Must you pay for Spotify Lossless? Provided that you meet these 3 standards

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Again in 2009, I used to be one of many fortunate few to have an invitation to Spotify’s UK launch program, when the way forward for music discovery was shiny and thrilling, not like as we speak’s bleak abyss of arist impoverishment and algorithm-induced repetition. The way it’s taken fourteen years for Spotify Lossless to lastly arrive on the scene is anybody’s guess, however now that it’s right here, my curiosity on this planet’s greatest music platform is piqued as soon as once more.

In some ways, I’m the proper candidate for Spotify Lossless. I've an inexpensive ear for high quality, am savvy sufficient to know by bit depths from my pattern charges, and personal some half-decent audio package too. Maybe Spotify’s new setting is ideal for you too, however it is best to verify that you just meet these three standards (along with residing in one of many 50 supported markets) earlier than you stump up for that Premium subscription.

A Hello-Res cellphone and headphone pairing Because the previous saying goes, “a sequence is barely as robust as its weakest hyperlink,” and with 24-bit/44.1 kHz audio beaming into your cellphone, you might want to be sure that the remainder of your setup is as much as scratch in order that the splendid high quality holds up all the way in which to your ears.

In case you’re rocking wired headphones (by way of USB-C or on one of many few telephones with a 3.5mm jack), you then’re in luck. Whereas audiophiles could quibble over whether or not a cellphone’s built-in DAC or USB-C output is completely excellent, the vital level is that what streams in primarily comes proper again out by way of wires. Which means you’re reaping the foremost constancy advantages of Spotify Lossless, so verify that field.

In case you’re a Bluetooth fanatic, nonetheless, issues get trickier. Bluetooth will inevitably compress your pristine Lossless stream right into a lossy format, shrinking the file measurement so it may be despatched over the air (once more!), losing a lot of the advantage of this premium service within the course of.

Bluetooth is the bottleneck that may make lossless streaming pointless.

It’s an oversimplification, however bitrate is vital; the upper the bitrate, the higher the standard (sure, I do know, there are many caveats!). Spotify’s Lossless recordsdata stream at roughly 2,280kbps, however even one of the best Bluetooth transmissions are capped at below 1,000kbps and sometimes a lot, a lot decrease. To suit, the audio stream bitrate must be compressed additional utilizing stronger lossy compression, which, not like lossless compression, can’t be reconverted into higher high quality later. You possibly can’t get well a tiny MP3 file to sound nearly as good because the lossless grasp, and the identical applies to Bluetooth.

Worst-case, you can find yourself transmitting by way of Bluetooth’s default 128 kbps SBC codec — assume doubtful bootleg MP3 high quality. On this case, you may as properly take heed to Spotify’s Regular setting. To truly profit from Spotify Lossless over Bluetooth, you want each your cellphone and headphones to assist a a lot higher-quality codec.

<img class="e_ih" decoding="async" loading="lazy" sizes="(min-width: 64rem) 51.25rem, 80vw" title="Headphone jack Sony Xperia 5 V" srcset="https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Headphone-jack-Sony-Xperia-5-V.jpg 1920w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Headphone-jack-Sony-Xperia-5-V-1536w-864h.jpg 1536w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Headphone-jack-Sony-Xperia-5-V-675w-380h.jpg 675w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Headphone-jack-Sony-Xperia-5-V-64w-36h.jpg 64w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Headphone-jack-Sony-Xperia-5-V-1000w-563h.jpg 1000w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Headphone-jack-Sony-Xperia-5-V-300w-170h.jpg 300w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Headphone-jack-Sony-Xperia-5-V-1280w-720h.jpg 1280w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Headphone-jack-Sony-Xperia-5-V-840w-472h.jpg 840w" alt="Headphone jack Sony Xperia 5 V" src="https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Headphone-jack-Sony-Xperia-5-V.jpg"/> Robert Triggs / Android Authority

The commonest high-quality Bluetooth codec within the Android house is LDAC, which is supported on most high-end handsets and a collection of top-tier headphones. It runs as excessive as 990kbps, although 660kbps is extra widespread. In any case, LDAC is excessive bitrate and, for those who’re technically minded, makes use of a mix of remodel encoding (like AAC/MP3) with adaptive bit-depth quantization. The result's a high-fidelity, although nonetheless lossy, encode. LHDC presents comparable capabilities however is supported on far fewer gadgets.

