Could Spotify Finally Launch Its Premium Lossless Audio Tier?

Recent leaks suggest that Spotify’s long-awaited lossless audio tier might finally materialize. This development offers renewed hope after a four-year wait since the initial announcement of “Spotify Hi-Fi.”

A reverse engineer discovered code within the Spotify app hinting at the integration of lossless audio. This code includes the phrase: “Lossless music, now in premium. Introducing the best sound quality on Spotify: for music in up to 24-bit/44.1 kHz.”

Further bolstering this claim are leaked images from the Spotify PC app, which appear to show lossless audio support. These images, alongside an animation for headphone optimization for lossless audio, strongly suggest active development.

While Spotify’s CEO has previously hinted at improved sound quality, these leaks provide the most concrete evidence yet. A Reddit user even reported enabling lossless audio within the Spotify PC app, although playback was limited to short durations.

The Reddit user’s images show that the lossless audio uses 24-bit/44.1 kHz FLAC files, potentially consuming significant data—up to 1GB per hour of playback. They also reveal features for headphone compatibility optimization and verification.

While these leaks originate from unofficial sources and should be treated cautiously, they align with Bloomberg’s earlier report about a forthcoming “Music Pro tier.” This premium tier is expected to include enhanced audio quality, alongside other features.

The existence of in-app assets and ongoing testing strongly suggests that a lossless audio rollout is imminent. The prolonged wait may soon be over for Spotify users seeking higher-fidelity audio. For those unwilling to wait, alternatives like Apple Music already offer lossless audio streaming.