After promising a CD-quality lossless streaming tier way back in 2021, Spotify seemed to abandon the project. But recent leaks point to a potential revival under a new name: Spotify Music Pro. This begs the question, is high-fidelity audio finally coming to the streaming giant?
Code found within Spotify’s Android app offers intriguing clues. References to a “Music Pro” tier, along with mentions of lossless listening, high-fidelity sound, and FLAC playback suggest that Spotify could finally deliver on its HiFi promise. The most significant clue seems to be a mention of 24-bit/44.1 kHz resolution, well beyond Spotify’s current maximum quality.
Interestingly, the leaks point to Music Pro becoming a wider enhancement package, not just a lossless tier. There are mentions of a potential “headphone enhancement and optimization feature,” alongside references to Apple AirPods Pro. While wireless earbuds don’t currently support lossless playback, this points towards Spotify potentially using AI or other technologies to deliver a unique enhancement experience.
The leaks, however, lack any information on Music Pro’s release date or pricing. Given that Spotify has described lossless as an “add-on,” we can speculate it’ll cost more than the current Premium tier.
Spotify’s initial announcement of HiFi faced skepticism, given that most users couldn’t tell the difference between lossy and lossless audio. However, recent years have seen audiophile interests gain traction, making this a better time for a launch.
Competitors like Apple Music, Tidal, and Amazon Music HD already offer lossless audio subscriptions, leaving Spotify playing catch-up. The headphone enhancement feature, if successfully implemented, could give Spotify a unique advantage to lure discerning listeners away from the competition.
While these leaks are promising, they’re still unconfirmed. Spotify could be testing ideas they ultimately ditch. Even if Music Pro materializes, there’s no guarantee it will arrive soon, as the leaker himself quips.
Should Spotify finally deliver on high-fidelity audio, coupled with potentially innovative AI-powered listening experiences, this could signal a shift in the streaming wars. But for now, it’s wise to temper expectations – we’ve waited this long, we can wait a little longer.
