Chromecast Audio

Discussion in 'General Audio Discussion' started by Luckbad, Sep 29, 2015.

  1. mickeyvortex

    mickeyvortex Friend

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    Good question. I think when I used it with Google Play music, it resampled everything to 44.1 after the update. However, I know think Chris Connaker at Computer Audiophile did a major comparo to look at exactly what you are after.

    One thing I have noticed but haven't seen mentioned much. The main app has an option to toggle between the quality of audio being outputted ("HDR" I think), depending on what you are using for playback. So if you have a good DAC, remember to toggle over to the higher quality setting.
    I'm not sure when this feature was added on or even what it does exactly, but the DSP may alter/interfere with the output quality. When I got the dongle for the first time, I was underwhelmed by the audio quality from the analog line out, until I found this little trick which was like opening the curtains on a sunny Saturday morning.
     
  2. Tuco1965

    Tuco1965 Suffring from early onset Alzheimer's - Friend

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    I ordered mine and should see it in a few days. My plan is to connect it to the optical port on my Bifrost Multibit for use with Google Play Music. I use JRiver MC21 WASAPI for the USB input. This would make for less hassle when I want to listen GPM on my speaker system.

    I'll take a look at Computer Audiophile.
     
  3. Cspirou

    Cspirou They call me Sparky

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    Anyone know if this trips up the VCO indicator(aka buy better gear light) in the Schiit Gungnir?
     
  4. Tuco1965

    Tuco1965 Suffring from early onset Alzheimer's - Friend

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    Well my Chromecast Audio arrived yesterday. It really just took a few minutes to setup. Firmware updated at the end of the process. I have it connected to the optical input of my Bifrost Multibit. Playing Google Play Music through it and it works well. Now I don't have to fire up the laptop to listen to Google Music on my speaker system or headphone stack.
     
  5. imackler

    imackler Key Lime Pie Infected Aberdeen Wings Spy

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    Have you had a hard time getting flac files to be recognized by google play music?
     
  6. Tuco1965

    Tuco1965 Suffring from early onset Alzheimer's - Friend

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    I didn't upload anything to Google, and even if I did, it would still stream as 320 mp3. I didn't plan to cast anything from my local library because I can already do that with JRiver MC21 and JRemote. Sorry that doesn't answer your question.
     
  7. imackler

    imackler Key Lime Pie Infected Aberdeen Wings Spy

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    So you're just using it for stuff you bought on Google Play? Not trying to be dense. I purchased one thinking it would be way easier to play files loaded to my phone to my stereo.
     
  8. Tuco1965

    Tuco1965 Suffring from early onset Alzheimer's - Friend

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    I just use it to stream my music subscription from Google. That was my only reason to purchase it. I already had the ability to do that with a pc into my main systems but this takes the pc out of the picture.
     
  9. mickeyvortex

    mickeyvortex Friend

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    Try Plex or Allcast or something similar. There are other "audiophile" apps out there but I am not sure what's best.
     
  10. Type35

    Type35 New

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  11. Mikoss

    Mikoss Friend

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    on a whim, I just bought one of these at bestbuy for $45 (I'm in Canada), and also found a mini toslink cable at Canada Computers... hooked it up to Gungnir Multibit. So far it sounds really great with Google Music... I'll try some FLAC later and see how it compares to USB from my laptop.

    edit: found this to stream FLAC from my PC/NAS:
    http://flacplayer.ehubsoft.net/

    Comparing the Chromecast via optical to laptop with USB, the laptop seems to sound better. There seems to be a lack of bass and lower midrange using the Chromecast... the tone seems to shift to upper midrange/treble. It's fairly subtle, and the Chromecast does sound nice feeding Gungnir Multibit wirelessly. Also, I do have Wyrd in the USB chain, and I've never used the optical input on Gungnir Multibit before.

    Anyone else compare the two?
     
    Last edited: Mar 11, 2016
  12. Cspirou

    Cspirou They call me Sparky

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    Do you have any idea if the Chromecast activates the "buy better gear" light of the Gungnir Multibit?
     
  13. Mikoss

    Mikoss Friend

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    It doesn't.

