Previously, there was an integration between Spotify and Onkyo receiver for users to stream music easily. However, now Spotify is no longer supported for Onkyo speakers. Though users nowadays can still play Spotify on Onkyo receiver with some workaround, problems with Onkyo receiver streaming pop up every now and then. Here we will walk you through all the methods in detail and show you how to enjoy Spotify Lossless quality. Plus, you will get solutions to fix Onkyo Spotify Connect now working or other issues.
Part 1. How to Play Spotify on Onkyo Receiver via Spotify Connect
Using Spotify Connect to listen to Spotify music on Onkyo receiver is the preferred method for most users. It can easily and directly stream music to Onkyo receiver from your mobile or desktop device. Besides, as now Spotify offers Lossless quality, you can access Spotify's high-fidelity 24-bit streams.
To get started, your receiver must be on the same network as your mobile or desktop device. While WiFi is convenient, audiophiles should use a wired Ethernet connection to ensure the high bandwidth required for Spotify Lossless FLAC files.
Step 1. Power on your Onkyo receiver and ensure the 'Network' or 'Net' input is enabled.
Step 2. Start the Spotify app on your mobile or desktop device, play a song and tap the 'devices' icon at the Now Playing bar or screen.
Step 3. Choose your Onkyo receiver from the device list and connect it.
Step 4. After that, you will enjoy Spotify songs on Onkyo receiver. And you will see the Lossless label next to the volume slider.
Part 2. How to Connect Spotify to Onkyo Receiver via AirPlay
For iOS users, you can use AirPlay 2 to cast Spotify music to Onkyo receiver from your mobile or desktop device. It will stream tracks at 16-bit/44.1kHz (CD quality).
Step 1. Make sure that your iPhone, iPad or Mac is connected to the same WiFi network as your Onkyo receiver.
Step 2. Open the Spotify app on your device, tap the AirPlay icon on the screen, then choose your Onkyo device.
Step 3. Once linked, the Spotify music will be streamed to your Onkyo device. And you can use your mobile or desktop device' volume option to control the receiver's output.
View also: How to Play Spotify via AirPlay
Part 3. How to Play Spotify on Onkyo Receiver via Chromecast
Chromecast is a built-in feature for Onkyo devices like TX-NR6100, TX-RZ50, etc. If you want to enjoy high-resolution or Lossless, Chromecast is a better method. It can stream up to 24-bit/96kHz quality.
Step 1. Open the Google Home app on your mobile device and make sure that your Onkyo receiver is connected to your home.
Step 2. Start the Spotify app and press the 'devices' icon, then find the Chromecast icon next to your receiver's name.
Step 3. Choose the device and start playing music. Then you will listen to Spotify music on Onkyo receiver.
View also: How to Cast Spotify to Chromecast
Part 4. How to Play Spotify on Onkyo Receiver via Bluetooth
If you prefer using Bluetooth to stream music from Spotify to Onkyo receiver, here you are. It is a better choice to stream if your home network is down or if you are hosting guests. But it is noted that most Bluetooth connections output lossy quality. Even if you are a Spotify Premium user with Lossless streaming, Bluetooth will often downconvert the file to a lower bitrate to fit the wireless bandwidth.
Step 1. Press the 'Bluetooth' button on your Onkyo remote or front panel to enter pairing mode.
Step 2. Enable Bluetooth on your mobile device and choose your Onkyo receiver from the list.
Step 3. On Spotify, find and play any track you like. Then the audio will route through your speakers.
View also: How to Play Spotify via Bluetooth
Part 5. How to Play Spotify on Onkyo Receiver Offline (For Any Model)
The methods above all require the network and the Spotify app. What if some days Spotify is down or there is no network connection? What can you do?
To help you, here we meet AudFree Spotify Music Converter. This tool is specially designed to solve Spotify streaming problems. It enables both Spotify free and premium users to download Spotify tracks/albums/playlists at 13X speed with zero sound quality loss (up to 24-bit/192kHz). This professional tool can also convert Spotify music from Ogg Vorbis format to common audio formats compatible with the Onkyo receiver. It is also smart enough to detect all metadata such as album art, title, year, genre, etc. and keep them in the downloaded Spotify music files.
With it, you can enjoy Spotify Lossless tracks on your Onkyo receiver offline anytime without any limits. Also, you can stream the converted Spotify music files on other devices you like.
AudFree Spotify Music Converter
- Transcode OGG Vorbis from all Spotify content
- Convert Spotify to FLAC, MP3, WAV, etc.
- Get Spotify on Onkyo receiver for offline playback
- Run at 13X speed, customize music output settings
AudFree Spotify Music Converter offers a free trial on both Mac and Windows versions. After installing AudFree Spotify Music Converter on your computer, let's see how to download and play Spotify on Onkyo receiver step by step.
