Is Spotify’s Superior Audio Quality Finally on the Horizon?
Recent leaks suggest that Spotify’s long-awaited lossless audio tier may finally be ready. Hints within the application and screenshots circulating online offer fresh hope for high-fidelity audio streaming on the platform.
A reverse engineer uncovered code strings within the Spotify app hinting at the feature’s imminent release. These strings explicitly mention “Lossless music, now in premium,” along with the technical specifications: “for music in up to 24-bit/44.1 kHz.”
Further strengthening this speculation, leaked images from the Spotify PC application showcase lossless audio support. One image depicts a new animation designed to optimize headphones for lossless audio playback.
While Spotify’s CEO has previously alluded to improved audio quality, these leaks provide the most concrete evidence to date.
Independent verification comes from a Reddit user who activated lossless audio in the Spotify PC application using a custom script. Although the user only experienced short periods of lossless playback (a maximum of three seconds), the accompanying images offer further insight.
These images confirm the use of 24-bit/44.1 kHz FLAC files, aligning with the app code strings. The images also reveal a headphone compatibility check tool and a feature for optimizing compatible headphones for enhanced audio quality. This suggests that lossless audio may only function with select headphones.
While the authenticity of these leaks is not definitively confirmed, the converging evidence is encouraging. Bloomberg’s previous report about a potential “Music Pro tier” with enhanced audio capabilities and other premium features further supports these findings. This upcoming tier is anticipated to launch later this year, which aligns with a potential testing phase for lossless audio.
It has been four years since Spotify initially announced its intention to offer lossless audio; these recent developments suggest that this highly anticipated feature may soon become a reality. For those unwilling to wait, alternative streaming services already provide lossless audio support.