Bluetooth is lossy, however encoding from a lossless supply can have minor advantages for one of the best codecs.

One notable Bluetooth possibility is aptX Lossless, which helps just about lossless 16-bit/44.1 kHz audio, so your 24-bit Spotify Lossless stream will solely need to drop largely inaudible element. It’s an ideal pairing, however it's much more area of interest by way of headphone assist. Second greatest within the household is aptX Adaptive. It’s undeniably lossy, with a 420kbps most bitrate that always scales decrease, so pairing it with Spotify Lossless is questionable. At its greatest, Qualcomm says it roughly matches the standard of the older aptX HD. Nevertheless, this exams the advantages of re-encoding lossless into lossy, and, in all honesty, I doubt anybody would hear a distinction versus Spotify’s Very Excessive setting.

In case you’re locked in Apple land, you’re virtually definitely losing your time with Spotify Lossless. There’s no LDAC or aptX right here. As a substitute, the corporate’s telephones and earbuds assist AAC at 256kbps, and whereas it’s a really environment friendly codec of top quality for its measurement, it’s nowhere close to lossless. You’re higher off sticking to Spotify’s commonplace lossy streams — you gained’t hear any actual profit, and also you’ll save knowledge. Loads of different headphones and all Android telephones assist AAC and commonplace Bluetooth SBC, however once more, this quite common mixture gained’t profit from Lossless.

In spite of everything this hassle, any audible advantages from high-quality Bluetooth encoding are seemingly masked by the background noise of your each day commute. Given all of the hoops to leap via, it’s in all probability not definitely worth the problem.

An information plan that gained’t give out

<img class="e_ih" decoding="async" loading="lazy" sizes="(min-width: 64rem) 51.25rem, 80vw" title="Data Use Settings" srcset="https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Data-Use-Settings.jpg 1920w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Data-Use-Settings-64w-36h.jpg 64w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Data-Use-Settings-1000w-563h.jpg 1000w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Data-Use-Settings-1536w-864h.jpg 1536w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Data-Use-Settings-675w-380h.jpg 675w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Data-Use-Settings-300w-170h.jpg 300w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Data-Use-Settings-1280w-720h.jpg 1280w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Data-Use-Settings-840w-472h.jpg 840w" alt="Data Use Settings" src="https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Data-Use-Settings.jpg"/> Robert Triggs / Android Authority

In fact, higher-quality audio means bigger file sizes, so that you’ll want a knowledge plan that may sustain together with your newfound listening habits. That reasonably priced 5GB month-to-month allowance will really feel a lot tighter, and also you may have to improve to a extra beneficiant plan for those who’re a heavy music client. Moreover, Spotify notes that you just’ll want a provider and stable protection able to supplying 1.5-2Mbps — not precisely a tall order, however one thing to be aware of in poor 4G/5G protection.

The excellent news is that Spotify shops an area cache of tracks in your cellphone; it’s not consistently downloading new recordsdata each time you hit play, particularly for those who’re largely operating via a daily rotation. Nevertheless, for those who’re frequently flicking via curated playlists or delving down the invention rabbit gap in your each day commute, Spotify Lossless will eat via your knowledge plan far faster. Let’s do the maths, lets?

At 1GB per hour, Spotify Lossless eats via your knowledge allowance.

There are a number of variations based on Spotify’s audio high quality, however we’ll concentrate on the mobile-based setup we’re all in all probability utilizing predominantly. There are 4 conventional settings: Low, Regular, Excessive, and Very Excessive (Premium solely), starting from a tiny 24kbps to 320kbps for Premium subscribers. The automated setting picks one of the best one relying in your community’s throughput.

Spotify doesn’t quote a bitrate for Lossless’ 24-bit/44.1kHz FLAC possibility, however the firm’s promotional materials says it could possibly eat as a lot as 1GB of knowledge per hour. Doing the maths, that’s someplace round 2,280kbps — a really colossal soar in knowledge. The desk beneath exhibits simply how a lot distinction that may have in your plan.

