Thursday, 06 November 2014 08:37

Onkyo with Spotify Connect and Remote 3

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Onkyo release firmware update that gives Spotify Connect to the 2014-receivers, and also Remote 3 launches. We have tried them both.

Onkyo is really on a roll at the moment. Shortly after rolling out a firmware update for Dolby Atmos, a new update arrives that gives Spotify Connect to all 2014 models of AV Receivers. Now there is nothing new with Spotify integration in these AV receivers. But despite the fact that you might have read something different in a magazine, this has not been in the shape of Spotify Connect.

Spotify Connect is a system in which you operate Spotify via your regular Spotify app on your mobile or tablet, and then let your AV receiver handle the actual streaming. You simply tap the speaker icon inside Spotify, and select the appropriate receiver. And the Onkyo AV receiver automatically turns on from "standby", and the correct input is selected. Extremely comfortable.

This differs from the old implementation of Spotify in Onkyo's 2014 models, which either did music selection via remote control, or using the mobile app Onkyo Remote 2 . The former variant was close to useless, while the other version was usable, but slowly.

To use Spotify's own app is a completely different world, both in terms of usability and responsiveness. And if you are also choosing a tablet as a control surface, the advantage is even greater. It only remains that Spotify Connect will be made available also for PC app, but this limitation lies with Spotify - not with Onkyo.

Concurrently with Spotify Connect implemented in AV receivers, Onkyo has chosen to remove the ability for music selections in Spotify via Onkyo Remote 2 app and via remote control. This will not be deeply missed. However, it is important that all other controls of Spotify may be performed from both remote and Remote 2 (and 3).

 

 

 

Remote 3

The other news from Onkyo is that the app for iPhone and iPod Touch has a new version. Remote 2 has grown into Remote 3 . Onkyo has like many other manufacturers of AV receivers created a handy app for control of AV receivers . This has been a very important element in a comfortable operation of these receivers, and Onkyo's app has worked well even though it has not been the best in class.

With Remote 3 there are several improvements, and the entire layout is new. Perhaps the most important improvement is that the app now has much faster response. The response time was a tick by Remote 2, and this is now fixed in the new app. Another advance is that you get much more directly to the various webradio- and streaming services. These are now selected flat as a separate department under input selection. A major advance in the use of AV receivers for streaming, where it may be particularly interesting to note that French Deezer as a dangerous and aggressive upcoming competitor to Spotify, WiMP and Beat on the Norwegian market. Not least because of Sonos having a campaign with a year subscription included with the purchase of Play: 1.

Unfortunately Remote 3 is neither available for iPad or PC. So, unless Onkyo launches iPad variant of the first, there is every reason to want an iPhone 6 Plus for Father's Day.

 

Read more about the new update from Onkyo.

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Karl Erik Sylthe

Redaktør i Audiophile.no

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