Tired of fiddling with your phone while driving to change your podcasts or music? If your vehicle doesn’t have a dashboard media panel like Android Auto or Apple CarPlay, using your phone to play media in the car can be frustrating — and dangerous. The Spotify Car Thing solves this problem, ensuring you never have to take your eyes off the road to change the tunes. But does the device have its own speakers?
The Spotify Car Thing doesn’t have speakers and doesn’t play sound directly. Instead, it uses your vehicle’s audio system to play audio. The Car Thing only works with cars that have Bluetooth or an AUX or USB port. You can use the device with other Bluetooth speakers as well.
The Spotify Car Thing boasts voice control features, a color touchscreen, a large knob, and several different mounting and connection options. So, is it right for you? Let’s look at how the device works, which type of speakers it’s compatible with, and whether you can connect it to other speakers besides those in your car.
Can the Spotify Car Thing Play Sound Directly?
The Spotify Car Thing can’t play sound on its own. Instead, it uses your car’s speakers to play audio. It doesn’t have a speaker and functions more like a remote for the Spotify app on your phone.
The device has a thin profile and is incredibly small and lightweight. It features a small button on the front that allows you to go back to the previous screen and a large knob that enables you to easily interact with the options displayed on the screen.
It also doesn’t have an internal battery, so you’ll need to connect it to a power source to use it. It’s important to note that the Car Thing doesn’t connect to the car stereo itself.
Instead, it connects to your phone, which you then need to connect to your car’s audio system via Bluetooth or an AUX or USB cable.
If you haven’t connected your phone to your car’s speakers or any other external device, the Spotify Car Thing will play your music through the internal speakers of your phone.
With three different mounts (a dashboard mount, a CD player mount, and a vent mount), Spotify has made setting up the Car Thing incredibly easy to use. You can also fix a magnetic attachment on these mounts, so that you can quickly remove the device from your vehicle.
However, keep in mind that the dash mount doesn’t include a suction cup, so you’ll need to attach it to your dashboard using 3M adhesive backing (on Amazon).
Which Type of Speakers Can the Spotify Car Thing Connect To?
The Spotify Car Thing will only work in cars that have Bluetooth or an AUX or USB port. Depending on your car’s connectivity, you can either use an auxiliary cable (on Amazon) or pair your phone to your car’s Bluetooth to play audio over the speakers.
In order to set up the Car Thing, you first need to plug one end of the USB cable into the device. Then, connect the other end directly to your car’s USB port.
Most newer cars have several USB outlets in the console or dashboard. However, if you have an older vehicle that doesn’t have a USB port, you can plug the other end into the included power adapter.
Next, connect the power adapter to the 12V port in your car. This port is usually located near the bottom of your vehicle’s console and has replaced the space that was once used to hold cigarette lighters.
Lastly, you just need to connect your phone to your vehicle stereo, either using Bluetooth or a USB or AUX cable, and you’re good to go!
Can the Car Thing Connect to Other Speakers Besides Your Car’s?
Although the Car Thing is designed for your car, you don’t have to keep it there all the time. The device can connect to other speakers as long as they have Bluetooth or AUX compatibility.
In fact, you can pair your phone with any Bluetooth device and use the Spotify Car Thing whenever and wherever you want.
However, remember that the device needs a power source, so you’ll need a good power bank (on Amazon) if you plan to use it out of the house.
The Car Thing boasts a large touchscreen, an easy-to-use dial, voice control for hands-free listening, and customizable buttons for quick access to your favorite artists, songs, and settings.
These are all great features, but don’t forget that the device only works with a Premium Spotify account. If you later decide to unsubscribe from Spotify, you won’t have much use for the Car Thing.