Spotify Connect Bluetooth App

01-05-2021
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The streaming revolution has brought a world of convenience to music lovers everywhere. Not only can you create playlists and discover great artists you’ve never heard of before, most streaming services also allow you to download music straight to your mobile device or computer. But not all services offer the same level of connectivity options.

Yamaha MusicCast provides wireless multi-room control over music playback and streaming with the use of a free downloadable app called MusicCast Controller, available for iOS and Android™. This lets you focus on the enjoyment of your music (in both stereo and surround sound) and not on the technology behind it.

By comparison, AirPlay (which also uses Wi-Fi) and Bluetooth stream music directly from your phone to the receiving device, which unfortunately also causes your phone battery to run down more quickly. Spotify Connect is the brainchild of Spotify, the popular on-demand music service with more than 35 million songs. There are numerous levels of. With standalone streaming, however, Spotify users can stream from their wrist directly to their Bluetooth headphones or AirPods. In the app, the option is still flagged with a beta label for some.

A wide range of MusicCast-enabled products — receivers, speakers, sound bars and even turntables — offer a variety of options to set up an easy-to-use networked audio system. For those who like to use Alexa, Google Assistant or Siri, MusicCast offers even more ways to take hands-free control of your music and entertainment. It also supports Bluetooth® streaming and Apple® Airplay® … and now, with a simple (and free) firmware update, many MusicCast devices are now compatible with the latest version of Spotify Connect too, which includes the use of a Spotify free account!

Spotify Connect Bluetooth App

This latest update provides a major advantage in that Spotify Connect streams to your system via Wi-Fi® and not Bluetooth, offering better quality audio and a wider range, with fewer dropouts. Establishing a direct connection between your receiver and the internet means that your audio system streams music from Spotify directly, rather than via your phone, which instead acts simply as your remote control. By comparison, AirPlay (which also uses Wi-Fi) and Bluetooth stream music directly from your phone to the receiving device, which unfortunately also causes your phone battery to run down more quickly.

Spotify Connect is the brainchild of Spotify, the popular on-demand music service with more than 35 million songs. There are numerous levels of service available, including Spotify free, Spotify Premium, Premium for Family, Spotify for Students and Spotify Gaming — all of which offer a variety of free or paid tiers for your music and entertainment needs. Spotify free, as its name implies, is no-cost, although there are occasional ad interruptions, whereas Spotify Premium (price plans vary by country) offers unlimited high-quality streaming and no ads. Premium for Family allows you and up to five family members to use their own Premium accounts for one fixed price, while Premium for Students offers a 50% discount for a year. Spotify Gaming will play though your PS4™ PlayStation®.

There are a few other differences between the services. Spotify free streams AAC files at up to 160kbps, while Spotify Premium members have the option to stream their music at up to 320kbps. The Spotify Web player (which works through your browser) streams the free version at 128kbps and Premium at 256kbps, whereas the standalone desktop, mobile and tablet players stream Spotify free at 160 kbps and Premium at up to 320kbps.

Whichever service you choose, Spotify Connect will stream your music to up to three linked MusicCast devices simultaneously, all at CD-quality. This drops to a compressed format once you add a fourth device (or more). Up to ten devices can be used simultaneously at that compressed format.

Bear in mind that when using Spotify Connect with your MusicCast-enabled device, you have to connect directly from the Spotify app (not the MusicCast Controller app), as shown in the sequence below:

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Note: There may be times when your MusicCast device will not appear in the “devices available” menu within the Spotify app, even when the phone and receiver are connected to the same network. This can generally be corrected by unplugging AC power for a few seconds.

For a list of Yamaha MusicCast devices compatible with the current firmware update, click here.

Click here for more information about Yamaha MusicCast.


Spotify not playing over bluetooth

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Rich Tozzoli is a Grammy-nominated producer/mixer/composer based in the New York area. His credits include work with artists such as Ace Frehley, Hall & Oates, Omar Hakim and Al DiMeola. Rich's music has appeared in over a thousand TV series in 36 countries, and he has written for such shows as Live PD, Pawn Stars, Counting Cars, Duck Dynasty and NBC Olympics. Tozzoli has also authored numerous articles on audio production and technology as well as a book on surround sound mixing.

TAGS

a music loverAirPlayAppApple AirPlayaudio streamingAudio VisualAudiovisualAVBluetoothMusicCastRich TozzoliSpotifySpotify Connectwireless streamingYamaha AVYamahaAV

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For steps to play Spotify on your device, check out Spotify on speakers and sound systems.

If you need help, pick your connection type below for troubleshooting tips.

