Spotify has been teasing the launch of its long-awaited hi-fi tier, and this has caused some family tensions in my household. While my wife and daughter are content with Spotify’s current audio quality and love its user interface, I have been craving the superior sound of lossless and hi-res audio. I have even tried to convince my family to switch to other services that offer better audio quality, but they are reluctant to leave Spotify due to its ease of use and familiarity.
Most people may not notice the difference between Spotify’s 320kbps stream quality and the CD-quality audio offered by other services, but as an A/V journalist, I am attuned to these differences. I find it frustrating that Spotify has been teasing the launch of its hi-fi tier since 2021 without any concrete developments. CEO Daniel Ek has acknowledged that there is a demand for better audio quality among subscribers, and I am eagerly awaiting the launch of Spotify’s hi-fi tier to meet this demand.
In the meantime, Spotify has released Car Thing, a device that allows users to navigate and play audio from Spotify in their cars more easily. This device is now available to anyone in the U.S. with a Spotify Premium account for $90. While Car Thing may not offer any additional functions compared to using a phone or in-car infotainment system, it provides a convenient option for users who prefer a dedicated device for their music streaming needs.
Despite Spotify’s announcement of the HiFi tier in 2021, there has been no sign of its launch yet. Concerns are growing about whether Spotify will deliver on its promise of offering lossless CD-quality audio to its subscribers. In the meantime, Delta Airlines is offering Spotify listeners free streaming of music during the holiday season on select flights equipped with Viasat for in-flight Wi-Fi connectivity.
As a music lover who appreciates high-quality audio, I am hopeful that Spotify will soon launch its hi-fi tier to meet the demands of subscribers like me. In the meantime, I will continue to advocate for better audio quality and look forward to the day when I can enjoy lossless and hi-res audio on my favorite streaming platform.