Spotify appears to be testing the hi-fi audio waters. Some users of the streaming service appear to have been chosen to test a version of Spotify’s premium features coupled with lossless, CD-quality audio. According to screenshots of the A/B testing for Spotify Hi-Fi, the potential upgrade could add between $5 and $10 a month to the existing monthly cost of $9.99. A Spotify rep didn’t have any further insights into what might be in the works, only telling The Verge that, “We are always testing new products and offers but have no news to share at this time.”
The audio quality issue has been an undercurrent of much debate in the digital music world. This optional upgrade model Spotify is testing looks similar to the one at play at Tidal, where a regular on-demand subscription costs $9.99 a month and the Tidal HiFi subscription costs $19.99 a month. Although the ability to detect differences in quality seem dependent on a listener’s background and equipment used, it’s still a point of interest and value for serious audiophiles.