Spotify Connect for PC/Mac... Available Nov 7th

Posted by: Kendrick on 16 November 2014

Spotify has recently included the Connect feature in the latest software update to let users stream music directly to their computer, using a phone or tablet as a remote.   The application is well designed, easy to use, and includes an artist radio feature similar to Pandora.  The music is streamed directly to the computer bypassing the phone or tablet, so it may sound better than Apple Airplay which routes the music through those devices.  Naim is integrating this feature in the Uniti product line, but now who use PC or MAC as a music source can enjoy the benefits of Spotify Connect.

Posted on: 16 November 2014 by Kendrick
Originally Posted by Kendrick:

Spotify has recently included the Connect feature in the latest software update to let users stream music directly to their computer, using a phone or tablet as a remote.   The application is well designed, easy to use, and includes an artist radio feature similar to Pandora.  The music is streamed directly to the computer bypassing the phone or tablet, so it may sound better than Apple Airplay which routes the music through those devices.  Naim is integrating this feature in the Uniti product line, but now thosewho use PC or MAC as a music source can enjoy the benefits of Spotify Connect.

 

Posted on: 16 November 2014 by Jan-Erik Nordoen

Thanks Kendrick ! Just installed it on the Mac.

Posted on: 16 November 2014 by NickSeattle
Good news!  SpotRemote.app has done this reasonably well in the past.  The dead response I have received at suggesting it led me to understand most prefer the phone itself to be the source, crappy though it may be.

Nick
Posted on: 16 November 2014 by NickSeattle
Originally Posted by NickSeattle:
Good news!  SpotRemote.app has done this reasonably well in the past.  The dead response I have received at suggesting it led me to understand most prefer the phone itself to be the source, crappy though it may be.

Nick

OK. Updated Spotify on the Mac Mini and iPhone.  It works!  Nice to have one less app.  Not sure fidelity is the same -- TBD.

 

Powered off the iPhone to prove it is not the source -- guess that settles it.  Must be same as SpotRemote.  (This will be a non-starter for those who prefer to throw from the phone - oh well.)

 

Listening to Belo - Natif Natal "Pa lage sa" - Great sound for MP3!  Thanks to Matthew at Hawthorne Stereo for that.

 

Still, sounds better to me from SBT than Mini.

 

Nick

 

Nick

Posted on: 16 November 2014 by joerand
Originally Posted by NickSeattle:
Thanks to Matthew at Hawthorne Stereo for that.

Matthew is also a great resource on the vinyl side

Posted on: 16 November 2014 by NickSeattle
Originally Posted by NickSeattle:
Originally Posted by NickSeattle:
Good news!  SpotRemote.app has done this reasonably well in the past.  The dead response I have received at suggesting it led me to understand most prefer the phone itself to be the source, crappy though it may be.

Nick

OK. Updated Spotify on the Mac Mini and iPhone.  It works!  Nice to have one less app.  Not sure fidelity is the same -- TBD.

 

Powered off the iPhone to prove it is not the source -- guess that settles it.  Must be same as SpotRemote.  (This will be a non-starter for those who prefer to throw from the phone - oh well.)

 

Listening to Belo - Natif Natal "Pa lage sa" - Great sound for MP3!  Thanks to Matthew at Hawthorne Stereo for that.

 

Still, sounds better to me from SBT than Mini.  Therefore, I am hopeful that Spotify Connect native on the Naim streamers will rule.

 

Nick

 

Posted on: 19 November 2014 by Microbiologycory
Originally Posted by Kendrick:

Spotify has recently included the Connect feature in the latest software update to let users stream music directly to their computer, using a phone or tablet as a remote.   The application is well designed, easy to use, and includes an artist radio feature similar to Pandora.  The music is streamed directly to the computer bypassing the phone or tablet, so it may sound better than Apple Airplay which routes the music through those devices.  Naim is integrating this feature in the Uniti product line, but now who use PC or MAC as a music source can enjoy the benefits of Spotify Connect.

I'm confused...I've output Pandora (and I thought Spotify) from a Mac via toslink to the UQ2 before now...or are you saying that UQ2 will now pull wirelesslly from Mac/PC?  How to setup?

Posted on: 19 November 2014 by Kendrick

Hi Cory -  My post was letting others know that Spotify has introduced another way to remotely control Spotify music streams.   Before this recent change, Spotify could be controlled (1) at a computer, (2) with 2nd party apps (Spot Remote or Remoteless) or (3) Airplay.  The apps were rather utilitarian, and Airplay often compromised sound quality.  The new feature works much like Airplay but instead of routing music thru the phone or tablet to your stereo, music streams directly to your computer.  As a result, it may sound better that Airplay.  Your UQ2 and other Uniti series products will gain a similar feature soon with a software/firmware upgrade.  My post is really more of interest to those using a computer to stream Spotify.  More information is available at:  https://www.spotify.com/us/connect/.

Posted on: 20 November 2014 by Lee Piercy

Thanks for pointing this out! I rum headless so perfect!  In fact, although I prefer the sound of Tidal, I am sticking with Spotify until Tidal improves functionality. 

Posted on: 22 November 2014 by blodsbror

What I´m actually waiting for is for the Spotify desktop apps, to support Spotify connect. I much prefer controlling music from a laptop that an IOS/Android device - as often I´m working on the laptop and want to control music from there instead of another device.