Spotify Could Ruin Your Android Auto Audio

As the leading music streaming platform, Spotify can be a handy companion to Android Auto, but there may be times when you find the audio quality to be lacking. While there may be some uncomfortable truths about using Spotify, sudden or random drops in audio quality aren’t supposed to be one of them. Fortunately, there may very well be a setting that interrupts your experience between the two programs.

If you find that your audio quality drops sporadically, it may be due to Spotify’s volume normalization feature. This is well-intentioned, as it’s a way to ensure consistent sound between tracks, but it can also trick users into thinking there’s a drop-off in how their audio sounds. Exploring this option simply involves looking through Spotify’s settings, and we also have a few more ideas for settings to change while you’re at it.

These additional settings include adjusting your equalizer and audio quality, although some settings may impact your phone bill. If you’re diagnosing audio issues between Spotify and Android Auto, it might also be worth taking a look at some common Android Auto issues and how to fix them. You can also check the user manual for your vehicle’s infotainment system to see what information you can gather, including checking to see if any audio settings can be adjusted.

If you find that you are having issues with Android Auto and Spotify playback, it may be due to a certain feature known as volume normalization. Essentially, this setting aims to provide “a more even listening experience” by ensuring a balance between loud and soft songs. As useful as this can be for creating this balance, users can often confuse it with poorer audio quality. Luckily, finding this one is simple. Here are the steps:

1. From your phone, open Spotify.

2. Select your profile icon at the top.

3. Choose Settings & Privacy.

4. Select Play.

5. Look for Volume Normalization under Volume Controls and make sure it’s turned off.

Remember that you cannot change audio settings from Spotify if Spotify Connected is playing on another device. It is worth knowing that in addition to the volume level, users can also adjust the overall levels of their music. Users can choose between Loud, Normal, and Quiet. Normal is the default.

We’ll look at other tips below that may also be helpful, but be sure to also check the equalizer settings in your vehicle’s head unit. The problem may be with the vehicle rather than your smartphone. Be sure to consult your manual, if necessary. Some settings can also ruin your Android Auto experience, but luckily we have a guide that can tell you more.

As you go through Spotify’s settings, you may want to look at additional controls if you want to get better sound with Android Auto. For example, in the Playback Settings menu, it is worth mentioning that the Listening Controls section has an equalizer that can be adjusted to suit your tastes. Make sure the equalizer is turned on and you can also choose from several presets.

Additionally, if you go to your profile icon and then select Settings & Privacy, you can find the audio quality settings under Media Quality. By default, auto tuning is enabled, which automatically adjusts the quality so that music can be played without stuttering. Try adjusting these settings, as Spotify is capable of going up to 24-bit/44.1kHz lossless audio, but remember that higher audio quality also means higher file sizes, so your data usage will likely be affected. Lossless is also only available to Spotify Premium users.

Finally, if you’re really concerned about audio quality, you can also check if the Data Saver feature is enabled. Disabling it may result in higher data consumption, but you will ensure that the audio quality will not be reduced randomly. If available, try using Wi-Fi if you plan to turn off data saver. However, select your profile icon in Spotify, then go to Settings & Privacy > Data Saver & Offline, and make sure Data Saver is turned off. There are also additional things that users may not know that Spotify can do.