Audio brand Sonos is expanding the reach of its Voice Control software to now support Spotify, allowing users to verbally control the streaming service.
All you have to do to control the app, according to the company, is say the words “Hey Sonos, play Spotify” on one of the brand's compatible speakers. That's literally all. Doing so will play one of your Spotify playlists at random. If you want the software to play a specific playlist, you'll need to mention it by name, such as “Discover Weekly,” for example. The feature goes beyond being a simple play button as it can also be used to help manage your library.
You can tell Sonos to add certain songs to a playlist. You can also like or dislike tracks with the right command. Saying “Hey Sonos, I like this song” will cause the AI to save that piece of music to your account's 'Liked Songs'.
Additionally, Voice Control can play specific music genres or subgenres, whether it's jazz or classic 90s alternative. You don't need to be very specific; Spotify's algorithm has a good understanding of what people search for.
Security and availability
It's worth mentioning that commands are processed locally on your Sonos speaker to ensure “fast response times and easy follow-ups.” The company also claims that no audio, whether of your voice or the surrounding environment, will be saved on any cloud server or heard by a random third party.
There are now two ways to connect a Sonos speaker to Spotify. You can manually choose Spotify as the default source or make the platform the most prominent music service played through the speaker. Users will not have to log in or make any settings changes.
It is unknown if Voice Control will learn your listening habits. That is, if a Sonos device detects that you frequently access Spotify, will it automatically adjust music sources?
Spotify's new support in Sonos Voice Control is available right now for both Premium subscribers and free users. Simply download the latest patch on your devices.
While we're at it, check out TechRadar's roundup of the best sound bars for 2024. Spoiler alert: Sonos makes the list.
