Build a Spotify Connect Device with Raspberry Pi

Turning a Raspberry Pi into a dedicated Spotify Connect receiver is one of the most satisfying audio projects you can build. For under $50, you get a streaming device that rivals commercial solutions costing three times as much.

I’ve been running raspberry pi spotify setups in three rooms for over a year now. The combination of low power consumption, flexible audio outputs, and seamless Spotify integration makes this project incredibly practical. Control everything from your phone while music plays through any speaker you choose.

This guide walks you through building your own spotify connect pi device, from basic setups using the built-in audio jack to audiophile configurations with dedicated DAC boards.

What is Spotify Connect?

Spotify Connect lets you use your phone, tablet, or computer as a remote control while audio plays on a separate device. Your phone doesn’t stream the music—it just tells the receiving device what to play.

Spotify Connect Advantages

Benefit	Description
Phone becomes remote	Your phone controls playback but doesn’t stream audio
Saves battery	Audio streams directly to Pi, not through your phone
Seamless handoff	Switch control between devices without interrupting music
Network streaming	Works anywhere on your home network
Multi-room potential	Deploy multiple Pis throughout your home

Important: Spotify Connect requires a Spotify Premium subscription. Free accounts cannot use this feature.

Hardware Requirements

Raspberry Pi Model Selection

Any modern Pi works, but some models are better suited for dedicated audio.

Pi Model	Suitability	Notes
Pi Zero 2 W	Excellent	Compact, low power, perfect for hidden installs
Pi 3B/3B+	Excellent	Great balance of power and availability
Pi 4B (2GB)	Excellent	More than enough for audio streaming
Pi 5	Overkill	Works fine but unnecessary for audio-only

For a dedicated raspberry pi spotify device, the Pi Zero 2 W or Pi 3B+ offers the best value. The Pi 4 works perfectly but consumes more power for a task that doesn’t need its processing capabilities.

Complete Hardware List

Component	Basic Setup	Audiophile Setup
Raspberry Pi	Pi Zero 2 W or Pi 3B+	Pi 3B+ or Pi 4
Power Supply	5V/2.5A adapter	Quality 5V/3A supply
MicroSD Card	8GB minimum	16GB+ high-endurance
Audio Output	3.5mm jack (built-in)	DAC HAT board
Speakers	Any powered speakers	Quality bookshelf speakers + amp
Case	Basic enclosure	Case compatible with DAC HAT

Audio Output Options

Output Method	Quality	Best For
3.5mm headphone jack	Basic	Testing, casual listening
HDMI audio	Good	Connecting to TV/receiver
USB DAC	Very Good	Improved quality without HAT
I2S DAC HAT	Excellent	Best audio quality

Software Options for Spotify Connect Pi

Several software solutions enable spotify connect pi functionality. Here’s how they compare.

Software Comparison

Software	Complexity	Features	Best For
Raspotify	Very Easy	Spotify Connect only	Dedicated streaming
Volumio	Easy	Multi-source, web UI	Full music system
moOde Audio	Moderate	Audiophile features	Serious listening
HiFiBerryOS	Easy	HiFiBerry integration	HiFiBerry DAC users
spotifyd	Moderate	Lightweight daemon	Advanced users

For most users, Raspotify offers the simplest path to a working raspberry pi spotify setup.

Raspotify Installation Guide

Raspotify uses librespot, an open-source Spotify Connect client, and packages everything for easy Raspberry Pi installation.

Step 1: Prepare Your Raspberry Pi

Start with a fresh Raspberry Pi OS Lite installation. The desktop version works but wastes resources for a headless audio device.

sudo apt update

sudo apt upgrade -y

Step 2: Install Raspotify

The installation is remarkably simple—a single command handles everything:

sudo apt-get -y install curl && curl -sL https://dtcooper.github.io/raspotify/install.sh | sh

This script installs Raspotify and all dependencies, configures the service to start automatically, and enables your Pi as a Spotify Connect device immediately.

Step 3: Verify Installation

Check that Raspotify is running:

sudo systemctl status raspotify

You should see “active (running)” in the output.

Step 4: Connect from Spotify

Open Spotify on your phone or computer. Tap the device icon (speaker symbol) and your Raspberry Pi should appear in the list as “raspotify” followed by your hostname.

Select it, play music, and audio streams through your Pi’s audio output.

Configuration Options

Raspotify works immediately after installation, but customization improves the experience.

Editing Configuration

Open the configuration file:

sudo nano /etc/raspotify/conf

Key Configuration Options

Option	Purpose	Values
LIBRESPOT_NAME	Device name in Spotify	Any text string
LIBRESPOT_BITRATE	Audio quality	96, 160, 320
LIBRESPOT_DEVICE	Audio output device	ALSA device name
LIBRESPOT_INITIAL_VOLUME	Starting volume	0-100

Example Configuration

LIBRESPOT_NAME=”Living Room Pi”

LIBRESPOT_BITRATE=”320″

LIBRESPOT_INITIAL_VOLUME=”50″

After editing, restart the service:

sudo systemctl restart raspotify

Improving Audio Quality with DAC HATs

The Raspberry Pi’s built-in audio is functional but limited. A dedicated DAC (Digital-to-Analog Converter) dramatically improves sound quality.

