Chromecast vs SBT

[pgarrish]

How can a £30 chromecast sound so good? I'm struggling to hear much if any difference between it and my SBT when both are through my DAC. Has anyone connected their DAC to a computer to sample the output to compare signals? I'd be interested if I'm actually hearing any difference or its in my head.

For info, SBT has the EDO plugin and is connected via co-ax. Chromecast is connected via toslink. DAC is a teac t1.

[RichB]

How can a £30 chromecast sound so good? I'm struggling to hear much if any difference between it and my SBT when both are through my DAC. Has anyone connected their DAC to a computer to sample the output to compare signals? I'd be interested if I'm actually hearing any difference or its in my head.

For info, SBT has the EDO plugin and is connected via co-ax. Chromecast is connected via toslink. DAC is a teac t1.

Careful now..... I asked a similar question here and got pasted by the SBT and RPi faithful.

Fact is I couldn't tell any difference and have owned SBT and RPi but I must be deaf as my £15 Chromecast couldn't possibly be as good could it....:D

[narabdela]

...but I must be deaf as my £15 Chromecast couldn't possibly be as good could it....:D


Nah, don't worry. You just don't have 'Golden Ears'. :sofa:

[struth]

Got one and its good. Not tried it with a dac though. Must have a look for some bits to try it sometime. Ive got a dac somewhere lol

[robtweed]

I suspect that, as with all digital audio devices, the sound quality of the Chromecast Audio will be improved by providing it with a clean power supply.

So I've got an RPi (running Moode) which plays through a Beresford SEG DAC. The RPi is powered via a Chinese Linear PSU and SBooster to provide it with a clean power supply, which, to my ears, has improved its sound significantly.

My Chromecast Audio is also connected through the DAC, and I changed its power supply from the standard plug and connector that it comes with, and instead am powering it from a USB port on the RPi.

The Chromecast Audio certainly sounds impressive through my set-up, but I haven't yet done any direct comparisons of, say, Radio 3 HD via the RPi/Moode versus Tune-in Radio/Chromecast Audio.

So a question to the group - if the power supply to the RPi is clean, is it reasonable to assume that the power it onwardly supplies via one of its USB ports will also be clean, and cleaner than that supplied by the Chromecast wall-wart? I guess the only way to tell would be to put an oscilloscope on it, but I don't have one :-)

[Yomanze]

Very short signal paths are a *good* thing in digital, so am not surprised Chromecast sounds decent.

...I'd expect the Raspberry Pi to be noisier.

[Bourneendboy]

I use a Chromecast with an IFI I-power plug top psu. The CC is connected to my headphone amp with a pair of Klotz MC5000 interconnects.

This sounds superb to my cloth ears. I was running it through a Rega DAC-R, but slightly preferred it without and sold it on.

I do think the 'shorter chain' is bringing about the benefits. Feed you CC with tidal, try without an external DAC and see what you think.

[dave2010]

I am kicking myself that I didn't buy one of these when they were cheaper. I went to buy a Chromecast (TV version) in August to try to overcome an impending problem with BBC iPlayer (some boxes were scheduled to be shut off from iPlayer service - due to system changes, and to the older technology in some boxes not really being effectively upgradeable) and got the TV model for £25. It did provide a solution, though subsequently it has turned out that a Now TV box bought for £15 was even better.

I noticed that the Chromecast Audio, which I'd not heard of/seen before, was £20 in Currys/PC World, but I passed on that. Probably a mistake. Even at £30 it's probably a good thing to have/try. It might be a good Christmas present, either for myself (!!) or others.

Is it very software or app dependent? For example, currently I'm listening to Bach played from Qobuz on my MBP fed out by an optical cable to my DAC. With the TV version not every service is Chromecast aware, so is that also an issue for the audio version, or is it possible to get any (=all) audio which can be fed out of the optical socket on my MBP out via Chromecast Audio to work? It wouldn't necessarily be a deal breaker, but it would be better if this gadget was functionally equivalent to an optical cable, rather than selectively so. Presumably it will work with iPads too. A bonus for me would be that it would enable me to sit at the other end of the room, without having to connect by any form of cable.

