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So I had one of these. I couldn't give it away when I was getting rid of stuff. The problem with chromecast audio is that pretty much nothing supported chromec

So I had one of these. I couldn't give it away when I was getting rid of stuff. The problem with chromecast audio is that pretty much nothing supported chromecast audio. Anything you would potentially use with audio you'd be better off running through a regular chromecast (including spotify which only worked on audio with a premium account, free accounts work on regular chromecast normally and you could always push the web player from chrome). I don't understand who this was supposed to be marketed to. Chromecast users probably already have a good sound setup on their TV. Audiophiles aren't going to buy it since it only had a 3.5mm jack on it. Anyone else is just going to use bluetooth whatever. I get why they made it. I also get why it failed.

SyneRyder 8y ago
> Audiophiles aren't going to buy it since it only had a 3.5mm jack on it Apparently the Chromecast Audio supports optical digital output, but Google never seemed very good at publicizing that feature. They had some instructions hidden under "Compatible cables and plugs" here: https://support.google.com/chromecast/answer/6280276 https://support.google.com/chromecast/answer/6280276 (That said, I just double-checked my studio monitors & they only have analog XLR & 1/4" inputs anyway.)
- ratling 8y ago
  I do vaguely remember seeing that in some documentation but yeah, if no one knows it exists and all you see is a generic 3.5mm it essentially doesn't exist.
Symbiote 8y ago
I have one which I use to play my own music — an open source media server plus an Android app which I think I paid for. (See my other comment.) However, friends have no problem using it with Spotify, the local public broadcast system app, or a local music streaming app. I think there just aren't enough audiophiles who were aware this existed. Some friends bought them after seeing my setup, but it wasn't advertised, and most products at a similar price sound awful. (Also, in my experience people aren't really aware just how bad their Bluetooth speaker sounds, as they haven't compared it to even a cheap hifi system. I used to give away 3.5mm to RCA cables so people could connect their TV to external speakers, no-one failed to appreciate the improvement.)

SyneRyder 8y ago

> Audiophiles aren't going to buy it since it only had a 3.5mm jack on it Apparently the Chromecast Audio supports optical digital output, but Google never seemed very good at publicizing that feature. They had some instructions hidden under "Compatible cables and plugs" here: https://support.google.com/chromecast/answer/6280276 https://support.google.com/chromecast/answer/6280276 (That said, I just double-checked my studio monitors & they only have analog XLR & 1/4" inputs anyway.)

ratling 8y ago
I do vaguely remember seeing that in some documentation but yeah, if no one knows it exists and all you see is a generic 3.5mm it essentially doesn't exist.

Symbiote 8y ago

I have one which I use to play my own music — an open source media server plus an Android app which I think I paid for. (See my other comment.) However, friends have no problem using it with Spotify, the local public broadcast system app, or a local music streaming app. I think there just aren't enough audiophiles who were aware this existed. Some friends bought them after seeing my setup, but it wasn't advertised, and most products at a similar price sound awful. (Also, in my experience people aren't really aware just how bad their Bluetooth speaker sounds, as they haven't compared it to even a cheap hifi system. I used to give away 3.5mm to RCA cables so people could connect their TV to external speakers, no-one failed to appreciate the improvement.)