Chromecast vs Chromecast Audio: Which Suits Your Taste Best

December 8, 2016 by admin 266 Comments

The world of entertainment is constantly being bombarded with technological innovations that can make one’s head spin. If you are one of the many whose love for streaming goes unparalleled, finding what would best suit your preference between Chromecast vs Chromecast audio is definitely no walk in the park. There are glaring differences between these two but for first-timers, it may be a tough nut to break. So, here is a quick rundown on each streaming device’s features, similarities and differences to give you a more informed decision.

What’s In A Name?

Comparing Chromecast vs Chromecast Audio is like akin to asking between the same flavors of chocolates, only the other one has almonds on it. Though the ideal thing to pick is the one with almonds, some people prefer plain and simple chocolate due to a variety reasons like allergies, hyperactive sebum, or just a disdain for all things nuts.

The same can also be said for both devices. They have almost the same qualities and features except that the latter is made with the music enthusiasts in mind. The original Chromecast herein is described by its flagship company, Google, as a mere media streaming device which can be plodded directly into a TV’s HDMI port. Chromecast Audio, on the other hand, is marketed “for speakers” made for streaming music via WiFi. Both, when set up properly, can cast directly to portable smart devices like phone, laptop, tablet, or Chromebook—and then, stream music via speakers.

Diversity In Streaming

There is a glaring difference between these two. Chromecast is made for television streaming while Chromecast Audio is made specifically for music streaming with no video at all. Chromecast, however, can work with speakers supporting HDMI input or if the speaker is connected to an AV receiver. Other notable differences are the type of output interface and signal, inside features, intended usage, and quality.

The output interface and output signal also presents a huge difference between these two. Chromecast is capable of using HDMI output for both audio and video. Chromecast Audio, on the other hand, makes use of audio cable output only. It can only release sound via 3 audio cables – a 3.5mm stereo cable meant for an analog output, 3.5mm RCA cable usually found in DVD boxes and still for analog output, and the TOSLink optical cable via digital output – all these depend on the speaker input specifications. Of the three, the digital output delivers the best audio quality for you to enjoy.

While Chromecast can indeed, stream both video and audio, the audio quality it delivers cannot beat that of the Chromecast Audio. This is due to the absence of a digital-to-analog converter in Chromecast which only pegs the audio quality on the device connected to the dongle per se. Unlike Chromecast, the Chromecast Audio possesses its own digital-to-analog converter, a 192kHz 24-bit stereo DAC.

Going differ to the technicalities, both share almost identical hardware specifications. The designs are almost the same and so is the price tag. However, RAM for Chromecast is at 4GB due to its audio-video capabilities. Chromecast Audio, on the other hand, has 2GB only which is more than what is needed for music streaming.

The Verdict

Picking between Chromecast vs Chromecast Audio all depends on the buyer’s preference. If you are one who enjoy video and music streaming, the Chromecast dongle would make a best bet as it can deliver awesome video entertainment amid device-dependent sound quality. For a music enthusiast however, who prefer topnotch audio quality, the Chromecast Audio will make more sense. So it is important what you truly want and once identified then, take your pick!