Spotify launches 'CD quality' streaming

Spotify has introduced CD quality sound to its music streaming service in a bid to attract more users.

The sound upgrade is available to all Spotify users signing up for the companies £9.99-a-month premium service.

Since Spotify launched last year, all users have listened to music in a stream of 160 kb/s. However, earlier this year the company decided to make sound normalisation an optional setting.

Daniel Ek, CEO and Founder at Spotify, said: “Providing great sound quality has always been an important goal for us. Now, we’re taking the next step in offering an unparalleled listening experience.”

The latest upgrade doubles the Spotify's current sound quality - enabling streaming at up to 320 kb/s using the Ogg Vorbis q9 codec – equivalent to CD quality and the highest streaming rate for any digital music service.

Initially, the most popular tracks will be available at the higher bit rate, with the entire catalogue converted to 320 kb/s over the coming weeks.

The sound quality upgrade adds to a growing list of Spotify Premium’s exclusive range of features including advertising-free music, access to pre-releases, concert ticket giveaways and unrestricted travel mode.