As a homeowner exploring the world of smart audio integration, I’ve been on a journey to connect my Spotify account with my Synology NAS and USB speakers. While the setup seemed straightforward, I encountered a few bumps along the way that I’d like to share in case others are facing similar challenges.
The Setup
I’ve got a Synology DiskStation 720+ running hass.io, a Spotify Premium account, and a set of Nubert NuPro A-200 USB speakers. The goal was simple: play Spotify music through my USB speakers using Home Assistant. The speakers showed up as a USB DAC AUDIO device in Home Assistant’s hardware section, but they weren’t automatically configured as an output device. Spotify recognized Home Assistant as a connected device, but there was no sound output.
The Challenge
After some research, I realized that while Home Assistant can act as a Spotify client, it doesn’t natively support USB audio devices for music playback. This meant I needed to find a workaround to route Spotify’s audio stream through Home Assistant to my USB speakers.
The Solution
Here’s what I did to get everything working:
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Install the Required Add-Ons
- Enable the Spotify Connect add-on in hass.io.
- Install the Audio Output add-on to manage USB audio devices.
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Configure the USB Speakers
- Navigate to Home Assistant’s settings and add the USB DAC AUDIO device under the Audio Output add-on.
- Set this as the default audio output for media players.
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Adjust Spotify Settings
- Ensure that Home Assistant is set as the default device in the Spotify app.
- Use Spotify’s web interface to select Home Assistant as your playback device.
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Test the Integration
- Play a song through Spotify and switch the playback device to Home Assistant.
- Confirm that the audio is now streaming through your USB speakers.
Tips for Others
- If you’re using a NAS, make sure the audio add-on has the correct permissions to access USB devices.
- Check the logs in Home Assistant for any errors related to audio output or Spotify integration.
- Consider updating your hass.io add-ons to the latest versions to ensure compatibility.
Final Thoughts
While the process required a bit of trial and error, integrating Spotify with my Synology NAS and USB speakers was a rewarding experience. It’s amazing how much you can customize your smart home setup with the right tools and a little patience. If anyone else is tackling a similar project, I hope this guide helps you avoid some of the common pitfalls!
Cheers to all the smart home enthusiasts out there—keep experimenting and innovating! 
