Spotify Platinum plan could bring HiFi audio and limited-ad podcasts
The new plan will reportedly cost $19.99 a month and might debut soon
➡ The Shortcut Skinny: Spotify HiFi audio
🎧 Spotify could be getting HiFi audio, almost two years after it was announced
🎶 The new “Platinum plan” could also include a Headphone Tuner, Studio Sound, Library Pro, Playlist Pro, and limited ads for podcasts
🆚 Rivals such as Tidal, Apple Music, Amazon Music, and Deezer already offer high-res audio
💰 Spotify’s new plan will apparently cost $19.99 a month
Spotify’s long-awaited HiFi audio could be a step closer to release, and it seems like the top streaming service will offer more than just high-res audio for those who subscribe.
A new “Platinum plan” tier has been spotted by 9to5Mac, and promises to include additional features such as a Headphone Tuner, Studio Sound, Library Pro, Audio Insights, Playlist Pro, and limited ads for podcasts.
The details of the new Platinum plan surfaced after a user received a survey after canceling their Spotify subscription. The survey asked whether the user would switch back “in the next 30 days” for one of the high-end features.
The Platinum plan will cost $19.99, which is $10 more than the Individual plan, which includes ad-free music listening and offline playback. That price might deter the majority of Spotify listeners, who are likely already happy with the sound quality Spotify provides, but the inclusion of limited-ad podcasts could entice more users.
It remains to be seen how the Library Pro, Playlist Pro, Audio Insights, and Headphone Tuner will work exactly, but again, the more features Spotify can include to justify the £19.99 price point, the more chance it’ll have at encouraging its 188 million subscribers to upgrade.
The addition of high-res audio to Spotify has been long overdue, as rival platforms such as Tidal, Apple Music, Amazon Music, Deezer, and more all support high-res audio. It doesn’t help that Spotify actually has the lowest streaming quality of all the music subscription services at 320kbps, which is actually lower than a CD.
Apple Music has also embraced spatial audio, making tracks sound more immersive, as though you’re listening to a live performance.
Spotify’s Platinum plan will hopefully arrive soon, then, as it’s been almost two years since it was first announced. Those who swear by Spotify and want more from their music will certainly welcome the new option but make sure you have a good pair of headphones if you want to really hear the difference.