Allow lossless playback to Chromecast Audio device

[gvl]

Chromecast Audio is an older but still popular device for streaming. It supports FLAC up to 24-bits / 96 kHz so it should be able to handle Spotify lossless streams, yet it's currently limited to lossy quality. Please allow lossless playback on CCA.

[MusicIsMyGirlfriend]

You're implying the API change is NOT backwards compatible? I'm not disagreeing, as it would certainly explain a LOT! However I don't think it's the responsiblity of dozens (hundreds?) of device manufacturers to ensure Spotify doesn't roll out a new Connect API that renders their devices unable to Spotify Connect, that's a Spotify issue to me. Because that would require even NON lossless capable devices to push out a firmware update to be able to continue using the Spotify Connect feature that was working just fine pre API update. I don't think that was anyone's intention, although your comment does make a lot of sense to me in my day job on a software end-client product that is frequently asked to do regression testing to ensure any upstream SOR or API upgrade didn't break anything. And if that is what happened, and had happened in my day job, it would NOT be the dozens of end-client DEV teams that management told to update their API consumption code, it would be a defect opened for the team who made the SOR/API change, as their code change is what broke things downstream.

You are correct, there are several connection protocols, and in the case of the CCA the two pertinent ones are 'Google Cast' and 'Spotify Connect', both of which are supported by the CCA (according the Spotify Connect support page anyway). I completely agree, and have stated as such, that NO ONE is saying Google Cast will ever support Spotify Lossless. But that is NOT the issue I, and many others, are having! The issue is that the CCA is not showing the (supposedly) supported option for Spotify Connect, which is the announced required connection protocol to stream Spotify Lossless. I again concur, that Google would need to push a firmware update for the CCA to enable the 'lossless' audio SETTING for the Spotify Connect connection/transmission PROTOCOL. But HOW would I know if they have or haven't pushed that firmware update, if I can't even 'Spotify Connect' to it in the first place? The protocol is the first thing that needs to be fixed, THEN we can go beg various device manufacturers to update their firmware version of said protocol, to one that has the additional 'lossless' audio quality option, instead of just all the others that are SUPPOSED to be supported/working today.

[chartz2]

But connect can see the Chromecast devices, that’s not the issue here! They haven’t broken that up at all.

What doesn’t work is only lossless! 

[MusicIsMyGirlfriend]

Fair enough for you, and maybe some users @Chartz2, but myself and many other iOS & Android (and iPadOS and Tahoe26 OS) aren’t even seeing the option for ‘Spotify Connect’ in our device menu.

For you and any others here that DO have the option for Spotify Connect on their CCA, but just can’t see the “lossless” category in the audio quality configuration, your gripe (and my future gripe) is with Google! Spotify clearly communicated in their press release a firmware update will be necessary to enable lossless. So they can’t force Google to update the CCA firmware, only the market can do that, and being that CCA is not currently marketed/sold, I’m with Tony on the opinion, if not the how, it’s unlikely to ever happen 😠

[MusicIsMyGirlfriend]

I just found a workaround FOR ME anyway, that buys Spotify some time to get this addressed. I've got an older LG V30, that I am currently using for a digital picture frame in the same room as my vintage vinyl HiFi gear, but I had forgotten one of the main reasons I kept it, the 32bit ESS Sabre ES9218P DAC! This DAC is only enabled when you plug into the Headphone jack, but at the time it was widely regarded/reviewed (by both cell phone sites and the likes of WhatHiFi / Stereophile / Vinyl Engine / etc) as maybe the best cell phone DAC available at the time. Link to the stereophile review and measurements below, including this quote from May 2018:

"LG's implementation of its Hi-Fi Quad DAC is a work of genius," he wrote, concluding that "If ever there were a device that could bring the experience of high-end sound to millions of music lovers, the hi-rez V30 with MQA is it. It's more than a game-changer." JVS added that the V30's combination of audiophile sound quality and smartphone portability "may prove unbeatable." -> https://www.stereophile.com/content/lg-v30-hi-res-smartphone-mqa-measurements

And no, I'm not trying to spam YOU other posters, but I am trying to keep this bumped to the top in case anyone from Spotify is ACTUALLY MONITORING their community forums...

[chartz2]

I too have a workaround: my old Yamaha CD-S300 supports iOS and so with my iPhone I can play lossless files on my hi-fi 😀

But out is the Chromecast unfortunately.

[MusicIsMyGirlfriend]

After reading more about the DAC in my V30, it's better enough than the CCA I should probably just use it primarily in terms of sound quality. I mean it WAS a flagship / premium cell phone in 2018, whereas CCAs were $30, so not surprising. Maybe your Yamaha DAC is similarly higher quality than CCA?

From a convenience factor it is not optimal however, because it doesn't show up in the device menu of my iPhone/iPad/laptop to START playing on it as a device. If I start streaming from the V30 THEN obviously I can control it from any other Spotify device, so it's a minor quibble.

[Tonycv51]

My Spotify subs have finished and have moved my playlists to Tidal where I can get lossless to multiple devices and Google cast groups.  Arguably there's also some additional benefit from hi-res lossless and I've also realised I can get Atmos but in reality tracks are limited. 

Will keep and eye on this thread and hopefully we'll get lossless via Google cast and I can come back as a paid user, as have to admit the Spotify app is quite a bit better to use than Tidal, as is the (somewhat ironically) Google home integration

[MusicIsMyGirlfriend]

I support your decision @Tonycv51, even if I’m not ready to jump to Apple Music or Tidal/Qubuz/Amazon, myself. I will say they’re ARE several solutions out there to more easily port your existing playlists over, so the transition is a lot easier than I was initially concerned about when I tried out Apple Music a few years back.

My Polk soundbar is Atmos capable, albeit more ‘virtual height’ since I don’t have in ceiling speakers, so I have thought about jumping to Apple Music for lossless AND Atmos, I just don’t have any other use for an ATV4k to justify the purchase, especially with all the Google Home speakers / CCA I’ve already invested in.

 Curious to see the specs of the new “HomePod” that everyone is saying Apple will launch soon, cause maybe that will allow me to replace my Google Home on my sunroom and continue my transition to the dark side. But what I’d really love is a new version of Airplay, considering ver 1 did support lossless streaming for Apple Music, but they downgraded it for ver2.

That’s WAY off topic of this thread tho, and I’ve posted enough to bump this again, so I’ll just say KIDOS again Tony, hopefully the improved sound quality is more musical to your ears and helps you adjust to the downgrade on the app interface.

Happy Friday fellow music lovers!

[JaspisB]

Please! Fix this! 

[eventheminions]

Am I correct in saying this will require a firmware update on Googke's side? Does anyone have a link to a thread where we can petition Google about this?