Author Topic: We need a casting solution to work with a hifi.  (Read 2088 times)

Mrs Pingu

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We need a casting solution to work with a hifi.
« on: 12 November, 2019, 07:50:03 pm »
Currently we have an Xbox 360 which was bought to allow us to watch BBC iplayer, All4, Amazon etc while playing the audio through a proper old school amp and speakers. (Note, not an AV receiver, not surround sound).
Now iplayer and All4 are no longer supporting the Xbox360 so I'm looking for another solution (must give streaming with audio through the amp) that doesn't involve buying an XboxOne.
I was looking at Chromecast but I see that Gewgle killed off the Chromecast audio this year and it looks like the old ones still around are unsupported.
Does anyone have any other suggestions that will allow us to have real sound? We do have a Humax PVR (the internet portal on it is shit which is why we never used it to watch iplayer) in the unlikely event we can plug anything in there.
Do not clench. It only makes it worse.

fuaran

  • rothair gasta
Re: We need a casting solution to work with a hifi.
« Reply #1 on: 12 November, 2019, 08:10:54 pm »
A Chromecast Audio only works for streaming music services. So it won't work for TV programmes, eg iPlayer or All 4.
But a regular version Chromecast will work for TV, and is still available to buy and supported.

What audio outputs on the TV? Why not connect that to your hifi?
Or you could get an HDMI audio extractor. Plug the Chromecast into that, and connect it to your hifi.

Mrs Pingu

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Re: We need a casting solution to work with a hifi.
« Reply #2 on: 12 November, 2019, 08:30:06 pm »
What audio outputs on the TV? Why not connect that to your hifi?

Probably because I was born in the age of steam driven tellies and assumed that the audio would be rubbish done that way. Wrongly, I expect.
Do not clench. It only makes it worse.

ian

Re: We need a casting solution to work with a hifi.
« Reply #3 on: 12 November, 2019, 08:31:51 pm »
You can get the TV part with Chromecast, Firestick etc. But they'll normally send sound to the TV via the HDMI, so you'll probably have to set the sound out of the TV to the amp either via wires or the devil's radio (Bluetooth senders and receivers are available, or more spendy wifi-solutions).

We have a soundbar which works fine, connected by optical, and I think was shy of £100. Saves on the faff. We do have a Chromecast but the smart bit of our LG TV is actually pretty good (for bonus points, the Samsung blu-ray player also has smart gubbins).

Mrs Pingu

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Re: We need a casting solution to work with a hifi.
« Reply #4 on: 12 November, 2019, 08:57:17 pm »
Having rummaged in the gubbins it appears that the switcher we have for putting too many inputs into our amp actually has optical inputs so I guess we just need a digital optical cable (and a Chromecast of course) being as our telly appears to have an optical output.
Do not clench. It only makes it worse.

tonycollinet

  • No Longer a western province of Númenor
Re: We need a casting solution to work with a hifi.
« Reply #5 on: 12 November, 2019, 09:59:24 pm »
That'll do it.

thought Id be tempted by the fire tv rather than chromecast - on the grounds you don't need to cast to it from another device (eg tablet)

(unless chromecast has evolved since i last got one)

Mrs Pingu

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Re: We need a casting solution to work with a hifi.
« Reply #6 on: 12 November, 2019, 10:30:59 pm »
From what I have read this evening it looks like the current Chromecast will either mirror from another device or you just use the device as a remote. Not that it is at all obvious from the Chromecast website.
Do not clench. It only makes it worse.

ian

Re: We need a casting solution to work with a hifi.
« Reply #7 on: 13 November, 2019, 09:24:57 am »
As far as I know, and indeed they're cryptic, a Chromecast is just a casting device. You need another device to produce the video and audio and then it gets sent over the wireless network that the Chromecast produces. It's analogous to AirPlay (for the Apple-istas). The Firestick is basically an encapsulated smart-TV add-on (there are other similar devices).

fuaran

  • rothair gasta
Re: We need a casting solution to work with a hifi.
« Reply #8 on: 13 November, 2019, 09:41:30 am »
You do need a phone or tablet or PC to control the Chromecast. ie to tell it to play something. The Chromecast will then stream it directly from the source. So the video isn't actually coming from the phone. You can use the phone for something else, or even switch it off, the Chromecast will keep playing.

