhammar, Spotify’s Vice President of Subscriptions, explained the deliberate rollout: “We took the time to build this feature with a focus on quality, usability, and transparency. With Lossless, our premium subscribers can experience audio as the artists intended.”

The feature is supported on mobile, desktop, and tablet apps, as well as on a broad array of Spotify Connect-enabled devices from brands like Sony, Bose, Samsung, Sennheiser, Denon, Marantz, Bluesound, and Yamaha. Integration with additional manufacturers, including Sonos and Amazon, is scheduled for October. Users can manually enable lossless streaming over Wi-Fi or cellular networks, though Wi-Fi is recommended due to the significantly higher data usage. The app now provides multiple audio quality settings—Low, Normal, High, Very High, and Lossless—along with clear data consumption estimates for each.

To fully benefit from the upgrade, Spotify advises using a wired connection with headphones or speakers, as Bluetooth compression currently prevents genuine lossless playback. Once activated, a "Lossless" badge will appear on the Now Playing screen. Eligible subscribers can enable the feature by navigating to Settings > Audio Quality and selecting Lossless for both streaming and downloads.