Music streaming services, particularly Spotify, have become the primary means through which many people listen to music today, including those using Linux distributions like Ubuntu. Recently, Spotify has made headlines by introducing support for lossless audio streaming, a feature long anticipated by users and that competitors like TIDAL and Apple Music had already implemented.
An unexpected twist with this announcement is that there is no additional cost associated with this feature; every Spotify Premium subscriber will have access to lossless audio without needing to pay extra or subscribe to a higher tier. Gustav Gyllenhammar, Spotify’s vice-president of subscriptions, expressed excitement about the rollout, emphasizing that they aimed to ensure quality and clarity in every aspect of this new feature.
The lossless streaming, which supports up to 24-bit/44.1 kHz FLAC, provides users the ability to enjoy more detailed audio across nearly every song available on the platform, assuming their equipment can take advantage of this enhanced quality.
Does the Spotify Linux App Support Lossless?
The crucial question for Linux users is whether the official Spotify Linux app will support lossless audio. The indications are positive. The Linux, macOS, and Windows versions of the Spotify app utilize the Chromium Embedded Framework for their clients. This shared framework usually means that new features like lossless audio streaming will be available across all platforms, including the official app on Linux.
While updates typically flow through in-app methods rather than require manual installations, it’s worth noting that the web player has not been explicitly mentioned regarding lossless audio capabilities, and its API is not as conducive for third-party clients compared to alternatives.
Availability and Setup
Lossless audio is rolling out gradually to Spotify Premium subscribers in several countries, with full availability expected in over fifty countries by the end of October. Notifications for activation will appear in the app for those eligible. To enable lossless audio, users can follow these steps:
- Click on your profile icon.
- Go to Settings.
- Navigate to the Media Quality section.
- Set audio quality to lossless.
- (Optional) Enable this setting for audio downloads.
Once activated, the app will notify users with a lossless indicator in the Now Playing view. Given that lossless audio consumes more data, users should consider their internet plans and the quality of their speakers to truly appreciate the enhancements offered by this new streaming capability.
For further details, refer to Spotify’s announcement.