Chromecast Audio vs Bluetooth 4.0 Music Streaming

Forums › Home Theatre (including HTPC and EPG Collector) › Chromecast Audio vs Bluetooth 4.0 Music Streaming

cannonball

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#226059 18-Dec-2017 17:49

I have just bought a pair of active speakers, the Edifier S1000DB that has Bluetooth 4.0 for wireless streaming. I have read that wifi streaming is better than bluetooth in terms of audio quality. Just wanting to hear from owners of Chromecast Audio who has also experienced both streaming via bluetooth and wifi whether in real world experience that there is a noticeable difference in audio quality in favour of the Chromecast. Thanks.

toejam316

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#1921436 18-Dec-2017 18:28

Wifi streaming is absolutely better, because it can send the file as it's encoded, as opposed to bluetooth, where it needs a format shift to whatever bluetooth protocol is involved.

If you can use the CCAudio, definitely stick with that over BT.

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JimmyH

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#1921444 18-Dec-2017 19:02

Yes, there is a big difference. WiFi is a lot better - range (as in distance from phone to client device), audio quality and usability.

hio77

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#1921465 18-Dec-2017 19:37

Last party i had, was a serious differance between chromecast and bluetooth (DLNA audio for that matter too)

Chromecast didn't bat an eye with roaming accesspoints etc.

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richms

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#1921477 18-Dec-2017 20:11

Chromecast from a supported app casting to it is great.

Chromecast from a browser tab is hit and miss quality wise. Not all services allow app casting, some only allow it on paid tiers etc.

A third option which I have found quite good is miracast - will work when the phone is on 4G or wifi, and just works on supported phones. My fake chromecast off ebay turned out to be a miracast dongle and I have it in the shed. Send to it from the laptop or the phone no worries at all.

Biggest issue I have with bluetooth is the lack of error correction in it. It will break up for a bit and then play at a higher speed for a moment inorder to catch up. Really annoying.

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SheriffNZ

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#1921547 18-Dec-2017 22:14

Is there any difference in quality between wifi direct and wifi via Chromecast? Looking st getting a speaker for Christmas and was leaning towards a wifi one over Bluetooth. The Bluetooth ones are generally more portable and if I could use chromecast audio at other times with a drop in quality, that might push me to a more portable one.

Stu1

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#1921584 19-Dec-2017 07:15

SheriffNZ: Is there any difference in quality between wifi direct and wifi via Chromecast? Looking st getting a speaker for Christmas and was leaning towards a wifi one over Bluetooth. The Bluetooth ones are generally more portable and if I could use chromecast audio at other times with a drop in quality, that might push me to a more portable one.

I have both chrome cast and a Sony Bluetooth speaker. I find that wifi has to pretty good with the Chromecast especially in the garage it takes forever to connect sometimes even when its playing music on my phone when its waiting to connect.I also find I get massive crackling noise on Chromecast when using Spotify on my midi system which is a Panasonic I have to turn off the stero option to get rid. The Bluetooth is great to take camping or on a picnic but sometimes takes awhile to pair. I really like Bluetooth for portability buy both the cast is pretty cheap and Bluetooth speakers are pretty reasonable as well

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SheriffNZ

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#1922068 19-Dec-2017 16:44

Stu1:
SheriffNZ: Is there any difference in quality between wifi direct and wifi via Chromecast? Looking st getting a speaker for Christmas and was leaning towards a wifi one over Bluetooth. The Bluetooth ones are generally more portable and if I could use chromecast audio at other times with a drop in quality, that might push me to a more portable one.

I have both chrome cast and a Sony Bluetooth speaker. I find that wifi has to pretty good with the Chromecast especially in the garage it takes forever to connect sometimes even when its playing music on my phone when its waiting to connect.I also find I get massive crackling noise on Chromecast when using Spotify on my midi system which is a Panasonic I have to turn off the stero option to get rid. The Bluetooth is great to take camping or on a picnic but sometimes takes awhile to pair. I really like Bluetooth for portability buy both the cast is pretty cheap and Bluetooth speakers are pretty reasonable as well

Thanks for the response. I think I’ll head the wifi route despite the fact it’s less portable. I’ll get another if need too. :)

JimmyH

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#1922112 19-Dec-2017 19:10

It can be extremely portable.

I'm using the Panasonic/Qualcomm Allplay system for WiFi audio streaming. It even has a fully portable speaker with a rechargeable battery that will work anywhere in range of your router, and the whole setup is controllable off a phone or tablet.

I have 2 All1C units (connected to older bedroom and living room stereos) and one All8 standalone speaker. They work great, I can stream different music to different speakers, group all the speakers together for a whole house experience, and stream music off my phone, NAS or Spotify. The wife is happy with it as well.

ermat

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#1922198 19-Dec-2017 22:09

Slightly of topic but do you have to subscribe to access music via chromecast audio, the likes of spotify are user pay ? or are there free options.

Stu1

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#1922200 19-Dec-2017 22:18

I heart radio is free, I use to use deezer as well. We get Spotify free through prepaid with spark on one of there old plans so very lucky we use Spotify every night

cannonball

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#1941307 17-Jan-2018 09:27

I have now got myself a Chromecast Audio and connected it to the Edifier S1000DB via the RCA input on the speakers. All worked fine for audio streaming until I tried casting the sound from Youtube videos a Chrome tab on my desktop. The video and audio from the speakers are noticeably out of sync. I googled on this issue and have found some discussions on this issue with the Chromecast Audio but I cannot find any resolution. Most discussions are for the normal Chromecast.

Perhaps it's due to my weak Atom based mini PC? I am also using a Belkin N600 dual band wireless N dongle (currently using 5Ghz band) on the PC and works well for normal Youtube, Netflix streaming and online surfing.

Anyone on this forum having this issue or input on how to resolve this issue? Thanks.

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epr

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#1941322 17-Jan-2018 09:56

What are the options for wifi audio streaming apart from chromecast out of interest.

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SheriffNZ

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#1941329 17-Jan-2018 10:06

epr: What are the options for wifi audio streaming apart from chromecast out of interest.

I bought this (https://www.bose.co.nz/en_nz/products/speakers/multi_room_speakers/soundtouch-10-wireless-system.html#v=soundtouch_10_black_anz_in_uae) for Christmas and I'm happy with it. Various other brands have similar products.

richms

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#1941653 17-Jan-2018 19:05

cannonball:

I have now got myself a Chromecast Audio and connected it to the Edifier S1000DB via the RCA input on the speakers. All worked fine for audio streaming until I tried casting the sound from Youtube videos a Chrome tab on my desktop. The video and audio from the speakers are noticeably out of sync. I googled on this issue and have found some discussions on this issue with the Chromecast Audio but I cannot find any resolution. Most discussions are for the normal Chromecast.

Perhaps it's due to my weak Atom based mini PC? I am also using a Belkin N600 dual band wireless N dongle (currently using 5Ghz band) on the PC and works well for normal Youtube, Netflix streaming and online surfing.

Anyone on this forum having this issue or input on how to resolve this issue? Thanks.

No, that is just how it works with audio mirroroing.

With bluetooth the latency is known to the audio stack on the computer and it can compensate on pre-recorded stuff being played. Still useless for live mixed audio like gaming.

Richard rich.ms