There is also the option of casting the screen, ie mirroring what is on the phone. Handy for apps that don't support proper casting.

Other option is a Google Home speaker, then use voice commands to play stuff on the Chromecast.

Maybe something with an actual remote control would be useful, for when you don't have your phone, or isn't connected to WiFi. But a phone or tablet is a better interface for browsing or searching for videos etc.

tonycollinet

  • No Longer a western province of Númenor
Re: We need a casting solution to work with a hifi.
« Reply #9 on: 13 November, 2019, 05:07:55 pm »
I think the point is - with chrome cast you must use another smart device - eg phone or tablet to find and start the streaming.

With a firetv (or roku - or other devices exist), you use the devices remote control just as you would with a smart tv (or the previously used xbox 360)

Mrs Pingu

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Re: We need a casting solution to work with a hifi.
« Reply #10 on: 13 November, 2019, 06:48:28 pm »
Ok, next stupid question. We have no sound via the amp. Is it likely to be because I've got a digital optical cable from the tv to the input switcher but just analogue from the switcher to the amp?
Do not clench. It only makes it worse.

Feanor

  • It's mostly downhill from here.
Re: We need a casting solution to work with a hifi.
« Reply #11 on: 13 November, 2019, 07:23:32 pm »
Ok, next stupid question. We have no sound via the amp. Is it likely to be because I've got a digital optical cable from the tv to the input switcher but just analogue from the switcher to the amp?

Possibly / probably.

Can you provide a link to the make/model of the switch and amp?
What in-its and out-its does it have?

And what are the capabilities of the amp?
Is it an AV amp with HDMI and optical inputs?
Does the amp have an optical in-it option to bypass the switch?

How many channels of analog are currently going from the switcher to the amp?

Mrs Pingu

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Re: We need a casting solution to work with a hifi.
« Reply #12 on: 13 November, 2019, 08:22:28 pm »
Amp is an Arcam Alpha 8. It has no digital inputs, HDMI or other forms of magic string. Red & white spaghetti only.
Switcher is a cheapo nasty no name thing, 3 inputs, each with red & white or TOSlink. And a TOSlink output.
Suspect the next package from Nozama will be a cheapo DAC.
Do not clench. It only makes it worse.

Feanor

  • It's mostly downhill from here.
Re: We need a casting solution to work with a hifi.
« Reply #13 on: 13 November, 2019, 08:39:19 pm »
Yes, I think the switcher is not doing any D to A conversion.

Does the TV have any analog Line Outputs (instead of the optical) which echo the HDMI-in audio which it loudspeaks?
Perhaps even via a <shudder> SCART?

Mrs Pingu

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Re: We need a casting solution to work with a hifi.
« Reply #14 on: 13 November, 2019, 08:49:16 pm »
It's got an 'EXT' output. Dog knows where the connector for that is...
Do not clench. It only makes it worse.

ian

Re: We need a casting solution to work with a hifi.
« Reply #15 on: 13 November, 2019, 10:09:52 pm »
Even our ancient TV had basic two-channel audio output (it also had an entire movie theatre for little people inside). The new LG doesn't though. It has about 55 HDMI sockets and – mysteriously! – a PCMCIA socket, presumably in case 1998 calls (ok, I googled and it's a thing for paid-for TV, but I'm tempted to dig out a 28.8k modem card and see if I can call 1998). Some USB, an ethernet port, speaker connections, digital sound out, and a paradigmatic funkblender.

