Any Experience of Streamers?

Any Experience of Streamers?

Author
Discussion

Baldchap

Original Poster:

8,370 posts

99 months

Tuesday 5th March
quotequote all
I have a fairly complicated setup that we largely inherited when we moved in, think shopping centre rather than home hi-fi.

Overall I'm ok with what we have but in terms of inputs we're currently using a dedicated laptop that has Spotify installed and is remote controlled by my wife's phone. If we're having a few drinks or whatever with friends she leaves her phone with me to control music, but this has obviously results in her not having her phone, which isn't a mega problem, but there has to be a better solution.

So, question is, will something like a Cambridge Audio CXN streamer allow us to control Spotify running locally on the device from multiple phones at once by means of using the streamer's app, rather than Spotify.

Hopefully this makes sense. Thanks in advance.

NDA

22,335 posts

232 months

Tuesday 5th March
quotequote all
Baldchap said:
I have a fairly complicated setup that we largely inherited when we moved in, think shopping centre rather than home hi-fi.

Overall I'm ok with what we have but in terms of inputs we're currently using a dedicated laptop that has Spotify installed and is remote controlled by my wife's phone. If we're having a few drinks or whatever with friends she leaves her phone with me to control music, but this has obviously results in her not having her phone, which isn't a mega problem, but there has to be a better solution.

So, question is, will something like a Cambridge Audio CXN streamer allow us to control Spotify running locally on the device from multiple phones at once by means of using the streamer's app, rather than Spotify.

Hopefully this makes sense. Thanks in advance.
Spotify is best controlled by an app on iPhone/Android/iPad/laptop - this is because streamers either have no display, or a limited/small one that is a bit painful to navigate.

But your post is essentially asking can we control the streamer, which would be running Spotify independently, from various phones. Yes, you can. This is 'Spotify Connect'. Give the streamer your log in credentials and it talks directly to Spotify (and your hifi) - you then control the streamer from its app and would not require the Spotify app on your phone to access Spotifys' library.

Does that make sense?

AnotherGuy

827 posts

255 months

Tuesday 5th March
quotequote all
Spotify allows multiple users to control the music.

ie. I start streaming Spotify to my Alexa speakers or Google Chromecast and anyone else on my Wifi network can then see the playlist and control whats up next etc using Spotify on their device.

It's called a Spotify Group Session. I *think* you need a subscription - I have one, so I don't know if its available on the free tier.

NorthDave

2,413 posts

239 months

Tuesday 5th March
quotequote all
I'd be installing a Sonos connect. Any mobile on the WiFi with the app can control the music.

Baldchap

Original Poster:

8,370 posts

99 months

Tuesday 5th March
quotequote all
AnotherGuy said:
Spotify allows multiple users to control the music.

ie. I start streaming Spotify to my Alexa speakers or Google Chromecast and anyone else on my Wifi network can then see the playlist and control whats up next etc using Spotify on their device.

It's called a Spotify Group Session. I *think* you need a subscription - I have one, so I don't know if its available on the free tier.
That's interesting. We do have a subscription. I'll take a look, thank you.

ETA: This 100% solves our problem. Thank you!

Edited by Baldchap on Tuesday 5th March 12:45

Semmelweiss

1,755 posts

203 months

Tuesday 5th March
quotequote all
Wiim Pro+ as a streamer. It streams more protocols than any other streamers. Exceptional value for money and the Wiim App is excellent.

Output to your Integrated Amp.

QJumper

2,709 posts

33 months

Tuesday 5th March
quotequote all
Baldchap said:
I have a fairly complicated setup that we largely inherited when we moved in, think shopping centre rather than home hi-fi.

Overall I'm ok with what we have but in terms of inputs we're currently using a dedicated laptop that has Spotify installed and is remote controlled by my wife's phone. If we're having a few drinks or whatever with friends she leaves her phone with me to control music, but this has obviously results in her not having her phone, which isn't a mega problem, but there has to be a better solution.
You could just buy a cheap android phone (used Moto Gs are around £50) and use that as a dedicated remote for your streaming services.

AnotherGuy

827 posts

255 months

Tuesday 5th March
quotequote all
Baldchap said:
AnotherGuy said:
Spotify allows multiple users to control the music.

ie. I start streaming Spotify to my Alexa speakers or Google Chromecast and anyone else on my Wifi network can then see the playlist and control whats up next etc using Spotify on their device.

It's called a Spotify Group Session. I *think* you need a subscription - I have one, so I don't know if its available on the free tier.
That's interesting. We do have a subscription. I'll take a look, thank you.

ETA: This 100% solves our problem. Thank you!

Edited by Baldchap on Tuesday 5th March 12:45
No problem. I discovered it by accident, but it's really useful thumbup

rodericb

7,260 posts

133 months

Thursday 7th March
quotequote all
Yeah the Wiim is good. No display on it so you'll need some device to control it.

Something a bit different: Russound has a tablet control type of thing called the XTS7: https://www.russound.com/products/audio-systems/mu... which you'd connect to their MBX-PRE streamer: https://www.russound.com/products/audio-systems/st... I haven't used the Russound stuff, I was looking at getting their MBX-AMP for my garage but got a Wiim Amp this week instead. and now I'm man-maths'ing some sort of touchscreen device to control the Wiim amp....

Edited by rodericb on Thursday 7th March 09:48


Edited by rodericb on Thursday 7th March 09:49

Semmelweiss

1,755 posts

203 months

Thursday 7th March
quotequote all
rodericb said:
Yeah the Wiim is good. No display on it so you'll need some device to control it.

Something a bit different: Russound has a tablet control type of thing called the XTS7: https://www.russound.com/products/audio-systems/mu... which you'd connect to their MBX-PRE streamer: https://www.russound.com/products/audio-systems/st... I haven't used the Russound stuff, I was looking at getting their MBX-AMP for my garage but got a Wiim Amp this week instead. and now I'm man-maths'ing some sort of touchscreen device to control the Wiim amp....

Edited by rodericb on Thursday 7th March 09:48


Edited by rodericb on Thursday 7th March 09:49
The phone/tablet app is brilliant. Spotify connect allows you to control it using the Spotify app too.

TEKNOPUG

19,336 posts

212 months

Thursday 7th March
quotequote all
If you are going to the expense of dedicated streamer, I'd use something better than Spotify to feed it.

Semmelweiss

1,755 posts

203 months

Thursday 7th March
quotequote all
It's only an example, and agree that Spotify is Low-Fi - been waiting for the promised Hi-Fi option for ages now. It supports :

AirPlay 2, Chromecast Audio, DLNA, Spotify Connect, TIDAL Connect, Amazon Music Casting, Qplay 2.0, Roon Ready

Amazon Music HD is truly amazing quality, and suits me, since I don't fancy having CDs, Super Audio CDs or Vinyl lying around. The application is better than it was was...

Ranger 6

7,185 posts

256 months

Thursday 7th March
quotequote all
Baldchap said:
... a dedicated laptop that has Spotify installed and is remote controlled by my wife's phone. If we're having a few drinks or whatever with friends she leaves her phone with me to control music,
I have Spotify on my phone, iPad and TV. If we have people for drinks/dinner etc I use the iPad in the kitchen as a 'controller' or in the lounge just playing from the TV through the sound system.

Can't you use a different device with the account on - tablet etc so your wife keeps her phone?