A new era for music lovers

Just a few years ago, music streaming was primarily about convenience. Sound quality was secondary, and most services offered compressed audio with low bitrates to ensure fast playback and low data usage. Today, the situation is dramatically different. Faster internet connections and new streaming services focused on audio quality have ushered in a new era where the listening experience takes center stage.

From 96 kbps to 24-bit/44.1 kHz

Early streaming services like Spotify offered audio at 96 kbps (Low Quality) and 160 kbps (Standard Quality), with Premium subscriptions reaching up to 320 kbps in Ogg Vorbis format. This was sufficient for casual listening but far from CD quality (1,411 kbps in uncompressed PCM).

Today, several services offer Lossless and High Resolution formats:

• Tidal HiFi Plus: Up to 24-bit/192 kHz in FLAC
• Qobuz Studio Premier: Up to 24-bit/192 kHz in FLAC
• Apple Music Lossless: Up to 24-bit/192 kHz in ALAC
• Spotify Lossless (HiFi): 24-bit/44.1 kHz in FLAC

With Spotify Lossless, users get an audio experience that matches CD quality and goes a step further with 24-bit depth for better dynamics and detail.

The role of the internet

This development is possible thanks to massive improvements in internet infrastructure. Gigabit connections and 5G have become common, making it possible to stream lossless audio without buffering—even on mobile devices. The technological barrier that once limited sound quality is gone.

Comparison: Spotify vs. competitors

A new era for music lovers

With Spotify Lossless, there’s no longer a compromise between convenience and quality. Music lovers now have access to an audio experience that matches CD quality and adds extra detail—directly from their favorite streaming service.

Silverback by System Audio – Built for Hi-Res streaming

To unlock the full potential of lossless streaming, you need speakers that can reproduce the full depth and detail of the music. Silverback speakers from System Audio are designed for this purpose. With built-in DSP, wireless functionality, and support for High Resolution audio, silverback is the perfect match for modern streaming services.

They reproduce music with precision and clarity, allowing you to hear nuances that were previously lost—from the faintest whisper to the deepest bass. Silverback is 100% digital, meaning the sound is converted only once, preserving its quality.

Conclusion

Music streaming is no longer just about convenience—it’s about top-quality experiences. With Spotify Lossless and other High Resolution services, we’ve entered a new era for music lovers. Combined with speakers like System Audio silverback, this experience can be fully enjoyed.

Explore our technology:

• Wireless speakers
• Wired speakers
• About System Audio