    I stand by my original comments. It sounds really great on Gungnir Multibit, but bass and lower midrange don't sound correct, which messes with body/tonality a bit.

    Still very nice on Gungnir Multibit; plays fine and very convenient to use with a phone or laptop. I use my phone and have a network attached storage WD MyCloud 4TB drive with my music.

    I had sent some questions to Hands since he had some knowledge about different USB converters, and he pointed out that jitter measured fairly meh via Chromecast optical. That is perhaps why it doesn't sound as good as USB.

    Personally, I can live with the convenience if I'm just chilling out, or streaming new stuff on Google Music. It doesn't trigger the better gear light, so it's doing a decent job, and it's close to USB, but I would say the optical jitter is causing the noticeable lower quality bass/mids. (At least for me).
     
  14. Impulse

    Impulse Friend

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    It really is super convenient tho, I just bought two more (4 total) as we're moving into a new place... I used to have a couple Beeps but Chromecast Audio basically ripped their heart out while simultaneously gunning for Sonos.

    Gonna have one hooked up to the optical input on my main/desk's DAC, another hooked up via optical to the HT in the living room, one out on the patio hooked up to an old pair of powered Samson speakers, and the last one in the bedroom with an Emotiva mini-X and some Infinity Primus bookshelves.

    I ought to look for a used opti Modi for that last setup, it'd probably be worth it, not quite sure if something even cheaper like a Fiio D3 would be worth it, might not be any better than what's built into the Chromecast already. Google's not really in it to make a buck on these things...

    They saw a big hole in the market (one anyone could've pointed out for years), and a way to promote their services and devices...
     
  15. wonderbrah

    wonderbrah New

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    I'm late to the party but I just picked this up at Best Buy to use with my Sennheiser RS 185 wireless headphones. Using optical from the RS base to the chromecast and streaming to the chromecast from Tidal (hifi) from my android phone. Super convenient setup that sounds awesome but I just wan to make sure the chromecast isn't the weak leak in the setup for only $30 especially after reading this article: http://www.digitalaudioreview.net/2...ist-intended-google-chromecast-audio-w-tidal/ true or not, I don't know.

    Is there a higher quality product that does what the chromecast does that is maybe more suitable for the audiophile?
     
  16. mkozlows

    mkozlows Friend

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    The gapless thing is true; you can decide for yourself if it's a deal-breaker. As far as sound quality goes... yeah, it's pretty blah out of analog. But as a digital source... well, there's probably a level of obsessiveness where you'd care about it, but if you're feeding the DAC that's built in to a pair of wireless headphones, don't worry about it, it's fine.
     
  17. GustavoWoltmann

    GustavoWoltmann MOT: EqualizerPro

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    Google is everywhere. It is all over your life.
     
  18. noshortcuts

    noshortcuts New

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    I use CA as a temporary solution. It's crazy how well it works and sounds, especially at the price.
    I've upgraded it two ways to make sure it's doing it's best into my Schiit Yggdrasil.
    1. Lifatec Glass Toslink cable. Someone who tested a bunch said it was the only one that passed higher rates (maybe it was those above 44.1?, dont' remember)
    2. iFi SPIDF iPurifier​
    I haven't bothered a/b testing or anything. The costs were small enough (especially compared to Yggdrasil and the rest) and the initial impressions were good enough that I just set and forget so I can listen to music.
     
    Last edited: May 19, 2017
  19. zerodeefex

    zerodeefex SBAF's Imelda Marcos

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    Cleared out a local walmart that had these on sale for $25.

    I currently have 8 cast enabled speakers, 2 additional Google Homes, and 5 chromecast audios. I love these little dongles. It's super f'ing convenient to be able to add all my streaming services for $25 to any of my systems with an optical input. Hell, I use it hooked up to the Gungnir Multibit in my main speaker rig.

    Please don't buy all that shit to upgrade a f'ing Chromecast audio. You just spent $222 to upgrade a $35 dongle. WTF. This site exists to tell you to not do this. Please spend your money elsewhere.
     
  20. noshortcuts

    noshortcuts New

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    Your condescension and sarcasm is hilarious. Thanks for the late night giggles. Oh, and for being so helpful.
     

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