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Review and Measurements of Chromecast Audio Digital Output

Julf

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I got a chromecast audio some times ago. But the SQ could not beat that of Moon MiND. So the chromecast is laying in the drawer.

Subjective, unverified perceptions seem to be taking over here... :(
 

Willem

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The Chromecast implementation of the Chrome browser is not a good way to use the CCA, and Amir's test is a bit misleading in that sense. Archimago's test is very clear about this. Just use the Chromecast app, and the signal will be bitperfect. without any need for Roon or whatever. Use the digital output of the CCA and a good DAC like the ADI-2, and you have sonic perfection. If anything else sounds different, it is not transparent/neutral/accurate.
 

Jimbob54

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Level difference?
Doubt it, the cca maintains its output level via optical regardless of which app you cast from until you change it . May well just be mind tricks, but I wasn't expecting an improvement, I just heard one.
 

Julf

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Doubt it, the cca maintains its output level via optical regardless of which app you cast from until you change it . May well just be mind tricks, but I wasn't expecting an improvement, I just heard one.

That is not how confirmation/expectation bias really works. :)
 

Jimbob54

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That is not how confirmation/expectation bias really works. :)
Aye. Either way, I have Roon for other reasons so I don't mind if there is no actual improvement in using it. Never heard anything wrong when casting straight from Tidal etc direct to CCA. Shame they stopped making them really.
 

Julf

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Never heard anything wrong when casting straight from Tidal etc direct to CCA. Shame they stopped making them really.

Indeed - but they were probably making a loss on each one they sold.
 

Julf

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simonind

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Some years ago I used BubbleUPnP Server on an Android phone to cast FLAC to my Chromecast Audio and using the TOSLink out I got the HDCD indicator to light up on my Cambridge DACMagic showing that playback was at least bit perfect. No idea about jitter as I've nothing to measure it with however it sounded fine, just less convenient than other streaming solutions.
 

Shoaibexpert

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Sorry I know it's an old thread but here goes: The review mentioned that Chromecast Audio when linked via Toslink to a well designed DAC and when played through Roon works superb. So, I don't have Roon but have connected the Chromecast Audio to my SMSL M500 via Toslink (casted in HiFi Tidal from my Android phone Tidal app). Assuming the DAC can filter jitter as it did in the review with the Topping D50, am I getting the ideal jitter free output from my setup?

Btw, between the USB (high quality AuCharm USB cable) running Tidal in Bit Perfect via Windows 10 PC and the Toslink via Chromecast Audio, all through M500, I can hear that the Toslink sounds a bit cleaner and thin (with slightly less bass rumble/presence) at the same time...wonder if that tells us anything... @amirm appreciate your help with this...Thanks
 

Julf

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Btw, between the USB (high quality AuCharm USB cable) running Tidal in Bit Perfect via Windows 10 PC and the Toslink via Chromecast Audio, all through M500, I can hear that the Toslink sounds a bit cleaner and thin (with slightly less bass rumble/presence) at the same time...wonder if that tells us anything...

Uh huh...
 

murraycamp

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BDWoody

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Btw, between the USB (high quality AuCharm USB cable) running Tidal in Bit Perfect via Windows 10 PC and the Toslink via Chromecast Audio, all through M500, I can hear that the Toslink sounds a bit cleaner and thin (with slightly less bass rumble/presence) at the same time...wonder if that tells us anything...

Hard to say...but I'm guessing these are all just casual listening impressions? In that case...no, it really doesn't...
 
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