Chromecast anyone?

[Hobbit]

I just picked up a new internet radio, GD Mondo Plus, with built in Chromecast. As some might remember, I loved my GD internet radios. I have an eclectic taste in music and most the big music providers just don't go that deep into tracks and miss some genre's completely.

A little present history, going forward, some of the music providers are not allowing built-in (native) apps in devices (like AVR's). Pandora is one of these that is not allowing hardware vendors to install it as a native program anymore.

The solution for GD was build Chromecast into their devices and then you use your smart phone (i or droid) to stream your music to it. For those who don't know, there's a little button in the apps that then transmits what's playing on your phone to your Chromecast enabled devices. Actually setup was unbelievably easy. Once you Chromecast enabled devices is running, it doesn't need the phone anymore.

With multiple Chromecast dongles, you can have a multi room setup in the palm of your hands.

The downside is you need your phone, though I'm sure some people look at this as an upside, which becomes a remote at this point. IOW, once it's up and running you can turn off your phone and everything keeps working fine. You also just can't turn on a device in a room and have Pandora (or whichever app) turn on and play. This has to be done through your phone. Phone's not around, you got to go find it. Also, like on the Mondo+, you can't use a Chromecast app for your alarm buzzer.

At this time I'm still kind of up in the air about it. There's a wealth of Chromecast enabled apps which is cool. I can add Chromecast dongles, regular/HDMI or an audio variety, to audio or video systems which will then allow multi room music. But I'm not keen on always needing your phone. In fact, I'm finding I'm just sticking to native apps and internet radio stations (Fusion 101!) for my music.

Anyone else try Chromecast? Thoughts? Tricks to share?

 

[Montucky]

For $35, it's an impulse buy so totally worth giving it a shot. I've used it quite a bit and have actually really enjoyed it a lot. Wifi reception is absurdly good and audio quality is pretty nice. That said, I've pretty much abandoned it since in favor of Sonos. Ten times the cost, though so apples and oranges perhaps. CCA does have its issues. Especially with controlling it at times. Again...$35. You really can't go wrong.

 

[Montucky]

Oh, and one of the nifty features is that the audio out jack doubles as an digital optical out! I just got a little adapter. Got a mini toslink adapter that did the trick for 89 cents on Monoprice.

 

[KEW]

I just picked up a new internet radio, GD Mondo Plus, with built in Chromecast. As some might remember, I loved my GD internet radios. I have an eclectic taste in music and most the big music providers just don't go that deep into tracks and miss some genre's completely.

A little present history, going forward, some of the music providers are not allowing built-in (native) apps in devices (like AVR's). Pandora is one of these that is not allowing hardware vendors to install it as a native program anymore.

The solution for GD was build Chromecast into their devices and then you use your smart phone (i or droid) to stream your music to it. For those who don't know, there's a little button in the apps that then transmits what's playing on your phone to your Chromecast enabled devices. Actually setup was unbelievably easy. Once you Chromecast enabled devices is running, it doesn't need the phone anymore.

With multiple Chromecast dongles, you can have a multi room setup in the palm of your hands.

The downside is you need your phone, though I'm sure some people look at this as an upside, which becomes a remote at this point. IOW, once it's up and running you can turn off your phone and everything keeps working fine. You also just can't turn on a device in a room and have Pandora (or whichever app) turn on and play. This has to be done through your phone. Phone's not around, you got to go find it. Also, like on the Mondo+, you can't use a Chromecast app for your alarm buzzer.

At this time I'm still kind of up in the air about it. There's a wealth of Chromecast enabled apps which is cool. I can add Chromecast dongles, regular/HDMI or an audio variety, to audio or video systems which will then allow multi room music. But I'm not keen on always needing your phone. In fact, I'm finding I'm just sticking to native apps and internet radio stations (Fusion 101!) for my music.

Anyone else try Chromecast? Thoughts? Tricks to share?

Since your complaint is the need for a phone, why don't you buy a (i or droid) tablet to provide the same function? It can stay home and be dedicated to your music system. Lots of good prices on used ones.

Here is a pretty good deal on an 8" Samsung @ $100:
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Samsung-Galaxy-Tab-A-8-Tablet-16GB-Smoky-Titanium-Refurbished/51755641

 

[hfw01]

I have the Chromecast audio, and just control it from the browser on my computer. That way the kids can add songs to the playlist. The computer also does a better job of knowing what is playing. The phone seems to lose its connection to the chromecast when it is in my pocket, and it sometimes takes a moment to figure out what is playing, and let me control it when I first wake the phone back up.

 

[Montucky]

The phone seems to lose its connection to the chromecast when it is in my pocket, and it sometimes takes a moment to figure out what is playing, and let me control it when I first wake the phone back up.

That was my experience too. Although the CCA performed as well as I could expect for such an inexpensive device (and it is a lot of fun regardless), the control issues are what put me over the edge to transition to transition to something else. Pretty nice how many apps come with built-in Chromecast functionality these days, though. Chromecast Video seems to work more solidly for me for some reason, so I still use that functionality on my Sony Android-based TVs.