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Spotify Box

evanhailey.com

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Re: Spotify Box

#21

Post by apecat »

briandoll wrote: post #2

I was wondering what the advantage is to building something like this, compared to just using a bluetooth adapter that connects via RCA cables (like this box does). I suppose one advantage is that if you walk far away from your stereo, you can loose bluetooth connection and drop audio, where this device has it's own WiFi connection and pulls Spotify audio directly, and is just manually controlled via your phone.

The tradeoff seems to be that

* Bluetooth offers limited range and uses more battery, and is usually interrupted if someone calls, but supports any application that can play sound.

* Spotify Connect is its own Spotify client and downloads the audio stream from Spotify which allows freedom to roam. But the implementation is indeed limited to Spotify and doesn't support niceties like volume normalization or nerdy details like crossfade (and perhaps not gapless playback)

Re: Spotify Box

#22

Post by mustacheemperor »

briandoll wrote: post #2

I was wondering what the advantage is to building something like this, compared to just using a bluetooth adapter that connects via RCA cables (like this box does). I suppose one advantage is that if you walk far away from your stereo, you can loose bluetooth connection and drop audio, where this device has it's own WiFi connection and pulls Spotify audio directly, and is just manually controlled via your phone.

Bluetooth is inherently lossy/compressed, whereas Spotify Connect directly streams 320kbps to the client device. I’m not sure how much that advantage is negated on a device with such a cheap DAC, but cheap DACs can be good. Bluetooth audio is always going to have some quality compromises, and it looks like this device is intended for a component stereo setup where quality matters.

Worth noting streaming Spotify over Chromecast (like on a chromecast audio) is oddly enough limited to 256 kbps AAC. The TV chromecast devices support Spotify Connect, I guess because they boot the full app GUI.

Re: Spotify Box

#23

Post by extr »

hammock wrote: post #20
briandoll wrote: post #2

I was wondering what the advantage is to building something like this, compared to just using a bluetooth adapter that connects via RCA cables (like this box does). I suppose one advantage is that if you walk far away from your stereo, you can loose bluetooth connection and drop audio, where this device has it's own WiFi connection and pulls Spotify audio directly, and is just manually controlled via your phone.

It's Chromecast Audio, but for Spotify.

Still can't believe they stopped manufacturing these. Such a perfect and cheap solution to the same problem as OP: streaming audio over WiFi to a "dumb" speaker.

Re: Spotify Box

#24

Post by Klonoar »

Since it uses spotifyd, this only works with Premium accounts right?

Very cool project otherwise, love the end result.

Re: Spotify Box

#26

Post by minimaul »

briandoll wrote: post #2

I was wondering what the advantage is to building something like this, compared to just using a bluetooth adapter that connects via RCA cables (like this box does). I suppose one advantage is that if you walk far away from your stereo, you can loose bluetooth connection and drop audio, where this device has it's own WiFi connection and pulls Spotify audio directly, and is just manually controlled via your phone.

I think to be honest a project like this is not just about practical advantages.

It's fun, and it's an amazing learning exercise.

Re: Spotify Box

#27

Post by mikewave »

feelepxyz wrote: post #18
mikewave wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Any recommendations for the DAC? I'm using a USB sound card right now on my Volumio Pi but haven't been thrilled about it. What I really want is SPDIF coaxial or optical output, on the cheap.

I’ve been using a HifiBerry DAC (DAC+ DSP) with a RBP and their HifiBerry OS which comes with a bunch of streaming services built in, the DSP DAC also allows you to upload a profile to adjust for room acoustics.

Slick, thank you!

Re: Spotify Box

#28

Post by paxys »

Very cool! For those looking for a commercial solution Echo Input (~$25) supports this as well – albeit with an Amazon-sized middleman.

Re: Spotify Box

#29

Post by paxys »

briandoll wrote: post #2

I was wondering what the advantage is to building something like this, compared to just using a bluetooth adapter that connects via RCA cables (like this box does). I suppose one advantage is that if you walk far away from your stereo, you can loose bluetooth connection and drop audio, where this device has it's own WiFi connection and pulls Spotify audio directly, and is just manually controlled via your phone.

Bluetooth is terrible for music streaming.

- Your phone has to be connected the entire time

- Quality is flaky

- It has to stay in range

- You have to manually disconnect/reconnect it every time

- You can't take calls while playing music

- Only one person/phone can connect to the speaker at a time

- It drains battery

Having the speaker stream directly from the internet while having your phone (or multiple phones, or web browser, or voice etc.) acting as a remote is a game changer.

Re: Spotify Box

#30

Post by palijer »

I dove down this road and was going to build something like this to pair Spotify Connect with my new Focal Solo6 Be's, but ended up settling on a Cambridge Audio CXNv2 network streamer instead.

Cool project! I might venture down here again in the future, is a great thing to write about.

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