Spotify has announced its beta testing program for the new Hi-Fi tier. The tier is not available to all markets at this time. However, it is expected that this feature will be added to all devices that are currently on the standard Spotify service. This tier will enable Hi-Fi users to enjoy high quality audio through their speakers.
Hi-Fi tier isn’t available yet
It is no secret that Spotify users have been looking for a Hi-Fi tier. It is a subscription tier that will deliver CD quality, lossless audio. It will work with Spotify Connect, a feature that allows you to stream music to Bluetooth-enabled devices.
The company has not yet confirmed when it will launch its HiFi tier. It will likely be available to some subscribers for a trial period. It may also launch in some key markets later in the year, and then roll it out in other countries. The timing will depend on how well the service negotiates with music labels.
The company has been working with various major speaker manufacturers. It has also made a video that appears to show the new features of its HiFi tier. Specifically, it showed the onboarding process of the new tier in the mobile app. Some users reported an error message when trying to enable it. The company is also in talks with music labels about how it will provide Hi-Fi to its users.
The Hi-Fi tier will give you a higher bitrate than the standard Spotify tier. The service uses Ogg Vorbis, which is said to deliver high-quality sound. It will come with a free vinyl record and exclusive discounts on limited-edition vinyl.
Spotify’s Hi-Fi tier was originally supposed to launch by the end of 2021. However, it has been delayed for a number of reasons. The service has also struggled to license music for the tier.
According to Spotify’s CEO Daniel Ek, it is still unclear when the feature will be available to its users. Earlier this month, the company posted an update on its community forums that it will be “testing” its new lossless audio plan with a small subset of its user base.
While the company hasn’t revealed any pricing information, it is expected to charge subscribers $5-10 more than the normal price for the tier. It will also offer a one-month free trial, allowing users to try out the Hi-Fi tier for free. This is the same offer that Apple Music and Tidal give to their subscribers.
Hi-Fi isn’t available in all markets
If you’re one of the millions of users who have been waiting for Spotify to get on board with the HiFi train, then you’ve probably heard that the company has been busy preparing to launch the feature. In fact, they’ve been teasing it for months.
In February of last year, Spotify announced a new, high-end subscription tier, called HiFi, which would offer lossless music streams. It was expected to launch in select markets by the end of 2021. However, the service has since been delayed. It’s unclear why, but a spokesperson for the company has said that it’s been caught up in licensing negotiations.
This has left many consumers frustrated. They’re wondering when it’ll finally be available. Despite announcing the feature last year, Spotify has yet to offer any concrete details.
The company hasn’t released any pricing information or technical specifications, but has hinted at what the service will be like. The service will deliver higher quality streams via the Spotify Connect app. It’s also possible that the company will offer a free trial for the service.
A Reddit user has leaked a video indicating that Spotify’s new HiFi tier is in the works. While the video does not show how it would work, it does indicate that the company is focusing on the right audio quality.
Initially, it was believed that the HiFi tier would cost $5 to $10 per month. At the time, it was thought that it would come in two flavors – lossless audio and CD quality. But the latter has a bitrate of approximately 1.411 kbps, whereas the former has a bitrate of about 2mb for a 3.5 minute song.
When it comes to streaming lossless music, Apple and Amazon have already gotten in on the act. However, the former does not charge for the service, while the latter offers a free three-month trial.
It’s not clear whether or not Spotify will be able to compete with the competition when the service launches, but it’s definitely a tough position to be in. While it’s still early days, it’s important to keep an eye out for any updates.
High-res audio isn’t available in all markets
When Spotify announced HiFi, it was billed as an audio upgrade. It would bring CD-quality lossless audio to Premium subscribers. Sadly, that feature is still in beta and hasn’t been released yet.
In the meantime, it’s possible to download lossless audio files for free from Apple Music or Tidal. These formats have more details, which can make them sound deeper and more immersive. However, they eat up more data to stream. Unless you own a high-end audio setup, it’s unlikely that you’ll hear a big difference.
Earlier this year, Spotify announced its first lossless music streaming tier. It will be available in select markets for Premium users. The tier will start at 320kbps, and increase to 24 bit at 48 kHz. It will also support immersive audio streams, like Dolby Atmos.
While there isn’t much to go on, this seems to indicate that Spotify HiFi isn’t near completion. Instead, the service may be preparing to launch at some point in the future, perhaps even before summer’s WWDC.
Spotify is reportedly working with speaker manufacturers to create a product that allows subscribers to enjoy high-res streams. It’s unclear if this will be a standalone service, or part of a new subscription tier. The service is currently evaluating the launch as an upsell feature.
It’s also possible that Spotify’s plans have been influenced by Apple’s recent launch of high-res lossless streaming. Apple doesn’t charge extra for the improved audio, and its $9.99 plan includes spatial audio.
It’s likely that the feature will be rolled out in various markets over the next few years, and that it will be available to all Premium subscribers. This could mean that Spotify is preparing to offer HiFi at no additional cost in time for the New Year. Eventually, it may be added to a Platinum subscription plan.
The delay will only hurt Spotify’s position in certain markets. That’s especially true in light of the announcements that Amazon and Apple have made. These services will now compete with Spotify for users’ attention.
The general perception of lossless music streaming has changed, thanks to services like Tidal and Amazon Music HD. If Spotify really wants to keep the specialness of its music streaming service, it needs to include Hi-Res audio.
Hi-Fi will still work
It’s been almost a year since Spotify announced that its Hi-Fi feature would be coming out later this year. At the time, it was expected to cost $5-10 per month. It was also said that it would offer CD quality lossless audio.
The company didn’t provide any further details on the HiFi feature until recently, but it’s reportedly still working with speaker manufacturers. In addition, it’s been in discussions with music labels. It’s not clear whether the new feature will be an upgrade to existing Premium subscribers or a standalone service.
While it’s not yet clear how much of a price increase Spotify will charge, it’s likely that it will be significantly higher than the standard plan. This could put a damper on consumers’ willingness to pay for the service. However, it’s possible that the HiFi feature will be offered as a free trial, which means that those who don’t want to invest in a subscription can simply skip it.
Spotify has also made changes to the service in recent months, including the introduction of a podcast-centric feature. It’s also in the midst of negotiations with various music labels to secure licensing deals. It’s possible that this could be an impediment to the HiFi launch.
If it does launch, it’s unclear how long it will take. It will most likely be available in select markets. It’s not clear how much data it will consume, but it’s a good idea to check in with your mobile device’s data usage every once in a while to make sure you don’t exceed your monthly limit.
In the meantime, it’s worth sticking with the standard Spotify player. This will give you access to millions of tracks, and you’ll be able to download them offline. It’s also a great way to keep track of your data consumption when you’re on the go.
Spotify has always been known to test new features. In the past, they’ve rolled out the Hi-Fi feature in Europe and the US. They’ve also tapped high-profile personalities to promote its feature, such as Billie Eilish.
