Is there a viable chromecast audio alternative?

[Ambleton]

I have a fairly old set of Altec Lansing 2100 desktop speakers and sub, which has amazingly good sound.... much better than you believe should be possible from it...

Anyway, whilst it has a 3.5mm male connector, it would be useful to be able to stream/connect spotify etc to it etc. A Chromecast Audio would be perfect, but they are no longer for sale. Theres a few on ebay, but even second hand they go for £40-50. (Iirc they were circa £25 when they were available)

New ones seem to be available from one or two places at £80+. If I was spending that kind of cash I'd just get another Musiccast (I have two of these already, a WXAD10 into my main system in the living room and a WXAD30 in the kitchen). These are good, but not without thier flaws.

I only want a reasonably cheap device to make use of the speakers for in the bedroom (Barry White and Marvin Gaye obvs.) I dont want to get rid of the speakers because they aren't worth anything and a really nice little things. But presently they arent being utilised.

Is there anything else worth looking at sub £50 or should I plump for a SH chromecast audio?

[gizlaroc]

What are you listening on?

Ripped music, Spotify, Tidal, Amazon Music, Apple Music, Qobuz?

An Alexa Echo Input will probably do what you want and with voice control too.

[Ambleton]

Oh sorry, forgot to say, it'll mostly be spotify, although I have been looking at Tidal recently too....

I dont want anything that listens/voice control etc. Feels like inviting the devil into your house (yes, yes, I do have a smart phone etc)... but that's a separate discussion.

[gizlaroc]

You could just buy a Raspberry Pi.

Stick Diet Pi on it and it will give you a Spotify end point, Airplay and Bluetooth streaming.

£35 and job done.

[ecotec]

In short no,

It's a shame google killed it, it was super cheap and just worked

[Tony1963]

OP,
Do you have an unloved Apple TV 2 or 3 sat around not being used? One of those with a cheapy Fiio DAC off Amazon with a cheap optical cable keeps my Tidal feeding nicely into the system.

[gizlaroc]

Apple TV, 1 and 2, not sure on 3, is really nasty imho.

It converts everything to 16/48 and if you listen to the higher frequencies you can hear that it does some weird stop to them, compare it with an airport express and it is pretty easy to hear.


I wouldn't use one for anything but background noise.

[GCH]

Apple TV or airport express (caveat being that the latter now requires a PC running the older outdated airport sortware to configure, which is a pain in the ass).

[Tony1963]

gizlaroc said:

Apple TV, 1 and 2, not sure on 3, is really nasty imho.

It converts everything to 16/48 and if you listen to the higher frequencies you can hear that it does some weird stop to them, compare it with an airport express and it is pretty easy to hear.


I wouldn't use one for anything but background noise.

For the OP’s budget and needs, it would be fine, ‘if’ there’s an ATV doing nothing.

[vladcjelli]

I’ve got three chrome cast audios sitting around doing nowt, in fact I think ones never been unboxed.

A sensible offer would be considered.

[gizlaroc]

Tony1963 said:

For the OP’s budget and needs, it would be fine, ‘if’ there’s an ATV doing nothing.

Yeah, you're right.

[Ambleton]

vladcjelli said:

I’ve got three chrome cast audios sitting around doing nowt, in fact I think ones never been unboxed.

thanks - sent you a PM

gizlaroc said:

Tony1963 said:

For the OP’s budget and needs, it would be fine, ‘if’ there’s an ATV doing nothing.

Yeah, you're right.

I don't have any apple TV's etc knocking about - appreciate it could work for others though.

[Howard-]

https://www.mymemory.co.uk/google-chromecast-audio... - You can pick them up brand new from here.

I have about 6 of them in my house in various setups - ceiling speakers, kitchen speakers, hifi systems, etc. It all works brilliantly, especially the multi-room aspect. I will continue to use them until they no longer function properly, however long that takes. Only then will I consider alternatives.

I have a couple of spares but you can't have 'em

[phil_cardiff]

Howard- said:

https://www.mymemory.co.uk/google-chromecast-audio... - You can pick them up brand new from here.

I have about 6 of them in my house in various setups - ceiling speakers, kitchen speakers, hifi systems, etc. It all works brilliantly, especially the multi-room aspect. I will continue to use them until they no longer function properly, however long that takes. Only then will I consider alternatives.

I have a couple of spares but you can't have 'em

Thanks for this. Might pick up 3 spares for when mine break down.

I have looked at speakers with Google incorporated but they don't do it for me.

[Ambleton]

Thanks for that.

I looked last week and they didnt have them listed. It'll only let you order one at a time, but then that's all I need

Ordered.

[vladcjelli]

Only just saw your earlier message, if you’re sorted for now, I’ll hold on to mine for the time being then.

[Foliage]

I use a 7" fire tablet, it was £35 on black Friday.


But you could also use a dot or similar too.


Probably the cheapest and best option is https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07PDJ9JFF?ref=ODS_v2_...

Edited by Foliage on Monday 3rd February 17:06

[Ambleton]

No probs. They go on ebay for more than the new price anyway, so probably best to hold onto them until you REALLY cant get then anymore, then sling them on there...