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]

@wenhifi - my guess, that aligns with your point about 'costly support', is that Spotify for monetary reasons wants to focus on 'Spotify Connect' instead of Google Cast or Airplay or anyone else's transmissions protocols. No where has Spotify indicated that 'Google Cast' or 'Airplay' or anyone else's transmission protocols will be ENABLED for Spotify Lossless. Of course they're technically capable, as proven by Tidal or 'casting' local files, just like older Mac M1 Hardware was capable of HDMI passthrough prior to Sequoia, but it took Apple 'enabling' it for it to work.

Now Spotify could make a NEW announcement in the future, potentially due to market demand, that lossless is available across ANY streaming protocol, not just 'Spotify Connect', but that is not the current state of what they have promised, much less delivered, for any of us who can't even select 'Spotify Connect' from our device menu across MANY different OS's and device types. There's separate thread in here to that frustration, but also ANOTHER issue preventing many from using a feature we've been waiting around for 4 years now... 

[WenHifi]

@MusicIsMyGirlfriend It's possible they want to limit it to Spotify Connect. Wondering whether that supports caching in order to prevent downloading the same files over and over again, and maybe Google Cast doesn't. I hope they will support it soon, regardless.

They also need to implement exclusive mode on Windows to properly support lossless instead of letting Windows mess with the bits before they reach the DAC...

It makes sense that the pass-through support for HDMI required Apple to provide an API for developers, though. Normally apps would decode whatever formats they handle on their own (say MP3, AAC or Ogg Vorbis), and send PCM audio (like what's in WAV files) to the OS, and then the OS takes care of sending it to the audio device (incl. anything connected over HDMI, which the app wouldn't even know or care about, normally), possibly involving resampling. But to pass Dolby Atmos through, the app needs a way to send that as is to the OS, which requires extra work by Apple and whatever app maker that wants to use it (Tidal, presumably, as well as movie streaming apps). However, that's not needed for lossless audio, the app can decode that to PCM just like with lossy compression and the OS doesn't even see a difference.

[MusicIsMyGirlfriend]

HDMI passthru from the MacHDMI port to a receiver not connected to WiFi requires an API update? I thought this was just Apple updating their OS to NOT decode the audio stream they were already receiving from the streaming service and/or local media file, before sending the signal via HDMI. Whereas Spotify DEFINITELY announced the end-point device needs new firmware, which DOES seem likely to enable their new Spotify Connect API.

But this is now far off track of our actual issue in this thread, I only brought it up, because IF this was an option for Chartz2 to update to Sequoia, it may be a way to get his 'vintage' MBP to pass lossless via HDMI, as it seems it's a media center so likely hardwired to amp? However I DEFINITELY appreciate the 'nerdy' technical response /conversation!

[Aloof]

This would be a great fix as I'm using Chromecast Audio on my system still and don't know how to replace it. It's just such a great small device.

[Anonimo72]

I'm streaming lossless to my phone.I don't use the Spotify app to cast.

Then I open the Google Home app and I stream the phone to my Chromecast audio with this app.

It seems to work...

[MusicIsMyGirlfriend]

When you say 'it seems to work' do you mean you can see 'lossless' audio quality when you open your Spotify app on any device after initiating the stream from Google Home?

[Anonimo72]

Yes, it's lossless on the Spotify app.

Then you cast your phone with the Google home app.

I'm using Android.

 

[MusicIsMyGirlfriend]

Yes I see you have lossless when streaming to your phone, I was asking about AFTER you start streaming from the Google Home app. When you return to the Spotify on your phone (or laptop/whatever), and look at that same screen, the 'device' icon should be green (little white speakers just to the right of where it says 'lossless' in green on your screen shot), and I'm curious what it says.

I tried to replicate your steps, but when I click on my Chromecast Audio in the Google Home app, there's no option to start streaming. Do you use a voice command?

[chartz2]

No it doesn’t work. Sorry.

[Anonimo72]

It's normal if you stream from the Spotify app to your Audio Chromecast.

You have to stream only to your phone ( Lossless will be shown in green ) and then "cast your phone" with the Google home app to your Chromecast.

So the Spotify app doesn't stream any music to the Chromecast. That's the Google home app.