Network Playback Protocols
Network Playback Protocols lists the ways a streamer receives or controls music playback over a network, from another app, device or server.
AirPlay and Google Cast send audio to compatible players; Spotify Connect controls playback from Spotify’s app. UPnP accesses a media server, while SMB reads a shared music folder.
Network Playback Protocols — Streamer
Here, Streaming Services lists built-in service access, Multiroom Platform names systems for playing across rooms, and Control App identifies the controller application. These are separate fields, though playback protocols can also support multiple rooms. Wi-Fi or Ethernet alone does not establish any particular playback method.
Match the chosen method on the streamer and your app or server. Check its network requirements and supported audio formats and quality for that route. A Spotify Connect label alone does not promise lossless playback: the receiving device must explicitly support it.
Sources
- Spotify Connect — Spotify
- Cast audio from Google Cast-enabled apps to speakers — Google
- How do I connect music on my NAS, PC or iTunes Shared Music to Bluesound? — Bluesound
- CXN Network Player manual — Cambridge Audio
- Roon Ready — Roon
- Use AirPlay to stream audio — Apple