Feanor

  • It's mostly downhill from here.
Re: We need a casting solution to work with a hifi.
« Reply #16 on: 13 November, 2019, 10:22:27 pm »
I've had a sneaky glance around the derrières of our reasonably young and attractive TV boxen, and they all have the multitude of inviting and yet mysterious little slots you mention; and yet for some reason they all still have one sloppy great SCART too. To amuse the French, I suppose.


ian

Re: We need a casting solution to work with a hifi.
« Reply #17 on: 13 November, 2019, 10:29:21 pm »
Unless it's hidden behind a panel of shame, our LG appears to be SCARTless.

Feanor

  • It's mostly downhill from here.
Re: We need a casting solution to work with a hifi.
« Reply #18 on: 13 November, 2019, 10:35:44 pm »
Well, that's you stuffed then.
How can can you watch the stash of VHS 'educational videos' now?

I still see adverts for 'Transfer your VHS / Hi-8 to DVD" services posted on railings and lamp-posts around town.
You do have to wonder....
Are they planning to make a killing on the blackmail thing?

vorsprung

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Re: We need a casting solution to work with a hifi.
« Reply #19 on: 14 November, 2019, 08:59:21 am »
I've been following this thread with bemusement

But I've thought about it and decided the easiest option is to get a TV with a HDMI input and an audio output.  For the audio, even a headphone socket would be ok.  Also get  new Chromecast dongle device

Then all you have to do is connect the old HIFI to the TV and drive the Chromecast with whatever you have to hand: it works fine with mobile phones, for example

CommuteTooFar

  • Inadequate Randonneur
Re: We need a casting solution to work with a hifi.
« Reply #20 on: 14 November, 2019, 12:29:32 pm »
The problem with casting and hifi amplifiers comes down to the face that casting only really exist on AV amplifiers which in my opinion are not hifi.

There is an AV amplifier made by Marantz (a Sound United company) that has all the latest AV features.  It differs from most other amps on the market becuase it a 2 channel hi-fi amp complete with analog inputs including a phono input for a turntable. It has HEOS for remote devices and several hdmi input for tv, blu ray etc.  Multii channel inputs are mixed down to stereo.

This is a hifi amp with AV input stage added Marants NR1200  It may do what you are looking for. https://www.marantz.co.uk/uk/mobile/Products/Pages/ProductDetails.aspx?CatId=hometheatre&SubCatId=avreceiver&ProductId=nr1200

Most AV receivers are not hi-fi quality



ian

Re: We need a casting solution to work with a hifi.
« Reply #21 on: 14 November, 2019, 01:14:27 pm »
Well, that's you stuffed then.
How can can you watch the stash of VHS 'educational videos' now?

I still see adverts for 'Transfer your VHS / Hi-8 to DVD" services posted on railings and lamp-posts around town.
You do have to wonder....
Are they planning to make a killing on the blackmail thing?

Well, everyone knows that the 80s were best for the sort of movies where housewives wore lingerie during the daylight hours and plumbers were unusually attentive. These days it's probably all tattoos and pneumatic grunting. I'm sure I mentioned my friend who found his dad's porn stash only to be confronted by the fact that it was a 'home movie' and the 'stars' were his parents. That's not the sort of thing you recover from.

Actually, what I thought were speaker connections on the back our TV are something more mysterious. No idea what they are (some kind of component video in/out apparently). These days I'm more of press-button-make-sound-come-out kind of guy.

Re: We need a casting solution to work with a hifi.
« Reply #22 on: 14 November, 2019, 03:47:26 pm »

Suspect the next package from Nozama will be a cheapo DAC.


https://www.richersounds.com/cyp-aud3-192.html?refSrc=14575&nosto=productpage-nosto-1 is a pretty good DAC. We use a previous version to feed audio from TV/DVD to a hi-fi amp

Mrs Pingu

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Re: We need a casting solution to work with a hifi.
« Reply #23 on: 14 November, 2019, 06:03:47 pm »
Got a Fiio one for 20 molluscs. All seems to work ok.
Do not clench. It only makes it worse.