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But I'm not thrilled by the sound quality.
I use an old Denon amp and Mordaunt-Short speakers which give very acceptable sound from the CD. The amp only has RCA inputs - nothing fancy like optical. My music is streamed from either Android phone and tablet or Windows PC using Chrome.
I like Spotify because I can stream at a reasonably high bit rate, it has most of the music I listen to and I can use the offline downloads for those times when I'm on holiday or away from wi-fi.
Apart from Spotify the only other music I listen to is 6 Music which i cast to the Chromecast.
My issues are that the music is a bit "closed in" and the chromecast sometimes comes over quiet, which might just need setting up a bit.
So, I'm thinking of adding a DAC into the mix, and possibly trying Tidal. As I say, I don't think the amp and speakers are letting me down.
Anybody else had the same issues and sorted it without a lot of fuss and cost?
Have you got the Chromecast set to Full Dynamic Range?
The Chromecast Audio does sound a lot better if you use its optical digital output into a DAC. Even cheapo DACs improve the sound a fair bit, and it can sound very good when a good DAC is used.
Who would like to recommend the best value dac? Up to £150ish?
Thanks, I'll check (find how to) the settings.
Thanks, I’ll check (find how to) the settings.
Go into Google Home, select the device, click the settings icon, and scroll down to sounds. If it isn't enabled it sounds awful with a proper amp / speakers.
That might explain a lot. Thanks, Simon.
How are the Bogtrotters getting on these days. Haven't seen many photos of ladies' bottoms for a while 😎
That'd be simonfb, not me. I don't think he was in a good way last I heard 🙁
No, I know really. Terribly sad.
Who would like to recommend the best value dac? Up to £150ish?
Lots of decent stuff second hand in that bracket, including stuff like the Cambridge Audio Dacmagic or Dacmagic 100 (if you don't need a balanced output).
I run Spotify digital output from my laptop through a NAD 3045D DAC/amp to B&W speakers, and have to say it doesn't sound great. Tidal (at a minimum of 24-bit/92kHz) sounds a lot better to me, but the selection just isn't as good as Spotify and for this reason I often find myself frustrated with the service. No perfect solution yet as far as I know.
Better off spending on a new amp with an integrated dac if the denon doesn't have one, alot less fuss, and a mini toslink to toslink cable.
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F362240475737
The 9010 got great reviews, but make sure it is the European model with optical inputs.
It's probably the full dynamic range option not being selected in the settings.
It makes a massive difference.
Its worth regularly checking the full dynamic range, mine was off last time I checked. Possibly since I got a replacement Chromecast a few months ago. Does make a big difference when using proper speakers.
@simon - thanks for that tip, I've just enabled it on mine and there's an obvious difference in sound, hadn't even realised the setting was there before!
Well, bugger me. I just looked for, and found Google Home on my phone. Now all my troubles are so far away...
Yesterday I was in Richer Sounds, seriously considering an expensive upgrade. Now, without having spent a single penny, I've got the sound I want. I have a richer sound without being poorer. Thanks Simon, the forum has done it again.
Excuse me now, I'm half way through Purple Rain and I feel a Wish You Were Here coming on. It's a bit loud in here.
I play Spotify at the highest stream thru a logitech Bluetooth receiver. Sounds ace but BT does seem to be quieter than other sources. A DAC isn't necessarily going to give you more volume unless it's sone kind of dac with with an output pot.
No, I've got masses of volume now I found the Google Home settings.
And that reminds me - must play Windowlicker again :o)
Is this setting specific to the Chromecast Audio? I can't see a "Sounds" setting on my (regular) Chromecast.
Bum.
OK, cheers.