Unlisted Connect Technology

[Aquaman]

A question I haven‘t found an answer for yet.

Is the Connect technology tied to a specific streaming service or is it a general thing that any streaming service can jump onto?

What I‘m really interested in is if a streamer just needs to have Connect on board or does it specifically have to be SpotifyConnect, QobuzConnet etc.?

 

[Burnside]

They're all manufacturer independent protocols, so Spotify Connect is different from Tidal Connect which is different from Qobuz Connect which is different from Amazon Music Alexacast etc etc etc

 

[Burnside]

In the smart home world, there have been attempts to create a common means of controlling devices under the "Matter" umbrella. I believe casting has been mooted there as an area begging for a common standard but from what I recall reading a while back, that's focussing more of video casting say from your tablet to your TV. I think we're a long way away from a common "Connect" protocol - and anyway, even if there was, Apple would still cling to their own Airplay protocol which in my mind isn't a 'proper' casting protocol in that the audio still passes thru the controlling device.

 

[Aquaman]

They're all manufacturer independent protocols, so Spotify Connect is different from Tidal Connect which is different from Qobuz Connect which is different from Amazon Music Alexacast etc etc etc

Bummer. I would wish for something that will put an end to those never-ending discussions and request of ‚add this and that service now‘.

 

[Burnside]

Bummer. I would wish for something that will put an end to those never-ending discussions and request of ‚add this and that service now‘.

You could argue that Chromecast (and even Airplay or God forbid, Bluetooth) already provide a common route

 

[jfbuk]

You could argue that Chromecast (and even Airplay or God forbid, Bluetooth) already provide a common route

Add UPnP/DLNA or even Squeezelite ?

 

[Aquaman]

You could argue that Chromecast (and even Airplay or God forbid, Bluetooth) already provide a common route

If at all, Chromecast would be the closest to that, I guess.

 

[Burnside]

Add UPnP/DLNA or even Squeezelite ?

I wouldn't put them alongside Chromecast nor Airplay as they're not options you'd see in any random audio app. I was more thinking along the lines of apps/services like Idagio, Nugs etc where their apps perhaps have the option of using Chromecast or airplay, but I'd struggle to think of audio service apps like them offering playback to upnp or squeezelite players.

 

[Aquaman]

Add UPnP/DLNA or even Squeezelite ?

I would agree if there weren‘t those individual setting per renderer.
If the industry could harmonize that and agree on a common UPnP casting technology, that would solve all problems.

 

[Burnside]

I would agree if there weren‘t those individual setting per renderer.
If the industry could harmonize that and agree on a common UPnP casting technology, that would solve all problems.

Be careful what you wish for- UPnP already is a standard but there are so many differing if not bad implementations...

 

[Aquaman]

I wouldn't put them alongside Chromecast nor Airplay as they're not options you'd see in any random audio app. I was more thinking along the lines of apps/services like Idagio, Nugs etc where their apps perhaps have the option of using Chromecast or airplay, but I'd struggle to think of audio service apps like them offering playback to upnp or squeezelite players.

Why not? If it was standardized?

 

[Aquaman]

Be careful what you wish for- UPnP already is a standard but there are so many differing if not bad implementations...

That‘s my point. They should staighten that out and be done with it.

 

[Aquaman]

Companies like Philips and Sony used to set standards in the past.
So could WiiM, once they have an adequate market position. They could define a standard and turn the world around.
Not the hardware manufactures have to implement individual protocols but the streaming services have to abide by a common protocol.
It worked for CDs with the redbook standard.

 

[simbun]

Music Assistant are developing a new protocol called Sendspin.

 

[d6jg]

Don't confuse UPnP with DLNA - they are two different things

• UPnP (Universal Plug and Play): The fundamental networking protocol that lets devices find each other and communicate automatically on a local network.
• DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance): A set of guidelines that uses UPnP to standardize how media is shared and played across different brands of devices, ensuring compatibility.

A big further problem is that devices that are capable of consuming DLNA sources can be DLNA Certified, DLNA Compatible or DLNA Compliant which are again three different things and relative to the amount ($) the manufacturer is prepared to pay for the privilege. WiiM advertising simple says under Protocols "DLNA" so who knows. The point is that there are loads of different implementations and many carry minor idiosyncracies. The guys that wrote BubbleUPnP did a fantastic job of gathering together loads of the permutations such that it is the defacto Android control point that works with the most implementations. There is a similar app for iOS - mConnect - but nowhere near as fluent in all the dialects.

My point is that despite there being a certification process DLNA is not a forcibly maintained standard. AirPlay and Chromecast are because they are controlled by single entities but both have compromises. AirPlay requires a device as a relay and Chromecast still can't handle gapless properly.

Like many I have loads of HiFi gear which support UPnP/DLNA, AirPlay, Chromecast etc but I still find myself plugging in a Squeezelite capable device into each and every one of them instead.