Spotify QualityBitrate (kbps)4 minute observe (MB)1 hour playback (MB)Hours per GB Spotify High quality Low

Bitrate (kbps) 24

4 minute observe (MB) 0.7

1 hour playback (MB) 10.5

Hours per GB 94.8

Spotify High quality Regular

Bitrate (kbps) 96

4 minute observe (MB) 2.8

1 hour playback (MB) 42.2

Hours per GB 23.7

Spotify High quality Excessive

Bitrate (kbps) 160

4 minute observe (MB) 4.7

1 hour playback (MB) 70.3

Hours per GB 14.2

Spotify High quality Very Excessive

Bitrate (kbps) 320

4 minute observe (MB) 9.4

1 hour playback (MB) 140.6

Hours per GB 7.1

Spotify High quality Lossless

Bitrate (kbps) 2,280 (approx)

4 minute observe (MB) 66.8

1 hour playback (MB) 1002.0

Hours per GB 1.0

For only one hour of Spotify Lossless (assuming 1GB of knowledge per hour), you can playback 7 hours on the Very Excessive setting and virtually a whole 24-hour day on the Regular setting. Or thereabouts, like I stated, some component of cache and downloading by way of Wi-Fi will reduce the blow. However the backside line is, nonetheless a lot Spotify is at the moment consuming your of your month-to-month knowledge, I’d 10x the quantity, not less than, or presumably push it in direction of 20x for those who’re not already utilizing the best lossy setting. Actually, it’s in all probability not definitely worth the marginally perceptible enhance in high quality whereas streaming on the go.

A pleasant place to sit down and hear

<img class="e_ih" decoding="async" loading="lazy" sizes="(min-width: 64rem) 51.25rem, 80vw" title="Spotify Premium Enabling Lossless through Profile settings" srcset="https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Spotify-Premium-Enabling-Lossless-through-Profile-settings-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Spotify-Premium-Enabling-Lossless-through-Profile-settings-64w-36h.jpg 64w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Spotify-Premium-Enabling-Lossless-through-Profile-settings-1000w-563h.jpg 1000w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Spotify-Premium-Enabling-Lossless-through-Profile-settings-1920w-1080h.jpg 1920w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Spotify-Premium-Enabling-Lossless-through-Profile-settings-1536w-864h.jpg 1536w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Spotify-Premium-Enabling-Lossless-through-Profile-settings-675w-380h.jpg 675w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Spotify-Premium-Enabling-Lossless-through-Profile-settings-300w-170h.jpg 300w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Spotify-Premium-Enabling-Lossless-through-Profile-settings-1280w-720h.jpg 1280w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Spotify-Premium-Enabling-Lossless-through-Profile-settings-840w-472h.jpg 840w" alt="Spotify Premium Enabling Lossless through Profile settings" src="https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Spotify-Premium-Enabling-Lossless-through-Profile-settings-scaled.jpg"/> With the info plan, Bluetooth codec, and environmental drawbacks to cope with, Spotify Lossless — or any lossless streaming service — is unlikely to raise your each day commute. As a substitute, you’re more likely to reap the advantages in a well-set-up house surroundings, even for those who don’t have the fanciest exterior interface or thousand-dollar displays to hear on.

Sadly, Spotify doesn’t assist lossless playback by way of its net participant. Nevertheless, you probably have a USB-C interface to plug your cellphone into, a Spotify Join system or two dotted about, and even the common-or-garden desktop app put in in your laptop computer, you possibly can pump out Lossless audio via some heftier, well-built audio system, the place the standard advantages shall be most perceptible.

Spotify Lossless is greatest skilled enjoying your favourite tracks in a quiet room, relatively leveling up your each day commute.

There’s one thing to be stated for revisiting your favourite tracks in a quiet room with a top-notch pair of headphones or audio system, and discovering delicate particulars that make a tune really feel new once more. That is the place Spotify Lossless will shine — not bustling via a busy subway or belting out your favourite strains amidst the horns of a visitors jam, as enjoyable as that may be.

In abstract, there are three issues you really want to benefit from Spotify Lossless, and none of them are low cost. On the go, you’ll desire a high-quality smartphone and headphone pairing that each assist both LDAC or aptX Lossless, mixed with a knowledge plan that gained’t run out after just a few hours of streaming. However one of the best use case is probably going at house, with much less hustle and bustle, fewer distractions, and a high-quality audio setup that may actually allow you to hear the advantages.