Qobuz streaming via the new Chromecast audio by google

I doubt it's analogue out will be much cop.  However, I do plan to try the Chromecast Audio into the DAC-V1 via the digital optical out.  Despite already having a Qobuz into Naim solution, I am keen to experiment as there is the potential for the Chromecast to be useful in a second system.  The only reason I don't have one already, is because it's one of the few things I could say I would like for Christmas, that doesn't have a Naim-like price, or worse, attached to it.  I am hoping therefore that by Boxing Day I can report back on the matter.

I am using a Google Chromecast Audio to stream Qobuz into my Muso through the optical input. 44.1 kHz is no longer resampled to 48kHz with the new Chromecast firmware (1.17). With Qobuz I have no interruptions as with Tidal. Sound is great (of course its "only" a Muso) and BubbleUPnP is a phantastic controller software for this, streaming almost gapless. Really hope Qobuz is going to survive.

Pretty Awesome it sound like it is going to be my at the top of my xmas list , are you using it via an iOS device by any chance?

Mohamed Amin posted:

Pretty Awesome it sound like it is going to be my at the top of my xmas list , are you using it via an iOS device by any chance?

No. Android only.

You can, of course, stream directly from the Qobuz desktop.  I have done it from an iPad via USB directly into a Naim Dac and it sounds great. 

endlessnessism posted:

You can, of course, stream directly from the Qobuz desktop.  I have done it from an iPad via USB directly into a Naim Dac and it sounds great. 

+1 The Qobuz desktop app in to a DAC-V1 is simply wonderful.  Love it.  However, I think most see it as a hassle-loaded, and expensive solution.  Not that I agree, but that does seem to be true.  Whether the Chromecast sounds any good I have yet to judge, but I would expect that the hassle worry is removed with such a device.  And it's only £30!  Can't go wrong.

true you can, and I am using my iPhone connected to Uniti2 via USB, but I want to break free! and be able to walk away with my phone around the house , so I think I am going to try the Chromecast and as Songstress said it is 39 euro and you can't go wrong , Hopefully!

So more positive posts from Qobuz as they announce the appointment of a company caretaker on 29 December., So I subscribed to Sublime and going to buy the Chromecast and report back on its performance

So, Chromcaste audio is up and running,

First impression

Setup:

easy and straight forward, once I downloaded the Chromecast app to my iPhone 6s , and connected the device to its power supply , the App takes it from there. I connected it to the Digital input of the Naim uniti2 with a mini toslink to toslink, thus by-passing any digital component of the device itself. through the settings in the  Chromecast App I turned on Full Dynamic Range. and started streaming from Qobuz App

the device  was not able to join my 5GHZ network but had no problems joining the 2.4 Ghz, I had to reboot it once to get it to automatically download the new firmware 1.17

Performance and sound quality:

from Qobuz App and  with a touch of a finger I was apple to cast the music to the Naim but volume control has to be from the Naim App or the Naim remote control!

Because I subscribed to Qobuz Sublime . I was able to stream/Cast my purchased album from Qobuz at 24/196 , Sound quality to my ears is no different to that streamed from my NAS via ethernet , and with no interruption. I have no way of verifying this apart from that Qobuz App showing it is playing 24/196.  Uniti 2 itself is only showing that it is receiving a digital signal 

16 bit streaming sounded every bit as good as when my iPhone was attached to the Uniti via a usb cable

although it is a work around Naim integration of Qobuz ,as opposed to the straight forward Tidal integration  , I find myself very pleased with the results and the ability to receive calls or reply to text without interrupting my music streaming 

it is early days but will have long sessions with it and report back

Thanks. I was looking for how to stream Qobuz to Muso and this looks like the best answer currently, unless anyone knows better.

I assume Naim has no plans to integrate Qobuz?

Should you be an Android user you can use BubbleUPnP as control app to stream Qobuz directly into your Muso without Google Chromecast Audio. At least for me this is working perfectly since the last update of BubbleUPnP. It is even true gapless which is not possible with Chromecast Audio. Switch on your Muso with the Naim app and select UPnP as input. Now select your Muso as renderer in BubbleUPnP and start streaming Qobuz. You can even control the volume from within Bubble. Great fun!

Naim integration of Qobuz: ?????

Boris786 posted:

Thanks. I was looking for how to stream Qobuz to Muso and this looks like the best answer currently, unless anyone knows better.

I assume Naim has no plans to integrate Qobuz?

I used to own an NDX and hoped for a long time (18 months) that Naim would integrate Qobuz.  Because they didn't I tried other renderers and was shocked at how much better some of them were than the NDX - most notably Aurender - at significantly lower prices.  My NDX departed rapidly - at a decent price though.  That's one really good thing about Naim, secondhand values are very good compared to most other brands  Now thinking about a Melco N1A...

