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  1. markbrauer

    Chromecast audio - can anyone comment on sound quality?

    h1p8r10n Thanks for posting this. I will point out that if one is streaming local files from an Android device, and is concerned about audio quality, there's the app Hi-Fi Cast that sends bit-perfect streams to Chromecast. It will work to play files from DLNA/UPnP servers too, although the...
  2. markbrauer

    Chromecast audio - can anyone comment on sound quality?

    If you had a Fire you know they leave a lot to be desired when used as a general-purpose tablet. But when using them for specific purposes like a music controller, they can work as good as anything.
  3. markbrauer

    Chromecast audio - can anyone comment on sound quality?

    BubbleUPnP is a full function music player. No other software needed. You open the app, select the Library option to point it to your network shares, and select your CCA as renderer. Then use the app pretty much like any other music player. You may want to peruse the settings to customize how...
  4. markbrauer

    Chromecast audio - can anyone comment on sound quality?

    I just read some recent entries and it appears you may be using an iPhone. No BubbleUPnP available there, so my suggestion is not feasible. Then again, you could beg/borrow/steal an old Android from someone. Or buy a cheap one. I recently helped a friend set up a Tracfone model that was...
  5. markbrauer

    Chromecast audio - can anyone comment on sound quality?

    I have my music directory set up as a Network Share on the computer. I then set up Bubble UPnP controller app on my phone to access that Share. No need for any sort of server software. My Chromecast shows up in Bubble as an available renderer. The phone is then the controller and the music...
  6. markbrauer

    Chromecast audio - can anyone comment on sound quality?

    "Maybe you need to move Chromecast or your router for better reception." Indeed, just the other day I took my battery-powered Chromecast out on my deck, plugged in my headphones, and immediately experienced constant dropouts. The router is less than 20 feet away. Fortunately I only had to move...
  7. markbrauer

    Chromecast audio - can anyone comment on sound quality?

    It could be your specific DAC chip. I first started experiencing dropouts on Toslink back in June of 2016. They were servere, happening on all formats and bitrates from 192 Kbps MP3s to 24/96 FLAC and WAV. I followed complaints on the Google support forum and other forums and started to notice...
  8. markbrauer

    Chromecast audio - can anyone comment on sound quality?

    I did buy an Echo Input (when some "refurbished" units were selling for $10) to assess its viability as a general purpose music streamer and specifically as a Chromecast Audio replacement. The SQ seemed OK, maybe even on par with the Chromecast. Analog only - no optical output. At the same time...
  9. markbrauer

    Chromecast audio - can anyone comment on sound quality?

    Seeing that the title of this thread indicates it is about sound quality, the posts about using a video streamer got me wondering what audio bitrate is passed through the HDMI output of such a device. I found this Roon thread that indicates the maximum audio bitrate out of a video Chromecast is...
  10. markbrauer

    Chromecast audio - can anyone comment on sound quality?

    Mine CCA firmware is also at 1.42.172094. I use BubbleUPnP to play high-res files from my server. I also use and app called Hi-Fi Cast to play high-res files from my phone. It sets up the phone as the "server" and casts bit perfect over local WiFi to the CCA. Both of these play 24/96 with no...
  11. markbrauer

    Chromecast audio - can anyone comment on sound quality?

    Yes, thankfully they finally fixed that issue. I looked back and found that Google was getting complaints about this as far back as 2016. It was sometime in 2019 that it finally started working again for me.
  12. markbrauer

    Chromecast audio - can anyone comment on sound quality?

    Visanj, I'm thinking you must have meant that you enabled High Dynamic Range, to get the best sound quality. As I have said in earlier posts, I am a big proponent of using the Chromecast Audio as an all-in-one streamer/DAC/headphone amp - with headphones plugged directly into its 3.5mm output...
  13. markbrauer

    Chromecast audio - can anyone comment on sound quality?

