I have Qobuz and Apple Music and neither stutter. How fast is your internet connection?
-
Welcome to ASR. There are many reviews of audio hardware and expert members to help answer your questions. Click here to have your audio equipment measured for free!
Review and Measurements of Chromecast Audio Digital Output
- Thread starter amirm
- Start date
100 MBit/s, so that should not be the problem. 4K video streams fine, too. I think it is specifically the CCA that is doing this.
I got a Chromecast Audio puck in a swap of various things. I was thinking of plugging it in and use it as a streaming device. 
I have a few questions, I would be grateful if I could get answers to them. Sorry if this has already been addressed in the thread, but how do you best plug it into a DAC that has these inputs:
I'm using a Lenovo Tablet with Android 10 and Spotify. What apps are needed/can you recommend to make it work?
I don't know if I have the right type of cable between the Chromecast Audio and my external DAC, but I can fix that.
I read somewhere that it seems to be tricky with software upgrades to Chromecast Audio, is that true?
If it turns out to be more convenient with a Wiim mini as a streaming device together with my tablet and Spotify, I can sell this Chromecast Audio. But since I have it, I still want to see if it would work.
I have a few questions, I would be grateful if I could get answers to them. Sorry if this has already been addressed in the thread, but how do you best plug it into a DAC that has these inputs:
I'm using a Lenovo Tablet with Android 10 and Spotify. What apps are needed/can you recommend to make it work?
I don't know if I have the right type of cable between the Chromecast Audio and my external DAC, but I can fix that.
I read somewhere that it seems to be tricky with software upgrades to Chromecast Audio, is that true?
If it turns out to be more convenient with a Wiim mini as a streaming device together with my tablet and Spotify, I can sell this Chromecast Audio. But since I have it, I still want to see if it would work.
Last edited:
Use the optical output of the CCA into the optical input of the DAC. The CCA connection is one of these dual use ones, where you can either connect in analogue or optical fashion. Normally, you connect the CCA to your wifi (read the manual). It is widely suported by streaming services (probably more than by any other streamer). As for updates, there recently was an issue with an update, but this was recognized and fixed. I think it is a great little device, and I use it in an otherwise pretty high end system
RosalieTheDog
Active Member
- Joined
- May 3, 2021
- Messages
- 231
- Likes
- 283
You need a 'mini toslink optical cable'.I got a Chromecast Audio puck in a swap of various things. I was thinking of plugging it in and use it as a streaming device.
I have a few questions, I would be grateful if I could get answers to them. Sorry if this has already been addressed in the thread, but how do you best plug it into a DAC that has these inputs:
View attachment 451941
I'm using a Lenovo Tablet with Android 10 and Spotify. What apps are needed/can you recommend to make it work?
I don't know if I have the right type of cable between the Chromecast Audio and my external DAC, but I can fix that.
I read somewhere that it seems to be tricky with software upgrades to Chromecast Audio, is that true?
If it turns out to be more convenient with a Wiim mini as a streaming device together with my tablet and Spotify, I can sell this Chromecast Audio. But since I have it, I still want to see if it would work.
Ok, thanks for the answer. So it powers up via mini usb jack and then 3.5 mm cable to Toslink into the DAC. So far, a walk in the park. I can buy such a cable today or tomorrow and plug it in.
But this gets a little trickier. That setup didn't give a good test results according to Amir but it got much better, as good as it can even be, when plugged in: Fortunately as I mentioned, I had Roon to test so I powered that up,...I don't use Roon but apparently according to # 74 you get really good results with this app:
Okay, but how does that app work with Spotify? If it works with Spotify?
Amir did not test it the correct way. He tested streaming from the Chrome browser on the computer to the CCA and that is only a connection of last resort if your streaming service does not have a CCA app. Spotify does. I no longer remember how I got the app, but probably from the Google app store. Download it on your phone, and use the phone as your remote. The CCA will connect to your modem directly, so once there is a connection you could turn off your phone as Spotify etc is streaming from the modem to the CCA and not from your phone.
RosalieTheDog
Active Member
- Joined
- May 3, 2021
- Messages
- 231
- Likes
- 283
I don't think there is any need for third party apps. You will set up the device using Google Home on your tablet. You will then find the device using the Chromecast button in most apps, including Spotify.Ok, thanks for the answer. So it powers up via mini usb jack and then 3.5 mm cable to Toslink into the DAC. So far, a walk in the park. I can buy such a cable today or tomorrow and plug it in.