- Step 1. Drag and add songs from Spotify to AudFree
- Open AudFree Spotify Music Converter, find and drag the Spotify music from the built-in Spotify web player to the + section of AudFree. Alternatively, you can open the Spotify music you want and tap the big + icon. After that, please tap the 'Add to list' button to load Spotify music into AudFree.
- Step 2. Define output parameters for Spotify on Onkyo
- Windows users can navigate to the 'menu' from the top-right corner of the AudFree interface. Then go to Preferences > Conversion section. Mac users have to go to the menu bar at the top-left corner of the screen and tap AudFree Spotify Music Converter. In the pop-up settings window, you can define the output parameters like output format, bit rate, sample rate, channel, etc. For your reference, most Onkyo receivers support digital audio formats in AAC, FLAC, MP3, WAV, WMA, etc.
- Step 3. Convert Spotify music as local files for Onkyo receiver
- After the settings are done, just tap the 'Convert' button to start the converting process. Once the conversion is completed, you can tap the on-screen prompts to view the dedicated folder where you choose to save all the converted Spotify songs.
- Step 4. Play Spotify on Onkyo receiver offline
- You now have the downloaded Spotify music files at hand, ready to play them on Onkyo receiver. Most Onkyo receivers come with a USB port for users to play videos/audio directly. So, you can transfer Spotify music to USB and plug it in Onkyo receiver for offline listening.
To get Spotify music for Onkyo receiver, you can also use AudFree Streaming Audio Recorder to help you. It is an all-in-one streaming music converter that supports Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, SoundCloud, Qobuz, and more streaming music services.
Part 6. Troubleshoot Spotify Onkyo Common Issues
Onkyo Spotify Connect not working? Or, Onkyo receiver Bluetooth not working? Here we will share some tips with you to fix the common issues of Spotify Onkyo receiver.
1. Spotify Onkyo 'Device Not Found' or 'Not Showing Up' Error
If your Onkyo receiver's name contains special characters or hyphens like TX-NR686, TX-8050, TX-NR515, etc., then the Spotify app may not recognize it during a network scan. So, you can try to rename your receiver.
Step 1. Go to your receiver's Web Setup by typing its IP address into a web browser on your computer.
Step 2. Go to the 'Network' settings and find the 'Friendly Name' section.
Step 3. Now, rename the device without spaces or hyphens and save it.
Also, make sure that your phone and receiver are on the same WiFi network(e.g., both on 5GHz). Or, hold the 'On/Standby' button on the front panel for ten seconds to reset/restart the device.
2. Onkyo Spotify Audio Stuttering
As Spotify now supports Lossless quality streaming, the bandwidth requirements have increased significantly. If you find your music skipping or the bitrate feels lower than 320kbps, you can try the fixes below.
Step 1. Connect your Onkyo receiver directly to your router using a Category 6 Ethernet cable for a dedicated and high-speed path.
Step 2. Go to the 'Setup' section on your receiver and make sure the 'Network Standby' is set to 'On'.
Step 3. Go to the 'Miscellaneous' section to check for a firmware update.
Part 7. FAQs about Spotify on Onkyo Receiver
What Should I Do If My Onkyo Receiver Keeps Disconnecting from Spotify Every Few Minutes?
You can check your router's "Lease Time" settings or ensure that your receiver has a "Static IP" address assigned. Frequent disconnections are often the result of the router assigning a new IP address to the receiver mid-session, which breaks the Spotify Connect handshake.
How Do I Fix the 'Spotify Discontinued' Message on Older Onkyo Models?
This is because the receiver's built-in Spotify app is obsolete. To fix this, now you can use Spotify Connect from your phone to cast music to the receiver. Or, you can use Spotify on Onkyo receiver via USB drive with the help of AudFree Spotify Music Converter.
Can I Play Spotify in Zone 2 on My Onkyo?
Yes, but with limitations. Most Onkyo receivers can only play Spotify in Zone 2 if the Main Zone is also set to Spotify (mirroring), or if you use the USB drive method. Most models cannot play Spotify in Zone 2 while a different network source (like TuneIn) is playing in the Main Zone.
Part 8. In Conclusion
Optimizing your Spotify experience on an Onkyo receiver is about choosing the right tool for your hardware. While Spotify Connect, AirPlay, Chromecast or Bluetooth offer modern convenience, the USB drive method with AudFree Spotify Converter remains the gold standard for those seeking bit-perfect and offline music playback on your Onkyo receiver. By following the steps above, you can ensure your Onkyo system delivers the premium audio performance it was designed for.
Charles Davis
Chief Editor