Popular DAC HAT Options

DAC Board	Price Range	Output Type	Notes
HiFiBerry DAC+ Standard	$30-35	RCA	Great entry point
HiFiBerry DAC2 Pro	$45-50	RCA	Audiophile quality
IQaudio DAC Pro	$40-45	RCA	Excellent value
HiFiBerry Amp2	$55-60	Speaker wire	Built-in amplifier
JustBoom DAC HAT	$35-40	RCA	Good mid-range option

DAC HAT Installation

1. Power off your Raspberry Pi
2. Attach the DAC HAT to the GPIO pins
3. Boot the Pi and edit /boot/firmware/config.txt
4. Add the appropriate device tree overlay

For HiFiBerry DAC+:

dtoverlay=hifiberry-dacplus

1. Disable onboard audio:

dtparam=audio=off

1. Reboot and configure Raspotify to use the DAC

Configuring Raspotify for DAC

Find your DAC’s ALSA device name:

aplay -l

Add to Raspotify configuration:

LIBRESPOT_DEVICE=”hw:sndrpihifiberry”

Adjust the device name to match your specific DAC.

Multi-Room Audio Setup

Deploy multiple raspberry pi spotify devices throughout your home for whole-house audio.

Multi-Room Architecture

Room	Pi Model	Audio Setup
Living Room	Pi 4 + DAC2 Pro	High-end speakers
Kitchen	Pi Zero 2 W	Small powered speakers
Bedroom	Pi 3B+ + Amp2	Bookshelf speakers
Garage	Pi Zero 2 W	Weatherproof speaker

Each Pi appears as a separate Spotify Connect device, allowing independent control or grouped playback through Spotify’s built-in grouping feature.

Power Considerations

Setup	Power Consumption
Pi Zero 2 W + 3.5mm	~1W
Pi 3B+ + USB DAC	~3W
Pi 4 + DAC HAT	~4W
Pi + Amp HAT (idle)	~5W

These devices can run 24/7 with negligible electricity costs—typically $2-5 per year each.

Alternative: Complete Audio Distribution Systems

For users wanting more than just Spotify, consider full audio operating systems.

Volumio

Volumio provides a web interface supporting Spotify Connect, local files, internet radio, and more.

Feature	Included
Spotify Connect	Yes (Premium required)
Web Interface	Yes
Local Files	Yes
Internet Radio	Yes
Airplay	Plugin available

moOde Audio Player

moOde targets audiophiles with advanced features:

Feature	Included
Spotify Connect	Yes
High-res Audio	Up to 32-bit/384kHz
DSP/EQ	Built-in
CamillaDSP	Supported
UPnP/DLNA	Yes

HiFiBerryOS

If using HiFiBerry DAC hardware, their custom OS provides seamless integration with built-in Spotify Connect support.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Device Not Appearing in Spotify

Issue	Solution
Different networks	Ensure phone and Pi are on same WiFi
Service not running	Run sudo systemctl restart raspotify
Firewall blocking	Check router firewall settings
Multiple accounts	Ensure same Spotify account on both devices

No Audio Output

Issue	Solution
Wrong output selected	Check ALSA configuration
Volume too low	Check both Raspotify and system volume
DAC not detected	Verify config.txt overlay settings
Muted output	Run alsamixer and unmute

Audio Cutting Out

Issue	Solution
WiFi interference	Use Ethernet or 5GHz WiFi
Buffer underruns	Increase buffer size in config
Network congestion	Prioritize Pi traffic on router

Useful Resources

Official Resources

Resource	URL
Raspotify GitHub	github.com/dtcooper/raspotify
Raspotify Wiki	github.com/dtcooper/raspotify/wiki
HiFiBerry Documentation	hifiberry.com/docs
Volumio	volumio.com
moOde Audio	moodeaudio.org

DAC HAT Manufacturers

Manufacturer	Website
HiFiBerry	hifiberry.com
IQaudio (Raspberry Pi)	raspberrypi.com/products
JustBoom	justboom.co
Allo	allo.com

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Raspberry Pi Spotify Connect work with free Spotify accounts?

No, Spotify Connect requires a Spotify Premium subscription. This is a Spotify limitation, not a Raspotify restriction. Free accounts cannot use the Connect feature on any device, including commercial Spotify Connect speakers. The Premium subscription costs around $10-12/month and enables Connect across all your devices.

Which Raspberry Pi model is best for Spotify streaming?

For dedicated spotify connect pi use, the Raspberry Pi 3B+ or Pi Zero 2 W offer the best value. Audio streaming requires minimal processing power—even the Zero 2 W handles it effortlessly. The Pi 4 works perfectly but consumes more power and generates more heat for a task that doesn’t need the extra capability. Save the Pi 4 for multi-purpose setups running additional services.

Do I need a DAC HAT for good audio quality?

Not necessarily. The built-in 3.5mm jack works for casual listening and testing. However, a DAC HAT significantly improves audio quality for serious listening. The raspberry pi spotify experience with a $30-50 DAC HAT rivals commercial streamers costing $200+. If you’re connecting to quality speakers or a good amplifier, the DAC upgrade is worthwhile.

Can I use Bluetooth speakers with Raspotify?

Yes, though it adds complexity. You’ll need to pair your Bluetooth speaker with the Pi and configure ALSA to route audio through Bluetooth. However, using a wired connection (3.5mm, USB DAC, or DAC HAT) provides more reliable performance. Bluetooth introduces potential latency and connection stability issues that wired solutions avoid.

How many Spotify Connect devices can I run simultaneously?

Spotify allows playback on one device at a time per account. However, you can switch between devices instantly using the Spotify app. For true simultaneous multi-room audio, create a Spotify Group from devices within the app, or consider a family plan with multiple accounts for independent playback in different rooms.

Conclusion

Building a raspberry pi spotify device delivers exceptional value. A basic setup costs under $50 and provides streaming quality matching commercial solutions at three times the price.

Start with Raspotify on whatever Pi you have available. The single-command installation gets you streaming within minutes. As your appreciation grows, upgrade with a DAC HAT for audiophile-quality sound.

The spotify connect pi combination proves that excellent audio doesn’t require expensive equipment—just thoughtful implementation and the right software. Your old speakers are about to get a serious upgrade.