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Post by alarmbark on Nov 21, 2016 11:19:03 GMT -5
Trying to learn how I might benefit from a DAC. I have a Chromecast Audio attached to my receiver with RCA cable (no optical input).
1) Can I improve on what the Chromecast DAC does by putting a Little Ego between it and the receiver? After upgrading my speakers and receiver, cannot spend a lot on a DAC but wondered if such as the Little Ego would improve the sound while using the Chromecast.
2) If I were to send music from my laptop and attach Little Ego to laptop, is it true I would have to wire it to receiver (rather than use Chromecast) to benefit from Little Ego?
Many thanks
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KeithL
Administrator 
Posts: 9,937
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Post by KeithL on Nov 21, 2016 12:45:28 GMT -5
There are a few different variations on the Chromecast. However, as far as I know, they all have HDMI and/or RCA outputs. The EGo DACs only accept USB inputs from a device like a computer that supports "an external sound card". Therefore, I don't think there's any way to connect one to a Chromecast. You're correct... the Little Ego should be connected to the output of your laptop via USB. It will then replace the internal sound card as a "high quality external USB sound card". Then, since the output of the Ego is analog, you will have to connect that output to the analog input of your receiver using a cable. This situation will be quite similar with any DAC. You could plug the HDMI output of the Chromecast into a DAC with an HDMI input. However, there are VERY few DACs with HDMI inputs (and the few there are quite expensive). Also, to be honest, your receiver is already "a DAC with an HDMI input" - so it would only make sense to do that if you had a BETTER HDMI DAC to replace it with. Trying to learn how I might benefit from a DAC. I have a Chromecast Audio attached to my receiver with RCA cable (no optical input).
1) Can I improve on what the Chromecast DAC does by putting a Little Ego between it and the receiver? After upgrading my speakers and receiver, cannot spend a lot on a DAC but wondered if such as the Little Ego would improve the sound while using the Chromecast.
2) If I were to send music from my laptop and attach Little Ego to laptop, is it true I would have to wire it to receiver (rather than use Chromecast) to benefit from Little Ego?
Many thanks |
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Post by Soup on Nov 21, 2016 13:23:42 GMT -5
Try Essence HDACC
It a Dac that takes HDMI..
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Post by alarmbark on Nov 21, 2016 14:30:35 GMT -5
Great info, thanks. I am talking about the AUDIO Chromecast which has no HDMI but a 3.5mm cable. It seems there is no way to make use of a DAC in line between the Chromecast and the receiver. My receiver is just a stereo deal so no HDMI going on there: Yamaha RS700. It's new to me but maybe this model been around a few years. I think I read that it has no internal DAC... is that possible?
Can the Little Ego be rigged up for a cell phone?
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Post by garbulky on Nov 21, 2016 14:59:21 GMT -5
Great info, thanks. I am talking about the AUDIO Chromecast which has no HDMI but a 3.5mm cable. It seems there is no way to make use of a DAC in line between the Chromecast and the receiver. My receiver is just a stereo deal so no HDMI going on there: Yamaha RS700. It's new to me but maybe this model been around a few years. I think I read that it has no internal DAC... is that possible?
Can the Little Ego be rigged up for a cell phone? I think so. You have to have the appropriate USB adapter. |
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Post by Loop 7 on Nov 21, 2016 16:03:39 GMT -5
I'm going to be a stick in the mud for a moment.
I purchased and used a Chromecast Audio for a month or so with an XDA-2 Gen 2 (toslink) and with a UMC-200 (toslink) and I found the sound to be brittle regardless of settings or apps I used. It wasn't atrocious but lacking compared to a regular Chromecast (HDMI) or Apple TV (toslink or HDMI).
I speculate a Raspberry Pi and one of the Ego DACs would just blow away the CA.
I know, I'm a jerk.
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