Google Chromecast Audio - Discontinued

[dhutch]

Heads up for anyone interested.

I think these little things are great, turning any Hi-Fi/speaker into a 'smart' device you can steam to from a large number of programs/apps including BBC and Spotify. Obviously the similar priced hdmi Chromcast (gen 3 released just before christmas) will do the same thing with an audio splitter sadly they didnt add a 3.5 jack, so its not quite as need.

Just bought another pair just as I plan to use them to make a cheap zoned audio setup in the main rooms of the house.


If you want one there still appears to be stock at Currys £30 and MyMemory £25 amongst others.

https://entertainment.slashdot.org/story/19/01/11/...



Daniel

[paulrockliffe]

That is bobbins!

These are brilliant and I don't think the argument that you can buy a Google Home instead for 4 times the price really cuts it. I'm torn between buying a few more now so I have them ready for when I need them, or not bothering because inevitably at some point they'll stop the Google Homes casting to them.

They are the perfect bridge between the Home Mini and a proper stereo setup, madness to lose them as there must be loads being used with proper hifi, or ceiling speakers, where the user isn't going to accept a Google thingy instead!

[jamgy]

Thanks for the heads up.

I bought one before Christmas to give it a bash on my main hifi, with the intention of buying more for multiroom if I liked it. I haven't totally clicked with it - great when it works, but it's a bit temperamental connecting. I think that's my wifi that needs sorting though. Ordered another from Mymemory while I can!

[paulrockliffe]

I had issues with mine when I was using a standard BT Broadband router. All had good signal, but it would drop them periodically for reasons only known to the router. As a result you would have something playing and then lose the remote control and volume control on your phone. Reconnecting was problematic too, but that seems to work a lot better now. I swapped to a proper WiFi switch and they've been rock-steady ever since.

The only thing that causes me issues is the Amazon Music app, it'll often claim not to be able to see any devices, you click out and try again and everything is there. It's only that app and it's an all or nothing thing, so it's definitely Amazon trying to convince me to buy their kit instead.

You'll be able to pick up second hand ones for buttons down the line, so I wouldn't worry about having to hoover up supply now, but my concern is they'll introduce some hassle around integration with Home etc in the future and kill them that way.

[jamgy]

It's a reasonable Linksys router, but thinking about it my (not very often used) laptop has issues maintaining connection, so perhaps it's time to try a new one

We live in a granite cottage, which has been dry lined with foil-backed plasterboard, which I suppose isn't, ahem, 'optimal' for wifi!

[GravelBen]

I've been meaning to get one for a while so I've ordered one now while there is still stock available!

[dazmanultra]

I use these around my house, I even have some outdoor speakers in the soffits which I can cast to when we have barbecues etc. This is really sad, and I hope Google continue to support them for some time after as I'm not sure what I can replace them with at the moment. Bluetooth audio quality is not great. The integration with the Google Homes is really good as well, and the ability to link them together in groups is useful, e.g. I have a group for home all speakers, home inside, outside etc.

[thatjagbloke]

Thanks op, just ordered another ( I already have 2 in use ) to have a spare in case one goes wrong or something. Never had a problem with them and others have said they are a brilliant device for the money. Use mine to stream Spotify premium through my Hi - Fi and the quality is excellent.
Wonder why Google are discontinuing them ? Aren't they selling well ?

[Blink982]

I rarely use mine as I have a couple of Squeezeboxes but I bought a chomecast audio a few years ago just to try it and was very impressed. The phrase 'Keep It Simple Stupid' applies, it's so simple to setup and use and it just works. When people come round, I use it as anyone can simply cast their own music from Spotify. I've just ordered another, which might be a spare or I'll hook it up in place of my second Squeezebox. I use Amazon Echo devices but if I had went with Google, it would simplify my music setup even more.

Anyone that hasn't bought one that has a decent HiFi or simply wants to add an easy way to play streamed music for peanuts - buy one. They are brilliant little devices.

[AC43]

Thanks OP . I use one every single day to stream Spotify to the amp in the main family living area. SO much better than the Logitech and Harmon kardon Bluetooth dongles I'd used previously.

Two more on order.

[dhutch]

After three days lul I thought this thread had fell on deaf ears, but while they have their downsides and limitations, they are simple and easy to work and do what they say in the box. Certainly for the price you can't fault them at all!

I presume they want push more integrated speaker sales maybe, or find they are a bit niche to move enough volume to justify an update. However it's is sad they didn't include a 3.5mm jack to the 3rd gen (non-audio) Chromecast to make it a dual device.


Daniel

[grumbledoak]

This is a shame. My Chromecast Audio is a much neater replacement for my old Squeezebox & NAS solution, adding Spotify but keeping the decent stereo. I wonder if they'll stop supporting casting.

[dhutch]

grumbledoak said:

This is a shame. My Chromecast Audio is a much neater replacement for my old Squeezebox & NAS solution, adding Spotify but keeping the decent stereo. I wonder if they'll stop supporting casting.

As I understand it, without having a Chromecast (just a Chromecast Audio) they stream the same.

I believe you can stream audio to a Chromecast and have it come out of your TV setup (ice streaming to a hifi, with a hdmi splitter), and when you stream to a Chromecast audio from YouTube app on a phone it blacks out the screen as it's presumably sending the video as well as the audio, one of its limitations.


Daniel

[philv]

Be warned....chromecast audionoptical out using deezer results in 1 second dropouts.
Known problem that they haven’t managed to fix in more than 6 months.
I guess deezer couldn’t be arsed if they thought it would be disconinued.

I took mine back.
Shame.

Edited by philv on Saturday 19th January 19:27

[ARHarh]

I have 2 valve radios from the 1950's running with these. Brings a new dimension to voice control, no one expects a big old Bakelite radio to respond to voice control.

[Fonzey]

WTF, very annoyed at this news.

I currently only have one Chromecast Audio but had plans for a couple more so will get those ordered today, but I'll be really concerned if support starts to slip.

These are fantastic, and at their pricepoint I'm pretty sure they're totally unique. Got one feeding my 2003 ceiling speakers (which has saved me £000's in Sonos/Smart Speaker alternatives!) and I intended to plug one into the back of my two AV receivers too, despite them boasting Spotify integration already I can use Chromecast to group them together with the ceiling speakers and Google Home speakers for when the house is in "party mode" (planning for the future when we may have friends).

[peterperkins]

ARHarh said:

I have 2 valve radios from the 1950's running with these. Brings a new dimension to voice control, no one expects a big old Bakelite radio to respond to voice control.

Excellent...

[Fundoreen]

Can see why they killed it off. Doesn't have the ability to gather stats on the user. They felt left behind by amazons efforts in the intrusion game.
Is there a cheap chinese no name equivelent that does what CA did? Not one of those tv boxes that runs android and buzzes away with terrible sound.