Spotify HiFi roll out delayed with "no timeline" for release

Spotify HiFi delayed — and there'south no word on when it will finally arrive

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Spotify'southward long-awaited HiFi tier appears to have been pushed back indefinitely, with the company albeit there'southward no current timeline for its release.

Information technology's been near a year since we heard that Spotify'due south HiFi tier was coming, offering songs in a lossless format and nearly-CD audio quality for Premium subscribers. Rumors of a lossless beta version merely helped to fuel our excitement that the world'south almost intuitive and integrated music streaming app would soon evangelize our favourite tunes in high-quality audio.

But in a thread that appeared on Spotify'due south Community site concerning delays to the launch of the lossless tier, the visitor dashed hopes of us being able to listen to high-quality streams from the service any time before long.

"We know that HiFi quality audio is of import to you," the comment said. "We feel the aforementioned, and we're excited to deliver a Spotify HiFi experience to Premium users in the future. Only we don't have timing details to share withal. We will of course update you here when we tin."

When it announced the new HiFi tier last year, Spotify promised it would curl out in "selected markets" sometime during 2021, so the latest setback is a further blow to fans who accept been anxiously awaiting its arrival. And there's every reason to look forward to it: it promises to deliver near-CD-quality music streams, and could even be available through Spotify Connect devices such as smart TV.

Spotify and Apple tree Music are locked in a battle for the music streaming market, and this setback could be to Apple tree's benefit. Apple Music introduced Spatial Audio and Lossless support last year at no boosted toll, while Spotify HiFi is expected to require a farther subscription.

When it arrives, the new service will also face up competition from the likes of Amazon Music Hard disk drive, Deezer, Qobuz and Tidal HiFi. If Spotify doesn't desire to fall backside its rivals on this front, it will need to go the new tier alive soon.

Equally a former editor of the U.Thou.'south Hi-Fi Choice magazine, Lee is passionate about all kinds of audio tech and has been providing sound communication to enable consumers to brand informed buying decisions since he joined Which? magazine as a product tester in the 1990s. Lee covers all things audio for Tom'southward Guide, including headphones, wireless speakers and soundbars and loves to connect and share the mindfulness benefits that listening to music in the very all-time quality can bring.