topic Spotify streams at low quality in Apps / Account

Spotify streams at low quality

HackerscbrHacke — Sun, 31 Oct 2021 13:21:40 GMT

When streaming spotify (using spotify connect or voice commands) on google speakers/google capable speakers, the quality on some songs is dreadful (96kbps or lower). Its been like this for at least a year but I have finally done enough troubleshooting to be able to say where I think the issue is......spotify connect and its integration in the home app.

I think spotify connect defaults to low quality when you ask your speakers to play something or if you go into the home app (via the media button)/spotify app and tell it to stream spotify on your speakers. I believe voice commands are processed via spotify connect, not chromecast, as If I specifically select a speaker or a group of speakers in the home app and then tap cast my audio, I get much better streaming quality.

It took me a while but I finally found a song that always has the issue - "Stricken" by Disturbed with the quality being noticeably low at 22 seconds into the song and onwards.

I have tried playing the same song via the following methods and these were the results:

Spotify connect - Low quality, cymbals were painful to listen to
Voice command to google speaker to play on spotify- Low quality, cymbals were painful to listen to
Chromecast from phone playing spotify - no issues, sounded good.
Voice command to google speaker to play on apple music - no issues, sounded good
Cast from apple music app on phone (assume this is chromecast) - no issues, sounded good

So in conclusion, the Home app seems to be defaulting to spotify connect, which sounds rubbish. Personally, I dont want to change to apple music but I also dont want to not have the voice command functionality of my speakers producing a low quality result when using spotify.

FYI - tried this on multiple devices so its not a cache or install issue.

The speakers I have tried this this on, all with the same result:

3 google nest minis

1 Nest wifi point

1 LG SLY8G sound bar and sub (has "dolby atmos")

Anyone got any advice or is this an issue that can be put to the devs?

Re: Spotify streams at low quality

GarrettDS — Fri, 05 Nov 2021 15:53:46 GMT

Hey there,

Sorry to hear about the issues that you're having with the Google Home and Spotify, I'm sure it's frustrating but I'm happy to help.

There are a couple things that I would suggest.

Please review this article as it has some great tips and troubleshooting steps in it.
I would suggest unlinking and relinking your Spotify account to your device or account.
Look into doing a factory reset on your speaker or device.

Please let me know if you have any further questions.

Best regards,

Garrett DS

Re: Spotify streams at low quality

GarrettDS — Mon, 08 Nov 2021 16:59:14 GMT

Hey there,
Just wanted to jump in here to check to make sure that you saw our response. Please let us know if you have any other questions or concerns as I will be locking this in 24 hours.

Have a great day.
Garrett DS

Re: Spotify streams at low quality

HackerscbrHacke — Mon, 08 Nov 2021 18:17:28 GMT

Hi. I have tried all those before and they make no difference.

Issue still persists.

Thanks

Re: Spotify streams at low quality

GarrettDS — Tue, 09 Nov 2021 20:59:07 GMT

I'm sorry to hear that you're still having the same issue. Upon doing some further research, Spotify Connect is what happens when you are listening to Spotify through a bluetooth connection. So it would make sense that it is defaulting to that if that is the connection that you are using with your speakers.

Please let me know if you have any other questions.

Best regards,

Garrett DS

Re: Spotify streams at low quality

HackerscbrHacke — Wed, 10 Nov 2021 06:51:44 GMT

That doesn't sound right as I never have Bluetooth on and when I use Spotify connect I can only see my speakers when I am connected to the WiFi.

Also if my phone is off and I use voice commands, I still have the same issue with low sound quality.

This suggests that the issue is still with the integration of of Spotify into Google home.

Re: Spotify streams at low quality

HackerscbrHacke — Wed, 10 Nov 2021 11:24:25 GMT

Also noted that the streaming/cast volume of Spotify is half that of Apple music.

To achieve the same sound volume level, the volume on the speaker has to be increase by 25 to 50 percent whilst using Spotify

Re: Spotify streams at low quality

GarrettDS — Wed, 10 Nov 2021 21:34:26 GMT

Hi there,

I found that information from Spotify, so that is directly from them. I would suggest reaching out to them with this question as well since there is no other information that I can provide you.

Apologies.

Best regards,

Garrett DS

Re: Spotify streams at low quality

GarrettDS — Fri, 12 Nov 2021 21:56:37 GMT

Re: Spotify streams at low quality

HackerscbrHacke — Sat, 13 Nov 2021 07:01:53 GMT

Hi. I've seen your response.

I've tried to log it with Spotify already and have had no response yet.

Re: Spotify streams at low quality

GarrettDS — Mon, 15 Nov 2021 17:38:55 GMT

Hey there,

I was able to find a way to disable Spotify connect if that is something that you are interested in.

Open the Spotify app on your iPhone.
Tap the gear/cogwheel icon in the upper right corner to go to Settings.
Go to Devices from the Settings window.
Toggle off the Devices Lock Screen option.

Unfortunately, I'm unable to find anything else in regards to this issue, but I'm happy to take this feedback and send it to our engineering team to have them investigate.

Best regards,

Garrett DS

Re: Spotify streams at low quality

HackerscbrHacke — Wed, 17 Nov 2021 09:57:43 GMT

Hi Garrett thanks for looking that up. Tried turning that off but still have the issue when giving voice commands to the speakers.

Re: Spotify streams at low quality

GarrettDS — Wed, 17 Nov 2021 17:25:17 GMT

Hey there,

If you're still having issues with this and you're trying to give commands to the Google Assistant, I would suggest visiting our Google Assistant Forum and writing to them there as this is a question that they would be able to help answer.

Please let me know if you have any further questions.

Best regards,

Garrett DS

Re: Spotify streams at low quality

HackerscbrHacke — Thu, 18 Nov 2021 19:52:23 GMT

Thanks, have posted the question there too.

Re: Spotify streams at low quality

GarrettDS — Thu, 18 Nov 2021 22:43:35 GMT

Hey folks,
It looks like we have come to a solution so I'm going to be locking this thread. If you have any other concerns or questions, please feel free to create a new thread.

Have a great day.
Garrett DS