I don't use Roon but apparently according to # 74 you get really good results with this app:
View attachment 451944
Okay, but how does that app work with Spotify? If it works with Spotify?
Which also doesn't work with Spotify. It was probably the fastest download and then uninstall I've ever done.
I can confirm that chromecasting from the Spotify app on iphone or android phone to chromecast audio works, as do Tidal, Qobuz, Deezer, Amazon music. Haven't tried the Windows app for Spotify, but all others, and they do work.Which also doesn't work with Spotify. It was probably the fastest download and then uninstall I've ever done.
View attachment 451951View attachment 451952
milus
Member
- Joined
- Oct 13, 2018
- Messages
- 84
- Likes
- 85
Spotify and Tidal, both Windows' apps work with Chromecast too
Concur. In that case, everything gets resampled by Windows to 16 bit / 48 kHz and without particular care to do it right.
It works. Thanks for the help. It was mostly plug and play.
I use a power bank, an old usb charging cable that fit plus a mini toslink optical cable I bought today.
I noticed that.
It was mostly plug and play.I use a power bank, an old usb charging cable that fit plus a mini toslink optical cable I bought today.
I noticed that.
CCA is bit perfect if used with native apps that use Google Cast protocol, there are a few local streaming apps that work, Bubble Upnp, UAPP, Power Amp. Only 'Hi-fi Cast' supports gapless playback.
Unfortunately regarding Spotify and CCA, I saw this in the thread:
Spotify premium quality is normally 320 kbps Vorbis, but Spotify streams to Chromecast using 256 kbps AAC:
https://community.spotify.com/t5/Other-Partners-Web-Player-etc/Chromecast-Bitrate/m-p/3162774#M36847
https://community.spotify.com/t5/Li...-possible-Quality-to-Chromecast/idi-p/4523194
My speculation is that Spotify got lazy and implemented Chromecast streaming the same way for all users, so they don't have to distinguish between premium and non-premium subscriptions.
That was #107, written almost seven years ago. Maybe it's changed now? Any upgrade that enables 320 kbps Spotify via CCA? Anyway, I didn't find any information about that.
Edit:
The Wiim mini seems to handle Spotify 320 kbps Vorbis though.I might sell the CCA and buy a Wiim model instead.
I'm going to follow a bidding on a CCA now. Let's see what the seller gets. Starting bid $40:
Spotify premium quality is normally 320 kbps Vorbis, but Spotify streams to Chromecast using 256 kbps AAC:
https://community.spotify.com/t5/Other-Partners-Web-Player-etc/Chromecast-Bitrate/m-p/3162774#M36847
https://community.spotify.com/t5/Li...-possible-Quality-to-Chromecast/idi-p/4523194
My speculation is that Spotify got lazy and implemented Chromecast streaming the same way for all users, so they don't have to distinguish between premium and non-premium subscriptions.
That was #107, written almost seven years ago. Maybe it's changed now? Any upgrade that enables 320 kbps Spotify via CCA? Anyway, I didn't find any information about that.
Edit:
The Wiim mini seems to handle Spotify 320 kbps Vorbis though.I might sell the CCA and buy a Wiim model instead.
I'm going to follow a bidding on a CCA now. Let's see what the seller gets. Starting bid $40:
Last edited:
DSJR
Major Contributor
VLC supports Chromecast Audio, but I have to reset my laptop's wireless connection every time (I've never worked out why and suspect it's the laptop itself...
I've got a great sounding 128kb/s music file that I reconstituted up to WAV. I doubt anyone would ever know.
Spotify for me (plain free version), also sounds great with the music I've streamed from it. It's more than good enough to hear production differences...
That's the question, when will it be audible? Favorite question here at ASR.
Spotify 320 kbps Vorbis vs some provider that has lossless audio. I'm pretty sure I won't hear any difference there. 256 kbps AAC vs lossless? I don't know. Subjectively, it doesn't feel quite right to use 256 kbps AAC if you want good HiFi. But audible, for me, I don't know? Aren't there blind tests you can do to see if that's the case?
If I had gotten my LDAC Bluetooth codec up and running, I could have used it with Spotify. LDAC vs cable and Spotify, I'm extremely doubtful if I would hear any difference.
There has been a bunch, some of them quite scientific. The usual conclusion is that the difference is only audible in a few rare (pathological) cases (keys jingling etc.), and even then only if you really know what to listen for. I guess we still have JJ Johnston (the "father of AAC) here on this forum.
Similar threads