Qobuz streamed through Chromecast Audio optical out is pretty good - and an amazing bargain for £30

Wolf R posted:

Should you be an Android user you can use BubbleUPnP as control app to stream Qobuz directly into your Muso without Google Chromecast Audio. At least for me this is working perfectly since the last update of BubbleUPnP. It is even true gapless which is not possible with Chromecast Audio. Switch on your Muso with the Naim app and select UPnP as input. Now select your Muso as renderer in BubbleUPnP and start streaming Qobuz. You can even control the volume from within Bubble. Great fun!

Naim integration of Qobuz: ?????

Super - thanks for this. I am Android user and will have a go with BubbleUPnP. From same developer as BubbleDS I guess. Could I ask why you are using Chromecast though? Just curious.

My first venture into Naim, quite impressed with Muso. 

PhilP posted:

Boris786 posted:

Thanks. I was looking for how to stream Qobuz to Muso and this looks like the best answer currently, unless anyone knows better.

I assume Naim has no plans to integrate Qobuz?

I used to own an NDX and hoped for a long time (18 months) that Naim would integrate Qobuz.  Because they didn't I tried other renderers and was shocked at how much better some of them were than the NDX - most notably Aurender - at significantly lower prices.  My NDX departed rapidly - at a decent price though.  That's one really good thing about Naim, secondhand values are very good compared to most other brands  Now thinking about a Melco N1A...

Qobuz streamed through Chromecast Audio optical out is pretty good - and an amazing bargain for £30

Hmmm does not look like Qobuz arriving any time soon. To be fair I guess Naim might be hesitating due to Qobuz having survival issues. 

Boris786 posted:

Wolf R posted:

Should you be an Android user you can use BubbleUPnP as control app to stream Qobuz directly into your Muso without Google Chromecast Audio. At least for me this is working perfectly since the last update of BubbleUPnP. It is even true gapless which is not possible with Chromecast Audio. Switch on your Muso with the Naim app and select UPnP as input. Now select your Muso as renderer in BubbleUPnP and start streaming Qobuz. You can even control the volume from within Bubble. Great fun!

Naim integration of Qobuz: ?????

Super - thanks for this. I am Android user and will have a go with BubbleUPnP. From same developer as BubbleDS I guess. Could I ask why you are using Chromecast though? Just curious.

My first venture into Naim, quite impressed with Muso. 

I have one Chromecast for my non-Naim-non-streaming equipment and used another one for my Muso until I discovered what BubbleUPnP is able to do.

I see. That audio Chromecast does sound very useful. Perhaps I should sell my streamer, use that and invest in my amplifier..........

I've ordered a Chromecast and will connect it optically to my 272, with an el cheapo cable that came with our sound bar. I'll then try the Qobuz 15 day trial. The Chromecast will have to get the signal wirelessly so I'll need to ensure it's not flaky. If it is I will probably just sell it again. 

The chromecast audio is an amazing little gadget, especially for just £30.  I don't need the Chromecast for Qobuz etc, but I just had to have one anyway.  It does sound very good, bearing in mind not only am I using a cheapo optical cable, but also a dodgy 3.5mm adapter on one end.  Whether the cable has anything to do with it I am not sure, but it's definitely not as smooth at the top end, and a comparatively a little vacant in the midrange into DAC-V1, verses my Music PC via USB.  That said, by no means unacceptable in my view, in fact, if I'd not heard Qobuz delivered slightly better via other means, I could probably live with it quite happily, in blissful ignorance that it could be any better.  

My view is that the Chromecast acting as an internet streamer does not embarass itself when feeding some pretty high-end kit.

Unfortunately gapless playback is currently not supported by Google Chromecast Audio due to the limitations of HTML5. The developer of BubbleUPnP has an open ticket on the google-cast-sdk page requesting support of true gapless playback. Those of you interested in this feature might go to "https://code.google.com/p/google-cast-sdk/issues/detail?id=745" and star this issue to support this feature request. It has at least already been acknowledged by Google and deserves further support.

Set my chrome cast audio up this morning, took a bit of resetting and changing settings on my AirPort Extreme but got there (google support pages are very good).

im streaming albums without any dropout issues - although it's a shame qobuz won't stream anything higher than 44.1 - apart from albums I've purchased, but I've already pulled onto my NAS.

Am I missing something there - is it possible to stream higher quality without purchasing (I have a sublime account)?

still SQ is pretty good for a little £30 device.

Hi I am thinking you are not missing anything. I have Sublime and I am sure you cannot stream in higher quality. 

Incidentally can you hear a difference? I am not sure but have not tested very hard.

You can only stream your purchase in higher than 44/16 via sublime so if you bought an album in 96/24 it will stream as such