Spotify Lossless Review: A Great Upgrade With Many Drawbacks

Spotify has finally launched its lossless audio feature for Premium users. It’s called “Spotify Lossless,” and it allows listeners to stream music in FLAC format, up to 24-bit / 44.1 kHz. That means audio quality closer to original recordings. Many people have wanted this for years. But here’s the thing: even though it sounds like a great upgrade, for many users it brings some annoyances. It’s not quite as perfect as it might first seem.

What Spotify Lossless Offers

To start, here are the good parts what Spotify is giving users:

• Premium users in more than 50 countries will get access to lossless streaming without having to pay extra.
• he format is FLAC, streaming up to 24-bit / 44.1 kHz, which is better than “Very High” or “High” quality streams that many just used before.
• Spotify gives control: users can choose lossless quality for Wi-Fi, for mobile data, and for downloads.
• The feature works on many devices via Spotify Connect (those that support it), and they plan to support more devices (e.g. Sonos, Amazon) soon.

So far, so good. It looks like Spotify is finally catching up to competitors who already offer lossless or hi-res streaming.

Why It Feels “Inconvenient”

Despite the promise, there are several reasons why many listeners might feel that Spotify Lossless is more of a hassle than a clear win. Here are the main drawbacks, based on user reviews, technical limitations, and comparisons to other services.

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1. Hardware Matters a Lot

To get the benefit, you need decent gear:

• If you listen through Bluetooth headphones or earbuds — which many people do — you likely won’t notice much difference. Bluetooth compresses audio, so even if Spotify streams lossless, the signal is often compressed again before it reaches your ears.
• Wired headphones, good external DACs, high-quality speakers make a real difference. But not everyone has those. Many people just have the usual earbuds or phone speaker. For them, the improvements might be tiny or wasted.

2. Limited Improvement Over Already High Quality

If you have already been using the “Very High” quality option (or something close), the jump to 24-bit/44.1 kHz may not feel huge. Some tracks don’t gain much from this, especially recordings that weren’t mastered originally in very high resolution. The extra clarity sometimes shows up in detail (like background instruments, clarity of high notes), but for many songs, the difference is subtle.

3. Data, Storage, and Internet Demands

• Lossless audio files are much bigger. More data usage if you stream over mobile, and more space if you download music for offline listening.
• If your internet connection or Wi-Fi is not very strong or stable, streaming lossless might lead to buffering or interruptions.
• Battery drain can increase, because more processing is needed to decode higher-quality audio. If you use a smartphone or portable player, this can become a concern in long listening sessions. (This is known from general lossless / hi-res audio behavior.)

4. Still Behind Some Competitors

Although Spotify is now offering lossless, it doesn’t stretch as far as some other services:

• While Spotify’s top is 24-bit / 44.1 kHz, others like Apple Music, Tidal, Qobuz offer up to 24-bit / 96 or 192 kHz for many tracks. That means more headroom for fine detail, though some users might never hear it.
• Also, some services have been offering lossless & hi-res for years. Spotify is coming late. That makes this a catch-up move rather than a new leadership move.

5. Availability & Region Rollout Confusion

• Spotify Lossless is rolling out gradually; not all users have access yet. Some places get it sooner than others. If your region or device isn’t supported yet, you won’t be able to try it.
• Enabling lossless requires manually changing settings on each device. Some may not see the indicator or know how to turn it on. Also, seeing whether your device supports lossless properly (e.g. via Spotify Connect) can be confusing.

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Who Actually Benefits?

Given all this, who is the target audience that will genuinely enjoy Spotify Lossless?

• Audiophiles who already have good headphones, wired or high-end gear, maybe external DACs. Those people will hear clearer detail, richer sound, better bass, clearer highs.
• People who listen in quiet environments: home studios, hi-fi setups, good speakers. If you’re commuting or in noisy places, you might not notice much over background noise.
• People who are willing to prioritize sound quality over convenience: willing to use wired gear, use Wi-Fi/dedicated internet, manage storage, worry about battery usage.

If you’re just using everyday Bluetooth earbuds, streaming while walking, listening in a car, or using your phone speaker, this upgrade might feel like more trouble than benefit.

Final Thoughts: Is It Worth It?

So, is Spotify Lossless really much better, or just more trouble for little gain for many people?

My conclusion is: yes, it is an improvement but not an easy one. It’s meaningful for some, but for many others, it’s an inconvenient one.

If you care deeply about sound, have good gear, and are willing to adjust your habits (use wired or good Bluetooth codecs, stable internet, etc.), then turning on lossless is worth doing. The sound is cleaner. Instruments may have more texture. Vocals might feel more present.

But if you’re more casual mostly streaming via Bluetooth, listening while moving around, using regular earbuds then the difference will likely be small. Maybe tiny. And for you, the extra data, battery, technical settings, and possible confusion make this a less appealing upgrade.

Spotify has given Premium users this feature without extra cost, which is generous. But it would help if Spotify made clarity better clearly showing in which situations lossless makes sense, better support for devices, clearer indicators, and more documentation so that people understand when they are getting benefit.

Practical Tips If You Want to Try It

If you decide to try out Spotify Lossless, here are some tips to make it worth it:

1. Use wired headphones or a good DAC. Avoid Bluetooth unless your device and headphones support high-quality Bluetooth codecs that approach lossless.
2. Test in a quiet environment so you can hear subtle differences.
3. Have good storage space download lossless tracks when on Wi-Fi if possible.
4. Monitor your data usage if streaming over mobile. Use Wi-Fi for lossless streaming to save data.
5. Compare the same track in both lossless and high (320kbps or whatever your prior setting) to see whether you can hear the difference.

Bottom Line

Spotify Lossless is a welcome upgrade finally delivering lossless/FLAC streaming to Premium users without extra cost. But for a lot of people, it’s more inconvenient than transformational. There are trade-offs: gear, data, battery, and awareness needed to properly use it.

For many casual listeners, the old “Very High” setting was already good enough, and this premium tier of audio may feel like a luxury more than a necessity. But for audio lovers and those who care about sound quality, this is a meaningful step forward.

So yes, it is better but you’ll have to pay attention to your gear and your habits to really feel the benefit. If not, you may barely notice. Spotify’s lossless addition is a strong move; it’s just one that comes with strings attached.