Long discussed, the introduction of an audiophile offer on Spotify is about to materialize. We learn that the platform is indeed preparing to launch a new formula allowing access to songs in “lossless” quality. Unfortunately, this quality would involve an additional cost.
Will you have to pay more to get higher audio quality from Spotify? If we believe 9to5Macthe platform would be on the verge of introducing a new formula called “Music Pro”, offering access to songs in “lossless” quality… but only to users ready to pay more for this new feature.
This information comes as Spotify will soon increase its prices in France, and while Apple Music already allows all of its users to enjoy songs in HI-FI quality.
HI-FI on Spotify? Yes, but on condition of paying for it
As reported by several users on Reddit, Spotify is in any case testing a new audio quality selection menu, this time allowing you to choose a “Lossless” option. Behind this option would be FLAC audio files that can go up to a maximum of 24 bit/44.1kHz according to snippets of code revealed on Reddit and relayed by The Verge. In comparison, Apple Music offers lossless files ranging from 16-bit/44.1 kHz (considered CD quality) to 24-bit/192 kHz.
Beyond this increased audio quality, Spotify would add some exclusive features to its “Music Pro” offering. Among them, a new remix function for “ speed up, merge and edit » songs, but also an option to optimize the audio experience for certain headphones or headsets in particular, such as Apple AirPods, explains 9to5Mac. We finally learned that filters based on AI, and therefore more advanced than existing ones, would finally be added for searching and creating playlists.
Spotify soon too expensive for its own good?
The big unknown, however, remains the price of this new formula. We will remember that at the end of 2022, a price of $19.99 was mentioned by Spotify as part of a survey relating precisely to the integration of a HI-FI offer. This pricing placement, however, seems bold for the platform, which would then risk offering a formula as expensive as the most expensive Netflix offer currently available, for example.
Finally, let’s remember that the Spotify monthly subscription currently costs 11 euros, the same as the equivalent subscription with Apple Music… which for its part already relies on included HI-FI audio quality. By increasing its prices in France, and by simultaneously launching a more expensive formula dedicated to lossless audio, Spotify would take the risk of pushing many users into the arms of its main competitor. Unless the latter in turn decides to revise its pricing positioning.
Source : 9to5Mac
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