(Credit: Cheng Xin/Getty Images)
Four years is a long time to wait for any new functionality in a streaming service, but that’s how long Spotify users have waited for its HiFi feature, which promises “CD-quality, lossless audio." New tweaks in the app's code, however, suggest Spotify is making steps toward a launch.
As spotted by TechCrunch, Chris Messina, a reverse engineer who digs into the code of apps to find unannounced features, noticed that Spotify's latest update refers to “lossless music” for the first time. There are multiple instances of the term in the desktop version of the app, with most appearing in places ready to be deployed in support menus.
The code specifically says, "Lossless music, now in premium.” There’s another reference that says, “Introducing the best sound quality on Spotify: for music up to 24-bit/44.1 kHz." The references aren't currently visible in the final version of Spotify.
View on Threads
Another element in the code includes a new animation for a feature called “Optimize," which may hint toward a calibration tool for high-end headphones.
There's no mention in the code of a launch date, but it's likely this is Spotify's team readying support documentation for a future launch. That may mean a launch is imminent, but it doesn't confirm that Spotify has a clear plan to launch soon.
One Reddit user also found mentions within the mobile app version of Spotify showing slightly different wording. It says, “Say hello to the best sound quality on Spotify. Listen to high-fidelity music in up to 24-bit/44.1 kHz."
Spotify said in 2022 that the delay to its HiFi feature was because of issues with licensing around lossless audio. CEO Daniel Ek said on an investor call at the time that the company was in a “constant dialogue” with its partners to figure out a way forward.
A report from earlier this year suggested that HiFi will be available through an additional tier called Music Pro that sits on top of a Premium subscription. This would cost an extra $5.99 a month to top up the $11.99 a month it costs to subscribe to Premium.
The report said HiFi would be aiming to launch at some stage in 2025. The wait for Spotify HiFi has been long with many users looking for lossless audio turning to rivals like Apple Music, Amazon Music Unlimited, or Tidal.