Get Lifatec
this little thing is crazy good.
this little thing is crazy good.
Chromecast and external DAC
I’m trying to set up a budget system to stream Tidal and Chromecast Audio caught my attention. I have a Schiit Multibit on the way and was wondering if anyone uses Chromecast Audio as the streaming source and if so, have you tried using an external DAC with it. It apparently has optical and a micro USB ports and I would be interested in using the USB port on the Modi.
Anyone tried such a set up? How’s the sound quality?
Thanks in advance.
Anyone tried such a set up? How’s the sound quality?
Thanks in advance.
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- 21 posts total
Got the Chromecast gadget set up and so far only listened through the analog output and it sounds real good. I had been using a similar arrangement using the analog/earphone output of my iPhone and with the obvious benefit of wireless access/control, I can't say if the internal DAC in the dongle is better than the iPhone DAC but its definitely not worse. This is a temporary set up until I get the optical cable and run it through the Modi Multibit which I'm hoping will sound better. All in all, its a really great device even at double the price. I'm particularly happy about being able to stream Tidal HiFi using this device even if it probably doesn't go any higher than 24/96. Definitely good enough for this system since its main use will be vinyl. By the way, the CDs already sound better running the player through the Modi right out of the box. But that's a whole different discussion. mr_bill, wtf - No doubt lifatec glass cable is good but for now I'm trying to manage the cost for this moderate system so ~$100 just seemed a little out of proportion. But it'll be on my list, maybe next month. willemj, I know you've been talking about how good is this Chromecast Audio and based on my brief experience so far I tend to agree with your sentiments. I'll do some A/B testing with the Bluesound in my main system when I get the optical cable. Thank you all again. |
Good to hear you are happy. However, I noticed I forgot to include the link to the measurements of the analogue output: http://archimago.blogspot.nl/2016/02/measurements-google-chromecast-audio.html It is fine at 16/44 but measurably struggles at higher resolutions. With the analogue output there is something else to be aware of, however, since Google confuses the issue. There is an option for what they call High Dynamic Range, and you would think that is good news. However, in reality dynamic range is just the same as the default setting. The only difference is a higher output voltage. Standard is some 1.2 Volt if I remember correctly and HDR is the CD red book standard 2.0 Volt. As it so happens, that 2.0 Volt is pretty high for many analogue input stages, potentially leading to clipping of the input signal (my hunch is that a lot of what people call digital harshness is actually this input clipping). So in many systems the default may actually be better than the tempting High Dynamic Range. With the digital output this is not an issue, of course. |
@kalali .. glad you like the little gizmo, it's very cool tech. It's pretty close in sound quality compared to my Node 2 when using the Bifrost Multibit. In fact, I'm not sure I have a clear preference. The CA can also be used via analog-in into the Node 2 for non-supported services like Pandora and Google Play. Such a versatile little device! BTW, I had the Lifatec cable in storage, otherwise I wouldn't have bothered with a cable costing more than twice the price of the CA. Have fun. Best. |
I followed @willemj advice and for a month now stream "90 days free" Tidal thru Chromecast into Wadia 781i DAC. Sounds very good! Upgraded $5 generic mini-Toslink to WireWorld Supernova-6 glass mini and the sound got "snappier", the way Naim-head like me likes it! No double-blind testing here, so maybe its just in my head... Again, the only reason for Toslink upgrade was because I misread Wadia manual that it sounds its best with "glass optical" not realizing that its a separate proprietary input, not just plastic vs glass Toslink. Stupid me! But used $40 WireWorld off eBay does seem to sound better. Not as good as CD/SACD replay, but those who actually know what they r talking about say that Wadia is at its best as a transport-DAC, not just DAC The only reason for my future upgrade from Chromecast would be because Chromecast won’t stream gigabytes of tunes off my laptop, but I can live with that: gives me an excuse to use my dozen modded iPods and Pono player ;-) at the end of the day I cannot say if it was @willemj or Tidal’s free trial that pushed me into streaming, considering dozens of CDs in my collection still unopened I am glad that I fell for it! P.S. Tidal gave me an excuse to fire up (the first time in 20 years in my case!) Nakamichi cassette deck! As long as I keep my Tidal subscription (and I will) I can listen to the tunes "softened up" by cassette replay!! Long live Perfect Sound Forever dumbed down to analog ;-) |
- 21 posts total