John
Do you want the good news or the bad news?
We’ll start with the bad: citing weaker sales figures than its video-capable counterpart, Google is discontinuing its Chromecast Audio streamer.
The Chromecast Audio was launched in 2015 to overnight become the most affordable music streamer this side of a Raspberry Pi. It was even made Roon capable last year to become the cheapest Roon endpoint available.
The sound quality of the Chromecast’s internal DAC is exactly what we might expect from a US$35 device – nothing special – but for a better-sounding Chromecast experience, we tap the 3.5mm socket’s mini-TOSLINK digital output for connection to an external DAC. It’s still not the best digital streamer available — gapless playback remains MIA for Chromecasts streams – a non-issue for Soundcloud fans like yours truly – but you’d need a pretty decent hi-rig to expose its audible flaws. It’s just the ticket for entry-level systems like KEF’s LSX.
The good news is that Google is running out remaining stock on the Chromecast Audio for a crazy cheap US$15. RUN…
Farewell Chromecast Audio. We hardly knew ye.
Further information: Google
