SoundCloud subscribers get option for lossless audio quality

SoundCloud announced that its paid tier will have the option to access better audio quality streaming. Subscribers to the SoundCloud Go+ tier can opt to listen to music in a lossless format when that file type has been uploaded by an artist. The audio quality can be selected under the “Streaming quality” setting of the platform.

Improved audio quality joins other perks of SoundCloud’s paid subscription option, along with ad-free listening, offline sync, and full access to premium tracks without previews. The company did need to address questions about default audio quality at the start of 2018 when some users saw a shift as part of an audio test. Most streaming services, even ones with lossless audio available, make the higher quality an opt-in setting so that smartphone listeners don’t accidentally burn through their data plans with larger files.