Two major developments have highlighted the rapid evolution of high-resolution music streaming and the hardware that supports it, with Spotify edging closer to its long-delayed HiFi launch and Pro-Ject revealing a new streaming amplifier powered by WiiM’s platform.
After years of anticipation, leaked code from the Spotify app may finally signal the imminent arrival of Spotify HiFi, and it comes with a surprise.
Initially announced in 2021 as offering CD-quality audio, new evidence suggests Spotify’s HiFi tier will actually stream tracks in high-resolution audio “up to 24-bit/44.1kHz”.
The discovery, made by tech commentator Chris Messina and shared on Threads, also includes hints that the HiFi tier may be folded into the existing Spotify Premium plan as a paid add-on, rather than being a separate subscription tier.
This aligns with previous statements from Spotify’s leadership about integrating lossless audio into the platform more broadly.
That said, Spotify still trails competitors like Tidal, Apple Music, Qobuz, and Amazon Music, all of which offer 24-bit/96kHz or even 192kHz streaming.
For casual listeners this difference may not matter too much, but for audiophiles and owners of high-end headphone and speaker systems, Spotify’s offering may feel lacking, especially if switching from an existing hi-res service.
The leak also included a teaser for a rumoured ‘Optimise’ feature, which is potentially an EQ tool for premium headphones.
Meanwhile, hardware news comes from Austrian audio brand Pro-Ject, which has teamed up with WiiM to launch the new Uni Box S3 streaming amplifier.
Built on the architecture of Pro-Ject’s MaiA S3 amp, the Uni Box S3 promises 40W per channel into 4 ohms, maintaining a pure analogue signal path for all analogue inputs. That means your vinyl setup stays digital-free, even as you tap into Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.1, HDMI eARC, and streaming services via the integrated WiiM system.
The WiiM-powered streaming platform supports platforms including Qobuz, Tidal Connect, Spotify Connect and Amazon Music. Instead of following the industry’s trend of using ESS Sabre DACs, Pro-Ject opts for a Cirrus Logic CS4344 DAC, capable of 24-bit/192kHz playback.
There’s also a brand-new Pro-Ject Home app, inspired heavily by WiiM’s user-friendly design, which allows for EQ tuning, multi-room playback, and easy integration with other Pro-Ject gear.
Available now in silver or black, the Uni Box S3 is priced at A$1,649, positioning it well above WiiM’s standalone amps.
With Spotify’s slow but promising crawl toward higher-res audio and Pro-Ject’s adoption of WiiM’s software smarts, it’s clear the streaming audio landscape is undergoing a significant shift.
