Spotify might be on the brink of delivering the long-anticipated HiFi tier to its users. Code found within the Spotify app has unearthed intriguing details about the potential "Supremium" tier, hinting at a promising future for audiophiles and music enthusiasts.

The HiFi tier, initially announced by Spotify in February 2021, has faced a prolonged development journey. Despite the delay, the latest findings offer a glimpse into what Supremium might deliver to its subscribers. A sharp-eyed Reddit user, u/Hypixely, made these discoveries and brought them to light.

One significant revelation is the name change from "HiFi" to "Supremium," which was initially reported in a Bloomberg article earlier this year. The code now refers to this audio quality as "lossless with no lag and delays," which aligns with the audiophile expectation of pristine sound reproduction.

The Supremium tier could come packed with a host of features designed to enhance the listening experience. Notably, subscribers might enjoy up to 30 hours of audiobook content every month. Furthermore, users will have the ability to organize their music libraries by mood, activity, and genre, introducing a novel level of customization.

Spotify also seems to be catering to those who love to fine-tune their playlists. Advanced mixing tools might enable users to adjust the order of songs based on beats per minute, seamlessly transition between tracks, and filter songs within a playlist by mood or genre. An intriguing "soundcheck" feature could help users explore their listening habits and discover a unique mix of sounds.

The potential pricing for Supremium is estimated at $19.99 per month, although this figure could be provisional. This pricing aligns with a previous Spotify survey that mentioned a "$19.99 Platinum tier" encompassing HiFi audio and additional features.

Spotify's existing Premium plan currently stands at $10.99 per month. The question arises as to whether HiFi audio, AI-driven playlists, and the other features hinted at in the code are compelling enough to entice users into the higher-priced Supremium tier. Notably, competitors like Apple Music and Amazon Music already offer lossless audio as part of their standard plans, without any additional cost.

Audiophile Competition: How Does Spotify Stack Up?

As Spotify ventures into the HiFi audio landscape, it faces fierce competition from other streaming giants like Apple Music, Amazon Music, Tidal, and Qobuz.

• Apple Music: Apple Music has already introduced lossless audio as part of its standard offering, providing users with an extensive library of songs in high-quality formats at no extra cost. The simultaneous integration of both Google Assistant and Alexa sets Spotify apart in the voice assistant game.

• Amazon Music: Similar to Apple Music, Amazon Music offers lossless audio within its existing plans, making it a formidable contender in the HiFi streaming market. The potential allure of Spotify's Supremium tier will be tested against Amazon's already robust feature set.

• Tidal: Tidal has been synonymous with high-quality audio, offering users the ability to stream music in FLAC quality, a format known for its pristine sound reproduction. Supremium's success will depend on whether it can outshine Tidal's existing HiFi offering.

• Qobuz: Qobuz, known for its dedication to audio quality, delivers hi-res audio to its users. It remains a strong player in the audiophile arena. Spotify's Supremium must demonstrate its superiority to sway users from dedicated platforms like Qobuz.

Spotify remains tight-lipped about the future of the Supremium tier. When approached for comment, Spotify spokesperson CJ Stanley stated, "At Spotify, we are constantly iterating and ideating to improve our product offering and offer value to users. But we don't comment on speculation around possible new features and do not have anything new to share at this time."

As the code teases exciting possibilities, Spotify's Supremium tier could mark a significant leap forward in the music streaming industry, offering audiophiles and music aficionados a premium listening experience they've been eagerly awaiting. Whether it can stand out in a crowded field of competitors remains to be seen.