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Make Dumb Speakers Smart To Stream Music

March 3, 2017 by · Leave a Comment

Chromecast Audio Main
 
 
Google has come out with a new product that makes your dumb speakers smart.  Chromecast Audio is a small nearly 2-inch disc that plugs into the Aux in the port of your speaker and is plugged into a wall outlet.
 
Chromecast Audio makes your speaker WiFi-enabled and app controllable, ready to stream music.
 
Have some old tower speakers hanging around?  What about that old pair of PC speakers you shelved after getting some new ones? It even works with newer speakers like Bluetooth wireless speakers you have sitting around the house.
 
Google Chromecast Audio (1)
 
Chromecast Audio connects to your old speakers to stream music from your phone, tablet, or laptop through WiFi.  WiFi is a much stronger network to stream music to speakers over Bluetooth, giving you a better high-resolution sound.  
 

Stream Music

You can use your Android phone, tablet, iPhone, iPad, Mac, Chromebook, or Windows laptop to cast your favorite music, radio stations, and podcasts to any speaker you have in your home.
 
Chromecast Audio Apps
 
You can stream music from these apps: Spotify, Pandora, iHeartRadio, Rdio, Google Play Music, Deezer, YouTube Music, Soundcloud, and much more.  I uploaded my music to Google Play Music so I can play my favorite tunes straight from the app, streamed to my speakers.
 
I don’t have too many old speakers, but I do have a number of Bluetooth speakers.  Yes, I could connect to them via Bluetooth, but I connected them using Chromecast Audio for several reasons:
  1. I wanted to prove the fact that I could connect Chromecast to any speaker to stream music and have it work.  (It worked!)
  2. Connecting to your speakers via WiFi provides a better quality sound.  The sound was really good.  You can even change a setting in the Google Home app to provide even better quality.  It also doesn’t drain my battery because Chromecast Audio streams straight from your WiFi, not from your phone.
  3. There’s a broader range – you can walk around your house and still be connected to your speakers, where the range is more limited with Bluetooth.
  4. You can multi-task on your phone without the music stopping.
I have plenty of Bluetooth speakers, and they sound good on Chromecast Audio, but I LOVE using my Logitech PC speakers with Chromecast Audio.  
 
They sound is thumping and now I can move my speakers anywhere, even at the pool, without needing to have my laptop attached to them.
 

Multi-Speaker Audio

 

Google Chromecast Audio (6)

 

Speaking of moving my speakers anywhere, one neat feature I found with Chromecast Audio is that I can easily move this little device from one speaker to another without needing to restart the song, as long as I keep the Chromecast Audio powered up.
 
This is cool, but what I like even better is the fact that with two Chromecast Audio devices, I can hook up two different speakers to stream music and sync them to play the same song!  Now, I can REALLY have stereo sound in one room or around the house.  
 
Setup is fairly easy too – you can select speakers to put in a “Group” within the Google Home app, then select that Group when you want to stream music from your phone, tablet, or computer.
 
Imagine it, you could actually set up your own Sonos-type, multiroom stereo system around your house for a fraction of the cost!  And you can individually control the speakers so that all of them play the same song…or different ones.
 
So my daughter can stream music in her room and control it with Google Play Music, Pandora, etc. and I can listen to something different in my room, or we can sync or different speakers together to listen to the same tunes!
Google Chromecast Audio (3)
 
And something else I found out that was cool.  If I want to use a wireless Bluetooth speaker with my Chromecast Audio, but still be mobile, I can attach a battery pack to the Chromecast Audio using the included USB cable (and ditch the electrical plug part), so that I now have a portable wireless system.  Pretty cool.
 
 

Chromecast Audio

Features:

  • Control and stream music from your phone on non-smart speakers
  • WiFi enables your speakers by plugging it into the AUX input of your speaker
  • Supports Aux, RCA and Optical inputs
  • Works with many music-streaming services like Spotify, Pandora, iHeartRadio, Rdio, Google Play Music, Deezer, and Soundcloud
  • Can now support multiroom audio
  • Use your phone to control your speaker anywhere you have WiFi coverage – play, pause, skip, volume, and more
  • Family and friends can cast their music to your speakers too without need for pairing or additional set

 

Pros:

  • Uses WiFi, so you can leave the room with your phone and the music still plays
  • Stream music by casting to Chromecast Audio doesn’t drain your battery since music is streamed from your WiFi, not your phone
  • You can still use your phone for texting, calling, and apps while streaming
  • Streaming is very stable, with little to no interruption
  • Affordable way to stream music around the house
  • Streaming music from your PC is easy using Google Chrome’s Cast

 

Cons:

  • It is not wireless, requires to be plugged in for it to work
  • It does work with RCA and optical input, but you’ll need your own cables 
  • Does not work with Apple Music, iTunes, and Amazon Prime Music and only works with Spotify Premium

 

Chromecast Audio is on sale right now from Best Buy for $30, a $5 savings! 

 

WellConnectedMom.com

A Mom’s Perspective

Something simple, like this little 2-inch round device, is easy to get overlooked.  It’s under $35, many people won’t give it much thought.
 
But if you’ve dreamed of having a multiroom solution where you can stream music throughout your house and control it with your phone, without paying a fortune, Chromecast Audio is a dream.
 
Think of it, you’ve invited friends over for a gathering.  As they come through your door, they’ll hear Bruno Mars music pumping and continue hearing it in the kitchen, outside by the pool, and more quietly over dinner.
 
We all have speakers lying around, whether they are old speaker towers, Bluetooth wireless speakers, or PC speakers…you have them!  Now you can put them to good use and create multi-room music to stream all around your house.
 
For only $30-35, you can’t go wrong.  Try one and envision the possibilities!
 
 

 

*I have been compensated in the form of a Best Buy Gift Card and/or received the product/service at a reduced price or for free.



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