Audio Cast for Chromecast 4+

Not particularly good

Doesn't loop tracks
Has terrible lag in streaming mode making it effectively useless

Doesnt work for USB inputs

This app works fine for streaming from your mac to a nest wifi speaker. however, i wanted it to stream my vinyl through my mac (via a USB 2.0 input) to the nest speaker - does NOT work. I sent various support emails and no replys, same, as its seemed like a legit outfit, but apparently not. Waste of money for me (but probably fine for those just playing music direct from a mac).

Effortlessly sends high quality music from Mac to Chromecast Audio

For those who only read the first paragraph - this is an inexpensive and painless solution to the (otherwise problematic) sending of Music from Mac to Google’s Chromecast Audio device. The sound quality would be impressive from a much more exensive method.

The Google Chromecast Audio device was well reviewed by What Hifi for it’s sound quality, and the box claims it will work with iPhone and iPad. However, what they don’t tell you is that it won’t send from iTunes, you have to go through Google Play, or possibly Spotify, which for someone with a huge iTunes library of Apple Lossless music seemed more trouble than it was worth.

The best possible solution for me though was to get my Mac to send to the Chromecast. I had gone through so much frustration with the device, and asking on Forums that I almost didn’t gamble the £5 on the Audio Cast app. It really works. if you want to fully use the functionality of iTunes, you need to use in ‘Live Audio’ mode (which means that is simply sends whatever audio is being generated by your Mac. You need to download an extra audio driver from Audio Cast for this, but it was quick and easy to download and install, and the app does the rest. My Mac desktop is in my study, and I’m using Audio Cast to send to my living room hifi. Live Audio mode means that if you have an iPhone or other portable apple device, you can use Apple’s free Remote app to access and control your iTunes library on your Mac remotely, to choose tracks, etc.

The sound quality is very good. I am used to listening to music from my Mac via a fibre optic cable to a high end DAC and pre/(dual mono) power amp combo, so the sound from Audio Cast to the twenty year old mid-range system in my livng room is not quite as good, but it’s definitely hifi, and probably sounds as good as the system you’re putting it through is capable of.

I message them before buying, to check it wouls work with Mac and Lossless files, and they replied within hours to confirm it would (as long as they aren’t DMR protected).

This inexpensive app paired with the very affordable Chromecast Audio is an excellent investment - easy to use with very impressive results.

Developer Response ,

Hey Gart2018. Thanks for the 5 stars review. We will keep up the good work and bring more features to the future updates of this app.