Spotify is preparing to launch a lossless audio version of its streaming service, according to multiple sources. The offering, which is currently called Spotify Hi-Fi, will offer lossless CD-quality audio to users — similar to what Tidal offers in its Hi-Fi service.
I’m interested to see what the response will be to this service. Lossless isn’t something Apple ever seemed to be keen to offer users, but they may be forced into it if Spotify’s becomes popular.
I never buy anything from the iTunes Store and never will until they offer lossless quality. “Good enough for most people” is not good enough for me.
Apple has been telling record labels to upload Apple Lossless audio for years, up to 24-bit/96 kHz if we have it. They could go beyond CD-quality tomorrow. Keen or not? They probably just haven’t done “iTunes HD” yet because they know most people don’t care (yet), so why waste the PR moment, of which there will only be one? (A whole other argument, of course, as I’d prefer Apple to be a leader here.)
It sounds cool, but I doubt there is a soul on the planet that could tell a 256 aac from apple lossless in double blind test. There sure are a lot that think they can though… me being one of them years ago until I failed to tell the difference