SuperUniti front USB port doesn't work for Spotify?

Posted by: domenico on 31 January 2013

Hi all,

 

I just got my SuperUniti but now I found out the iPhone and iPad can't stream the audio from Spotify through this port?

 

So does this mean I can only hear Spotify through my SuperUniti analogue and not digital?

Posted on: 01 February 2013 by domenico

Really? Nobody here uses Spotify I guess. I hope NAIM will do something about this and just pay Apple for the licenses.

Posted on: 01 February 2013 by Adam Meredith

https://forums.naimaudio.com/se...;queryString=Spotify

Posted on: 01 February 2013 by domenico

Ehm yes thank you and as a forum owner of some really big forums I know how to search, thank you very much again.

Anyways, it's clear people all have to found out by themselves how to do this. Maybe an idea for NAIM to do something with this. I guess before NAIM does something with this I have to go through the analogue route or buy some extra equipment to make this happen. What a pity.

Posted on: 01 February 2013 by Adam Meredith
Originally Posted by domenico:

Maybe an idea for NAIM to do something with this.

What sort of thing would that be?

 

( https://forums.naimaudio.com/se...;queryString=AirPLay )

Posted on: 01 February 2013 by domenico

Airplay would be nice yes. But why not accept audio from spotify through the front usb port? Using a cable would be no problem for me.

Posted on: 01 February 2013 by Hook

Hi Domenico -

 

If you read the SU manual, you will see that the iPod is only supported in "list mode" through the USB port.  It looks like a folder of music files to your SU. 

 

Airplay to an Apple AE is one option for Spotify.  Running Spotify on a PC server or Mac Mini, connecting via Toslink and doing remote control is another.  Running Asset as your UPnP server on the same remote server as Spotify, and then doing PC sound capture to deliver as a UPnP stream is a third option.

 

As Adam points out, all of these options have been discussed at length in previous threads.  

 

Hook

Posted on: 01 February 2013 by domenico
Yes I know but why only list mode? A very old Philips Streamium device from my girlfriend works exactly the same but it just recognizes if you are connected with the front USB port and if you are playing something it just plays it through the stereo. Why not do the same with a unit that cost almost ten times as much ? 
 
NAIM please tell me that this feature will be implemented in the next update. Many others and I want it. 
 
 
Originally Posted by Hook:

If you read the SU manual, you will see that the iPod is only supported in "list mode" through the USB port.  It looks like a folder of music files to your SU. 

Posted on: 02 February 2013 by connon price
Domenico,
I agree it would be nice if the Uniti Family USB ports could play any audio from any app. I do not know why they are configured this way. I suspect it is so that the connected device can be navigated by a remote control or n-Stream app. Otherwise you could select the USB input as a source with the remote but then would have to go to the attached device to navigate. Not elegant. Also, I think the list mode is important when a USB thumb drive is installed, one has to be able to navigate its content.

You may know that the USB input on the Naim nDAC does behave as you wish, and is a better DAC to boot. Maybe considering a system reconfiguration implementing that unit would better serve your needs. Note that because there is limited ability to navigate the attached device,plugging in a USB drive with more than a couple albums is unpleasant.

It is regrettable that implementing Airplay is so expensive and difficult for a small company like Naim. Hopefully it will get solved and added in the future. It would be cool for customer ease of use. But I'm concerned that it won't sound that great for all the effort and expense and that the software or hardware required for the service may change over time. 30 pin connector now lightening connector anyone? Apple is happy to take Naim's money but I would be interested to see in the contract what responsibilities Apple has in supporting the platform into the future.
Posted on: 04 March 2013 by Luis Norton Sampaio

I use the following trick on my SU

 

Connect ipad to front USB . Run music normally

then open spotify or SpotQueue app. Music from spotify plays 

 

The I can control with my iPhone with SpotQueue remote app.

Remote control from SU also works but sometimes it disconnectsspotify from SU

Posted on: 05 March 2013 by Eargasm

Just go out and buy an Airport Express (99$)  connect it either by analog connection or digial, this is the best and most simple way to get Airplay into any Naim, this way you can stream most audio apps including Spotify directly into the stereo From iPad and iPhone.

 

Tbh, Naim is acting like a cheap and stubborn old fokker when it comes to implementing AirPlay They have been wrong many times before when they was about to predict the future, AirPlay is here to stay, accept and adapt.

 

LINN and many others do it, and have been doing it for some time now.