If Spotify Connect isn’t working for you, make sure:

  • Your speaker or sound system is supported by Spotify. You can check this at Spotify Everywhere or with the device’s manufacturer.
  • Your speaker or sound system is on, and connected to your WiFi network (it may have a connection indicator light).
  • If this is the first time playing to the speaker/sound system from your phone/tablet, make sure they're both connected to the same WiFi network. (I.e. if your device’s connected to 4G instead of WiFi, it probably won't work.)
  • You have the latest version of Spotify on your device.
  • All devices' software is up-to-date. If you don't know, check with your devices' manufacturer for how to check and update the version software.
  • You're not trying to play local files. These are not supported by Spotify Connect.

If you’re still having trouble after those checks:

  • Restart the Spotify app.
  • Close any other apps you’re not using.
  • Restart your devices.
  • Restart your WiFi.
  • If possible, try a different WiFi connection on the device you're playing from (i.e. your mobile or tablet).

If the problem persists, you may need to perform further troubleshooting on your device or WiFi connection. Check out the support sites for the service provider/manufacturer for help.

For help getting started with your voice activated speaker, check out Voice Assistants.

For a better experience, make sure your speaker is linked to your Spotify account. Most speakers have apps you can configure to set Spotify as your default music service, check out the manufacturer's support site for help.
Note: You can link and unlink your Spotify account at any time.

If you’re still having trouble, make sure:

  • The device you're playing from is connected to the same WiFi network as your speaker. If you're using a Bluetooth connection, check out the section below for help.
  • Your speaker software is up-to-date.
  • You have the latest version of Spotify on your device.

For help on voice commands, check the manufacturer's support site.

If your Bluetooth connection isn't working, make sure:

  • The Bluetooth devices are within 1 meter (3 ft.) of each other, and away from WiFi routers, personal computers, microwave ovens, refrigerators, etc (to avoid radio wave interference).
  • There’s no obstacle in the way of the Bluetooth communication. If a device is in a case, you may need to remove it.
  • Both devices have sufficient charge or power.
  • Turn off the Bluetooth function of other nearby Bluetooth devices.
    Note: Some Bluetooth audio devices can’t connect to multiple source devices at a time. Be sure to disconnect any current connections to use it with another device.
  • Close Spotify while establishing the connection.
  • Close any other apps you’re not using.

Once you’ve checked the above, try restarting the connection:

  1. Turn off the Bluetooth on your speaker or sound system.
  2. With the Bluetooth settings on your device with the Spotify app switched on, delete the information of the speaker or sound system.
    Tip: The setting to delete is often called ‘forget’.
  3. Turn Bluetooth off and back on for your device with the Spotify app.
  4. Turn the Bluetooth on your speaker or sound system back on.
  5. Allow approximately 20 seconds for your device to detect your speaker or sound system. Once it appears, select it to pair.
  6. Open Spotify and play something. The sound should now come from your speaker.

Didn't work?

Depending on your speaker or sound system, you may need to select it as the default for the device you’re playing from or configure the connection to allow media sharing. Look for those options in the Bluetooth settings for the device you’re playing from (i.e. your mobile or tablet).

If the problem persists, check out the support site for the manufacturer for help.

If your aux or USB cable isn't working, check the manufacturer's guide to ensure you have the correct cable for your device. If you do, you could maybe try a different one in case it's damaged.

You can also try these alternative ways to play Spotify to your speaker or sound system:

If you’re having trouble with Spotify and your Chromecast Audio device, make sure:

  • The device you're playing from is connected to the same WiFi network as your Chromecast Audio.
  • Your Chromecast Audio software is up-to-date.
  • You have the latest version of Spotify on your device.
  • You're not trying to play local files. These are not supported by Chromecast Audio.

If you’re still having trouble after those checks:

Spotify Bluetooth Issue

  • Restart the Spotify App.
  • Close any other apps you’re not using.
  • Restart your Chromecast Audio app.
  • Restart your devices.
  • Restart your WiFi.
  • If possible, try a different WiFi connection.

For more troubleshooting tips, visit the Google Chromecast Audio support site.

If AirPlay isn't working for you, make sure:

  • All devices are on the same WiFi network.
  • All devices' software is up-to-date. If you don't know, check with your devices' manufacturer for how to check and update the version software.

Spotify Not Playing Over Bluetooth

If you’re still having trouble after those checks:

Connect

Spotify Connect Bluetooth App User

  • Restart the Spotify app.
  • Close any other apps you’re not using.
  • Restart your devices.
  • Restart your WiFi.
  • If possible, try a different WiFi connection.

Spotify Connect Bluetooth App Wireless

If the problem persists, you may need to perform further troubleshooting on your device or WiFi connection. Check out the support sites for the service provider or Apple AirPlay for help.