Spotify Lossless is live: Here's how to enable CD-quality sound
Spotify users finally have a reason to rejoice after a long time. The music streaming giant is finally rolling out its feature that lets users stream lossless music, a move many of us have been waiting for since it was first announced back in 2021 as "Spotify HiFi."
For years, platforms like Apple Music and Tidal have allowed users to stream high-resolution audio, leaving many of us on Spotify feeling left behind. But with this launch, Spotify is finally stepping up to meet industry standards and, frankly, giving its massive user base a reason to stay.
So, what’s the deal with Spotify Lossless?
In simple terms, this new feature delivers audio at a quality of up to 24-bit, 44.1 kHz. That might sound a bit technical, but what it really means is that you're hearing the music exactly as the artists and producers intended, without any compression. Standard streaming services, which use compressed files, often lose the little details, the breath before a vocal line, the subtle strum of a guitar string, the fine textures of a soundscape. Lossless audio captures all of that.
If you have a decent pair of headphones or a quality sound system, you'll hear the difference immediately. It’s a richer, more immersive listening experience.
This launch is a big win for audiophiles who have stuck to Spotify for all these years and a solid indication that Spotify is trying to stay competitive in a crowded market.
How to enable the feature
Enabling lossless audio is straightforward:
- Open your Spotify app and head to your profile.
- Go to Settings & Privacy.
- Tap on Media Quality.
- Select Lossless as your preferred option.
That’s it, your music will now stream in pristine CD quality. Just keep in mind that higher-quality streaming will use more data, so a stable Wi-Fi connection or a generous mobile data plan is recommended.
Availability across countries
Spotify has already made Lossless available in key markets including the US, UK, Germany, Japan, and several others.
Unfortunately, regions such as India are still on the waiting list, but the rollout is expected soon. Spotify has not provided an exact timeline, but given the global launch push, Indian subscribers should see the feature in the coming months.
What this means for subscribers
Until now, Spotify was known for its playlists, personalisation, and user experience, but the lack of hi-fi options was a glaring hole. This rollout may finally silence critics who claimed Spotify was not even in the conversation when discussing audio quality.
Spotify earlier raised its subscription fees in India by 17-28 per cent. The sting of paying more for Spotify may start subsiding now that users are set to get a richer, more detailed listening experience. However, if Spotify fails to release the feature in a timely manner, the streaming service risks losing customers to rivals like Apple Music, and YouTube Premium.
