Spotify offers several settings that let users, particularly Premium subscribers, significantly improve the audio quality of their streaming, though many never adjust them from the defaults. The app's playback quality directly controls what is sent to the device, so tweaking it — alongside separate download settings and understanding hardware limitations — can make a noticeable difference to how music sounds.

The audio quality selector is found under Settings and Privacy > Media Quality on mobile, or Preferences on desktop, with mobile allowing separate settings for Wi-Fi and Cellular. All users can choose Low, Normal or High, while Premium subscribers also get Very High and Lossless, with an Auto-adjust toggle best switched off for consistent quality. However, Lossless CD-quality audio only works over wired connections or Wi-Fi-based systems such as Spotify Connect, since Bluetooth cannot carry a true lossless signal, meaning many earbuds and speakers won't benefit; devices like an LG C1 TV or PS5 can output 16-bit lossless via eARC, though ultimately budget headphones or speakers may not let listeners hear any difference at all.