[RichB]

I have 3 of these, 2 are CC Audio and 1 is the 1st gen CC connected to the TV. The one on the TV is powered from a USB socket on the TV and audio comes via the TVs optical output to an Arcam DAC.

The CC Audio is connected to the DACs other optical input and powered from a USB socket on my amp.

The third one in the kitchen system is powered by the provided plug and connected via a minijack to rca cable to the little Yamaha amp in there.

I have no problems concerning the SQ of any but for some reason the 1st gen one on the TV sounds smoother than the rest and is probably the one I use most often. Primarily because you get some visuals from Spotify or Radio on the TV too.

[struth]

I am kicking myself that I didn't buy one of these when they were cheaper. I went to buy a Chromecast (TV version) in August to try to overcome an impending problem with BBC iPlayer (some boxes were scheduled to be shut off from iPlayer service - due to system changes, and to the older technology in some boxes not really being effectively upgradeable) and got the TV model for £25. It did provide a solution, though subsequently it has turned out that a Now TV box bought for £15 was even better.

I noticed that the Chromecast Audio, which I'd not heard of/seen before, was £20 in Currys/PC World, but I passed on that. Probably a mistake. Even at £30 it's probably a good thing to have/try. It might be a good Christmas present, either for myself (!!) or others.

Is it very software or app dependent? For example, currently I'm listening to Bach played from Qobuz on my MBP fed out by an optical cable to my DAC. With the TV version not every service is Chromecast aware, so is that also an issue for the audio version, or is it possible to get any (=all) audio which can be fed out of the optical socket on my MBP out via Chromecast Audio to work? It wouldn't necessarily be a deal breaker, but it would be better if this gadget was functionally equivalent to an optical cable, rather than selectively so. Presumably it will work with iPads too. A bonus for me would be that it would enable me to sit at the other end of the room, without having to connect by any form of cable.

It works on some apps on ipad, but is more usable on android at moment. Tunein radio works and there is a cast app for ios10.

[Mark Grant]

I noticed that the Chromecast Audio, which I'd not heard of/seen before, was £20 in Currys/PC World, but I passed on that. Probably a mistake. Even at £30 it's probably a good thing to have/try.

Currys PC world ebay shop often has hundreds listed at about £17 to £19, the price varies weekly. although listed as used the three that I have bought have been as new.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/111999422455?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

If out of stock add it to your watch list as they often add more stock.

[dave2010]

It works on some apps on ipad, but is more usable on android at moment. Tunein radio works and there is a cast app for ios10.Does it do anything useful with either Windows or Mac OS X based computers, or is it really only suitable for tablets and phones?

The TV one is useful, but is a somewhat different beast, and the world of tablets and apps is now taking over. I've started to listen to the radio on my iPad.
At least the Chromecast gadgets are affordable, compared with other devices, such as Apple TVs.

Audio can be made to work from Mac OS X - Apple computers with Apple TVs - but they are more expensive. Working blind - i.e. without the TV one - is also a bit hit and miss sometimes. I have had that working with a 3rd Gen ATV - but they are a bit useless in that they don't support iPlayer as far as I can see. The 4th gen one does, I believe, but is even more expensive.

[RichB]

Does it do anything useful with either Windows or Mac OS X based computers, or is it really only suitable for tablets and phones?

The TV one is useful, but is a somewhat different beast, and the world of tablets and apps is now taking over. I've started to listen to the radio on my iPad.
At least the Chromecast gadgets are affordable, compared with other devices, such as Apple TVs.

Audio can be made to work from Mac OS X - Apple computers with Apple TVs - but they are more expensive. Working blind - i.e. without the TV one - is also a bit hit and miss sometimes. I have had that working with a 3rd Gen ATV - but they are a bit useless in that they don't support iPlayer as far as I can see. The 4th gen one does, I believe, but is even more expensive.

Hi, I don't know about Mac OS but can confirm that most stuff on Windows works. Spotify/Google music/Tidal etc. You can also cast local files via bubble UPNP. JRiver media centre also casts.