After eight years, Spotify finally adds CD-quality streaming

Well, it only took them eight years, but Spotify has finally delivered on those lossless audio promises. The streaming service quietly rolled out CD-quality sound, bringing 24-bit/44.1 kHz FLAC streaming to users who've been waiting since, well, forever.The best part? No extra fees. While everyone expected Spotify to launch some fancy "HiFi" tier with a higher price tag, they're just giving it to existing Premium subscribers. Users are getting notifications in their apps when the feature goes live, and from there it's a simple toggle in the media quality settings.The rollout has already started in a dozen countries including the US, UK, Germany, and Japan, with plans to hit 50 markets by October.

There’s no word for when it’ll be available in India, but we can expect it by next month, when the feature expands to other countries.

What you'll actually need to hear the difference

Here's where things get a bit technical, but stay with me. To actually hear the difference, you'll need proper headphones or speakers—and they need to be wired or connected through Spotify Connect. Your AirPods won't cut it since Bluetooth doesn't have enough bandwidth for lossless files.

The feature works on phones, tablets, and computers, plus compatible gear from Sony, Bose, Samsung, and others. Sonos and Amazon devices are getting support next month.Now, Spotify's version isn't quite as fancy as what Apple Music or Tidal offers—they go up to 24-bit/192 kHz while Spotify stops at 44.1 kHz. But honestly, unless you're a serious audiophile with expensive equipment, you probably won't notice the difference.This whole saga started back in 2017 when Spotify first hinted at hi-fi quality. They kept promising it was "almost ready" year after year, apparently dealing with licensing headaches behind the scenes. Better late than never, though the competition definitely got there first.