what is spotify connect

Spotify Connect vs. Other Streaming Methods: Which is Best?

An ultimate guide on streaming Spotify Music with/without Spotify Connect.

Music streaming has become an integral part of our daily lives, and Spotify is one of the most popular music streaming platforms. A key feature of Spotify is Spotify Connect, which allows Spotify Premium to stream music without any interruptions from their Spotify account to any device that supports the feature.

However, Spotify Connect is not the only way to stream Spotify music. Users can also use Bluetooth or Aux cables to connect a device to speakers, cast Spotify music to compatible devices, or Spotify music for transferring to different devices with the help of AudiFab (Best for Spotify Free).

In this article, we will explore what Spotify Connect is, and how it works. We'll also show you how to stream Spotify music using other methods, and compare their advantages and disadvantages. Whether you're new to Spotify or a long-time user, this article will help you choose the best way to stream your music with ease.

What is Spotify Connect?

Definition of Spotify Connect

Spotify Connect is a feature that allows Spotify users to stream their music on different devices without interruption. It works by connecting the user's Spotify app to a Spotify Connect-enabled device, such as a speaker or a smart TV, via Wi-Fi. It's like a virtual DJ that connects your Spotify account to any device that supports it, allowing you to seamlessly switch between devices and take your music with you wherever you go.

spotify connect

How Spotify Connect Works

Spotify Connect uses a technology called Spotify Connect Protocol (SCP) to establish a connection between the user's device and the target device. SCP allows the devices to communicate with each other over Wi-Fi, ensuring a seamless streaming experience.

Requirements to Use Spotify Connect

  • 1. A Spotify Premium subscription
  • 2. A device that supports Spotify Connect: Spotify Connect is supported by a wide range of devices, including smart speakers, gaming consoles, soundbars, and TVs. Popular brands that support Spotify Connect include Bose, Sonos, Samsung, and Sony.
    Note
    : To verify whether your device supports Spotify Connect, go to Spotify's "Listen Everywhere" page or contact the manufacturer of your device.
  • 3. A stable Wi-Fi connection: To use Spotify Connect, all devices must be connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
  • 4. The latest version of the Spotify app.

How to Use Spotify Connect

Steps for Spotify Connect on Phones and Tablets (Android/iOS):

Step 1. Open the Spotify app on your phone or tablet and play a song.
Step 2. Tap on the Devices Available button on the bottom left of the Now Playing bar.
Step 3. Select the device you want to stream.
Step 4. The music should now start playing on the selected device, and you can control playback from your phone or tablet.
spotify connect on phones and tablets

Steps for Spotify Connect on Computer (Windows/Mac):

Step 1. Open Spotify on your computer and start playing a song.
Step 2. Click on the "Connect to a device" button located at the bottom right corner of the "Now Playing" bar.
Step 3. Choose the device you want to connect to from the list of available devices and click on it.
Step 4. Your Spotify music should now start playing on the selected device.
spotify connect on desktop

How to Switch to a Different Device

To switch to a different device while using Spotify Connect, simply tap on the Devices Available button again and select a new device from the list.

How to Turn Off Spotify Connect

People may opt to disable Spotify Connect to preserve device battery, enhance device performance, or maintain control over their music playback without the possibility of others interfering. Here is how to turn off Spotify Connect:

Step 1. Open the Spotify app on the device that is currently connected to Spotify Connect.
Step 2. Tap on the "Devices Available" button at the bottom of the screen.
Step 3. Select the device that is currently playing music.
Step 4. Tap on the "Device Settings" button (gear icon) in the top right corner of the screen.
Step 5. Toggle off the "Devices Lock" option.

By turning off "Devices Lock", you will no longer be connected to Spotify Connect on that device.disable spotify connect

Pros & Cons of Spotify Connect

👍 Pros:

  • High-quality sound
  • Seamless streaming experience
  • Multi-room audio

👎 Cons:

  • Only a limited number of devices are compatible with Spotify Connect.
  • Requires a stable internet connection to function properly.
  • Only available to Spotify Premium.

Best Alternative of Spotify Connect: AudiFab Spotify Music Converter

Spotify Connect is a great feature for controlling playback on compatible devices, but AudiFab Spotify Music Converter elevates your Spotify experience. If you want to enjoy your Spotify music without limitations and on a variety of devices, AudiFab Spotify Music Converter is the perfect tool for you.

With AudiFab, you can easily convert their favorite Spotify tracks into common audio formats such as MP3, WAV, FLAC, AAC, ALAC, and AIFF. These converted tracks can then be stored on a variety of devices for offline listening, providing you with greater flexibility and convenience. Additionally, the converted tracks are ad-free, which means that even if you have Spotify Free, you can enjoy uninterrupted music without annoying ads. Finally, the converted tracks are yours to keep, even if you cancel your Spotify subscription.

audifab spotify music converter

AudiFab Spotify Music Converter

  • Convert Spotify music to MP3/AAC/WAV/FLAC/AIFF/ALAC.
  • Download albums from the Spotify app to the computer.
  • Keep original audio quality, retain ID3 tags and preserve lyrics after conversion.
  • Fully support the latest Windows 11 & macOS 14 Sonoma.
  • Free updates and technical support.