    The only gripe I have against the CCA is its lack of gapless playback. SQ is indeed great, especially with a powerbank. But too many of my favorite albums require gapless and my core setup delivers. So the CCAs are only suitable for secondary systems.
  14. markbrauer

    Chromecast audio - can anyone comment on sound quality?

    I too am at 1.42.172094. To me there were 2 critical Chromecast Audio updates. One back a couple of years ago ruined the Chromecast. After that update, the Toslink output developed intermittent dropouts when streaming 96/24 files. I reported the issue a number of times and there are many...
  15. markbrauer

    Chromecast audio - can anyone comment on sound quality?

    I have a streamer with both optical and USB outputs. My DAC has both optical and USB inputs. The USB definitely sounds better. Is it the streamer or the DAC causing the difference? I can't say for sure but USB is the preferred option. Many implementations of Toslink optical are reported to have...
  16. markbrauer

    Chromecast audio - can anyone comment on sound quality?

    I have found the CCA analog output sounds great connected to some devices and decidedly second rate connected to others. A good example of how important component matching is. The optical output is indistinguishable from two other (much more expensive) streamers I own.
  17. markbrauer

    Chromecast audio - can anyone comment on sound quality?

    Just a couple words about volume control. In most Android apps the hardware volume control uses at most 20 steps going from dead quiet to full loud. These same large steps are used when controlling the Chromecast Audio. This often results in one step being too quiet and the next too loud. If you...
  18. markbrauer

    Chromecast audio - can anyone comment on sound quality?

    I too use my CCA as a streamer/headphone amp. I first mentioned it in this thread way back in Post #7. https://www.head-fi.org/threads/chromecast-audio-can-anyone-comment-on-sound-quality.782899/#post-11979624 It works extremely well with everything from 16 Ohm IEMs to the 300 Ohm Senheiser...
  19. markbrauer

    Chromecast audio - can anyone comment on sound quality?

    Audiobomber, "I've had a good deal of trouble casting and streaming (DLNA) 24/88.2 files to CCA, but only when I use an outboard DAC. Sometimes I get a popping noise in the music, sometimes dropouts, sometimes complete signal loss." - I have the same problem, usually short dropouts. "With...
  20. markbrauer

    Chromecast audio - can anyone comment on sound quality?

    I have been using the CCA optical output for well over a year now and find it sounds excellent, and way better than the analog output. But I believe that in my situation, the difference in sound quality is caused by an impedance mismatch with the line-level input of my amp, and not the quality...
  21. markbrauer

    Review by 'markbrauer' on item 'thinksound On2 wood on-ear monitor headphone (natural black)'

    After reading numerous positive reviews of the On2, I took advantage of a visit to New York and stopped at Audio 46 to try them out. Tony helped me at the counter and I spent about 1/2 hour comparing them to my best on-ears, which are also highly rated. The On2s were clearly superior, and not...
  22. markbrauer

    Chromecast audio - can anyone comment on sound quality?

    sonci,   Technically speaking, you are correct. Any data that has been modified (in this case the volume info) is not "bit perfect". And we audiophiles do demand bit perfect.   Practically speaking (hearing?), the Chromecast Audio does volume control really well. I have been using mine for...
  23. markbrauer

    Need Android player matching certain criteria

    The too-large volume steps is one of the worst features of Android. Sadly, Fine Volume Control gets very poor reviews for my device - mostly 1 star.
  24. markbrauer

    Need Android player matching certain criteria

    I have used Folder Player for years. It's free and has no ads. Plays MP3, WAV, FLAC, AAC, and WMA files. Works real well. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.folderplayer   It is simple and it's primary navigation is by directory structure.   It has a built-in 5 band...
  25. markbrauer

    Do I need one ?

    I started with a Purity Audio K.I.C.A.S. It got great reviews on Head-Fi ( http://www.head-fi.org/products/k-i-c-a-s-caliente ) and drove my Sennheiser HD555s quite well. My longer term plan was to upgrade to Sennheiser HD650s so I had emailed the Purity Audio designer and he assured me that the...
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