More than two years after announcing “Spotify HIFI”, it seems that the world’s most popular audio streaming network has finally decided to join its competitors and offer higher sound quality. The feature will be part of an expensive subscription plan, which will also offer additional features and benefits.

Years after competitors like Tidal first offered it, Spotify is considering adding a feature that audiophiles around the world are eagerly awaiting: quality sound, at a higher level than the existing one. Like its competitors, the world’s most popular audio streaming platform will also offer this option as part of a more expensive subscription that the company currently calls “Premium”. Thus, according to a report in Bloomberg.

In fact, Spotify announced the improved audio back in February 2021 and even attached the rhyming name “Spotify HIFI” to it, but did not launch it during the next two years and only now, as part of the new subscription plan, does it really intend to launch later this year, first in non-American markets.

The pricing of Spotify’s new and premium subscription track has been the subject of much speculation over the past two years – especially in light of the fact that competitors such as Amazon Music and Apple Music have begun offering enhanced streaming audio as part of their base plan, at no extra charge. According to Bloomberg, one of the main reasons for the long delay in launching the service is the announcements by Amazon and Apple.

Now, in any case, Spotify is talking about trying to reach a model that will generate profitability from this feature, when according to sources familiar with the matter, the company is considering charging $19.99 for the improved audio track, which, as mentioned, is part of a subscription program under which additional features and benefits will be offered.

Today, a regular premium subscription to Spotify costs $9.99, while its competitors Amazon and Apple recently raised the price to $10.99. According to Bloomberg, Spotify is also considering soon including a certain amount of audiobook hours in the regular premium track – first in the US and then in other markets.