[Music] ASIO Output Support

[Isosceles]

Please can you add support for an ASIO audio output device?

As a owner of a separate headphone DAC + Amp, I get much better quality music when I'm using the bit-perfect ASIO output rather than DirectSound, which changes the audio bitstream before it reaches the DAC. ASIO output would be a great compliment to the Spotify high-quality streaming.

About ASIO4All : http://www.head-fi.org/t/221237/asio4all-explanation

Thanks!

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My Audio equipment : Schiit Bifrost + Asgard, Beyerdynamic DT 250 headphones

[Isosceles]

Updated on 2018-10-31

Hey folks,



Thanks for coming to the Community, and adding your vote to this idea.

We're keeping this idea set to 'Not Right Now', as this isn't something we have any immediate plans to implement. We appreciate you sharing your thoughts.

Rest assured that if we do have any new information to share, we'll check back in here with a new status.



Thanks.

[Happyaudio77]

Now that spotify hifi is happening. This needs to be integrated into the player on all platform. 

[berenj]

I like it, less cumbersome than what I currently use 'EQUIALIFY' plugin with Spotify , allows you to direct out to a any windows output, then to ASIOBridge, to Senheiser HDV820.

-M

[Happyaudio77]

Please vote here too

[Community][Developer] Wasapi, asio, direct sound.... - The Spotify Community

[Happyaudio77]

Cont to spread the word on this so this will be considered. 

[Naala1]

"Updated on 2018-10-31
We're keeping this idea set to 'Not Right Now', as this isn't something we have any immediate plans to implement."

this was roughly 3 years ago so any updates on this?

[Naala1]

"We've marked this as 'New Suggestion'.
Spotify Staff will look into this idea once it reaches the necessary amount of votes"

First of all why mark it as a 'New Suggestion' when this been requested since 2012 and that "suggestion" has a lot of votes and marked as "not right now"

https://community.spotify.com/t5/Live-Ideas/Music-ASIO-Output-Support/idc-p/5218752#M222749

Implement this into Spotify hifi on release and make sure that the "hifi" is not snakeoil like MQA and you will wreck you're competition

[pashok_cv]

Try Volume control for windows on microsoft store: https://www.microsoft.com/store/productId/9NFHVP7HNHC9

I found it by chance. Seems it assigns each audio source to chosen audio output. I configured all audio sources, incl. spotify to my native ASIO driver of soundcard ESI Maya 44.

[Mihail]

Updated on 2021-08-05

Hey everyone,

Thanks for coming to the Spotify Idea Exchange.

We appreciate the support you've shown for this idea and discussed it again with the relevant team. While it is interesting, we want to let you know that we don't have any immediate plans to implement this.

We are aware of the popularity of this idea and the desire for a similar feature to be added. Note that we've reopened the idea below and invite you to show your support, if this is something you'd like to see:

• [Desktop] Support WASAPI Output

If we do have any new information to share, rest assured we'll check back in here with a new status.

More info on why your idea has been closed can be found here.

[atrides]

many people use external sound card to improve sound quality. This card often has an ASIO driver to accurately transfer data to the sound chip. But often the ASIO driver works implicitly in the system, then programs (AIMP and Fubar) see it, but other applications do not see it. The Spotify program does not see the ASIO driver and cannot transmit an audio stream to the driver.
Can you improve the program and provide support for the driver?
On screenshot 1 you can see that the AIMP program sees the ASIO driver. In 

[alirezanoori]

First, I want to say how incredibly excited I am about the upcoming rollout of Spotify Lossless. As a long-time Premium subscriber, this is the feature I have been waiting for, and it will be a game-changer for so many of us who value high-fidelity audio.

To ensure we can take full advantage of this new tier of audio quality, I would like to formally request the implementation of a critical feature for the desktop application: True Exclusive Mode.

What is Exclusive Mode?

For those unfamiliar, "Exclusive Mode" is a feature found in other audiophile-focused applications (like Tidal) that allows the application to take exclusive control of an audio output device (like a DAC or an AV Receiver).

This is achieved by using specific audio drivers like WASAPI (Windows Audio Session API) in Exclusive Mode or ASIO (Audio Stream Input/Output). These protocols allow Spotify to bypass the operating system's audio mixer (e.g., the Windows or macOS mixer) and send a pure, unaltered, "bit-perfect" audio stream directly to the audio hardware.

Why is This So Important for Lossless Audio?

The difference in audio quality is not subtle. Without Exclusive Mode, the audio stream from Spotify is first processed by the OS mixer. This mixer can inadvertently degrade the signal by:

1. Resampling: If the system's default sample rate (e.g., 48kHz) doesn't match the track's native rate (e.g., 44.1kHz for CD quality), the OS will resample the audio, which can introduce artifacts.

2. Mixing: The OS mixer combines Spotify's audio with other system sounds (notifications, clicks, etc.), which can interfere with the signal path.

3. Volume Processing: The system's volume control applies its own digital processing, which can alter the original bitstream.

When you're listening to a high-resolution, lossless file, you want your high-quality DAC or receiver to handle the digital-to-analog conversion using the pure, original data. Exclusive Mode is the only way to guarantee this happens. It ensures that what we hear is exactly what the artist and engineers intended, without any interference from the computer's operating system.

The Current Workaround Isn't Enough

While we can currently route Spotify's audio to a specific device through the OS sound settings, this is not the same thing. The audio is still being processed by the system mixer, and the audible difference between this method and a true exclusive mode is significant for anyone with a dedicated HiFi setup.

My Proposal

I propose adding a simple toggle in Spotify's audio settings, similar to this:

• Enable Exclusive Mode [ ] (Checkbox)

  • Allows Spotify to take exclusive control of the selected audio device for the highest quality playback. Other system sounds will be muted.

This single feature would elevate Spotify from simply offering lossless files to being a true, top-tier platform for high-fidelity audio streaming. It would put it on par with dedicated audiophile services and demonstrate a commitment to providing the best possible listening experience.

With the launch of Lossless, the demand for this feature from the audiophile community will be higher than ever. Implementing it would solidify Spotify's position as the definitive choice for music lovers of all kinds.

Thank you for your time and consideration. I hope the community will join me in supporting this crucial feature.