How to Use AudiFab Spotify Music Converter

Let’s learn how to harness the full potential of AudiFab Spotify Music Converter with these simple instructions.

Get started with AudiFab Spotify Music Converter 

To get started, download and install AudiFab Spotify Music Converter on your computer. Once the installation process is complete, open the AudiFab application. Pick Spotify download. This will prompt the Spotify app to launch automatically.

choose spotify conversion mode audifab main interface

TIPS: Pick Web (10x speed) if your are using Mac computer.

Drag & Drop the Spotify tracks to AudiFab  

By simply dragging and dropping your desired song or playlist from the Spotify app into AudiFab Spotify Music Converter, the application will automatically detect and read the selected tracks. Once you have selected the songs you wish to convert, click the "Add" button.

add spotify music to audifab

Customize audio settings for Spotify tracks 

Next, click the gear icon to select your desired output format from AudiFab’s range of supported formats, including MP3, WAV, FLAC, AAC, ALAC, and AIFF. You can customize the output quality by choosing the bitrate that best suits your needs, or setting the folder where you wish to save your converted tracks, etc.

customize output settings

Begin conversion with AudiFab 

On the main interface, click on the "Convert" button to start the conversion process. AudiFab will convert your selected tracks into the chosen format and save them to the selected output location.

convert spotify music to mp3

Locate local Spotify music files 

After the conversion process is complete, you can find the download history of Spotify Music in the "Converted" list of AudiFab. Click on the "Folder" icon next to each song to access the local Spotify music files. Then, transfer your converted tracks to any device and enjoy listening to them offline.

check-conversion-history

Pros & Cons

👍 Pros:

  • Easy to set up.
  • High-quality sound as Spotify.
  • Enjoy a seamless listening experience.
  • Support offline playing on multiple devices
  • Available for both Spotify Free & Premium.
  • Play on multiple devices without limits.
  • No ads
  • Permanently saved the Spotify downloads.

👎 Cons:

  • The free trial version of AudiFab has limited recording time.

Extra Methods of Streaming Spotify Music without Spotify Connect

Here are some other methods to stream Spotify music without Spotify Connect. Let’s take a brief look at it.

1. Using Bluetooth or Aux on speakers

One way to stream Spotify music is by connecting a device to speakers or headphones using Bluetooth or Aux cables. This method works well for those who have older devices that do not support Spotify Connect. However, the sound quality may not be as good as using Spotify Connect, and there may be interruptions if the connection is disrupted.

  • Steps for using Bluetooth

Step 1. Turn on your Bluetooth speaker and make sure it's in pairing mode.
Step 2. On your phone or tablet, go to the Settings app and turn on Bluetooth.
Step 3. Your device should now search for available Bluetooth devices. When your speaker appears in the list of available devices, select it to connect.
Step 4. Once your device is connected to the speaker, open the Spotify app and start playing your music. The audio should automatically play through the Bluetooth speaker.

connected to the speaker with bluetooth
  • Steps for using Aux

Step 1. Plug one end of the Aux cable into the headphone jack of your phone or tablet, and the other end into the Aux input on your speaker.
Step 2. Turn on your speaker and set it to the correct input mode for the Aux input.
Step 3. Open the Spotify app and start playing your music. The audio should now play through your speaker via the Aux cable.

connect speaker to device with aux
  • Pros & Cons

👍 Pros:

  • Support the older devices that do not support Spotify Connect.
  • Easy to set up.
  • No need for additional software or hardware.

👎 Cons:

  • Sound quality may not be as good as using Spotify Connect.
  • The connection may be disrupted.

2. Casting Spotify Music to Compatible Devices

Another way to stream Spotify music is by casting it to compatible devices, such as Chromecast or Apple TV. You can do this by opening the Spotify app on your device and selecting the "Devices Available" option. They can then select the device they want to cast to and start streaming their music.

  • Pros & Cons

👍 Pros:

  • Support a variety of devices, including speakers, TVs, and game consoles.
  • Easy to set up.
  • No need for additional software or hardware.

👎 Cons:

  • The quality of the audio may be compromised due to compression during casting.
  • The connection may be disrupted.
  • Limited range of the casting device.

Comparison of Different Methods to Stream Spotify Music

  Download music to MP3 (AudiFab) Spotify Connect Bluetooth or Aux Casting Spotify Music
Device Compatibility ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ⭐⭐⭐ ⭐⭐⭐ ⭐⭐⭐
Audio Quality ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ⭐⭐⭐ ⭐⭐⭐
Availability Spotify Free/ Premium Spotify Premium Spotify Free/ Premium Spotify Free/ Premium
Ease of Use
Additional Software Requirements /
Need Internet Connection
Ads Spotify Free Spotify Free

Summary

After reading this article, you may know what Spotify Connect is and how it works, as well as alternative methods for streaming Spotify music, such as Bluetooth, Aux, or casting. After comparing the different aspects of each method, we recommend using AudiFab Spotify Music Converter for its ease of use, multiple devices compatibility, high audio quality, and ability to download and convert Spotify music to different formats. With AudiFab, you can enjoy your favorite Spotify tracks offline and on any device without any restrictions.

AudiFab Spotify Music Converter is free to try. It can be downloaded for free and converts the first minute of each audio file for sample testing. If the program meets your need, you can buy a license to unlock the time limit.

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