Will Sonos support Google Cast for Audio?
Userlevel 2
Just read the announcement of the new Google Cast for Audio (http://chrome.blogspot.com/2015/01/introducing-google-cast-for-audio.html). I don't see Sonos listed as an early supporter, though. Any chance something is in the works?
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Userlevel 1
Some news from the German Multi-Room market.
The German company "Raumfeld" (part of Teufel) announced Google Cast for all their products coming in Spring 2016.
(https://www.raumfeld.com/google-cast.html) *Website unfortunately in German.
The German company "Raumfeld" (part of Teufel) announced Google Cast for all their products coming in Spring 2016.
(https://www.raumfeld.com/google-cast.html) *Website unfortunately in German.
Big news.
Google adds multi-room synch support today along with 96KHz/24bit lossless.
Makes those Connects even more absurdly expensive.
http://techcrunch.com/2015/12/10/google-fires-at-sonos-adds-multi-room-support-to-chromecast-audio/
Google adds multi-room synch support today along with 96KHz/24bit lossless.
Makes those Connects even more absurdly expensive.
http://techcrunch.com/2015/12/10/google-fires-at-sonos-adds-multi-room-support-to-chromecast-audio/
Sonos seldom comments on future products or features.
Still no answer from sonos 😞
Userlevel 7
+22
Google cast would be a software update and way to early fit that. Bluetooth. Why would they add Bluetooth now. They never did before.
they released the new play:5 without google cast or bluetooth support, brilliant strategy.
I installed my first CC at my daughter's new home yesterday. She is on a budget and doesn't need multi room music that is in sync, and is presently quite content with a Rotel stereo amp that drives a pair of speakers each in two adjacent rooms, with a front panel A/B/A+B switch, that was in use at my home before I moved to Sonos.
And fortunately, her CC can be located just about 5 feet away from the WiFi router.
Connect was too rich for her budget, and CC was launched at just the right time for the right price from her point of view.
Findings:
I have found the sound with dynamic setting on, 2 volts, to be just as good as from Sonos or a CDP. With the setting off, the sound levels drop and the sound becomes congested. However that may be just a function of the signal level dropping to 1.4 volts, leading to a big drop in sound levels.
I would also say that the 1.4 volts is a compressed setting and the 2 volts, what Google calls high dynamic range, is normal. I have my 2 volts selected signal going into the analog aux input of the Rotel, but cheaper kit/boomboxes may find that too hot to handle without clipping and hence may need the 1.4 volts setting that is all they can handle. That's my theory, at any rate.
But listening and using the CC has proved to me that Google hasn't oversold the device. And while the USD 35 seems a steal, it now seems too much when the gadget is handled, it is like a small plastic hockey puck. But that doesn't impact what it delivers, which is excellent quality sound source, worthy of any downstream appliance one may use it with. IMO, even via analog route.
The promised multi room upgrade will take it to the next level - provided that WiFi reach and range don't get to be deal breaking issues.
CC was up and running in the same time that Sonos boxes are - five minutes from unboxing.
For people with significant Sonos investments, and at least one unit with a line in jack, CC seems to be a worthwhile add, preferably added in the room where the WiFi router is located - for those people that must have the native app access to their service of choice. Cheap way to get off the "Why won't Sonos do this" complaint threads. It does not make sense to me because I am fine with the Sonos versions of the interfaces.
For Sonos, time to reflect certainly.
And fortunately, her CC can be located just about 5 feet away from the WiFi router.
Connect was too rich for her budget, and CC was launched at just the right time for the right price from her point of view.
Findings:
I have found the sound with dynamic setting on, 2 volts, to be just as good as from Sonos or a CDP. With the setting off, the sound levels drop and the sound becomes congested. However that may be just a function of the signal level dropping to 1.4 volts, leading to a big drop in sound levels.
I would also say that the 1.4 volts is a compressed setting and the 2 volts, what Google calls high dynamic range, is normal. I have my 2 volts selected signal going into the analog aux input of the Rotel, but cheaper kit/boomboxes may find that too hot to handle without clipping and hence may need the 1.4 volts setting that is all they can handle. That's my theory, at any rate.
But listening and using the CC has proved to me that Google hasn't oversold the device. And while the USD 35 seems a steal, it now seems too much when the gadget is handled, it is like a small plastic hockey puck. But that doesn't impact what it delivers, which is excellent quality sound source, worthy of any downstream appliance one may use it with. IMO, even via analog route.
The promised multi room upgrade will take it to the next level - provided that WiFi reach and range don't get to be deal breaking issues.
CC was up and running in the same time that Sonos boxes are - five minutes from unboxing.
For people with significant Sonos investments, and at least one unit with a line in jack, CC seems to be a worthwhile add, preferably added in the room where the WiFi router is located - for those people that must have the native app access to their service of choice. Cheap way to get off the "Why won't Sonos do this" complaint threads. It does not make sense to me because I am fine with the Sonos versions of the interfaces.
For Sonos, time to reflect certainly.
I expect to see that happen if Google does a good job of the multi room upgrade promised before end of 2015. If it does, and if audio streaming it delivers is close to being as stable as that on Sonos net, Connect pricing is blown out of the water, and then that becomes domino number one. Reducing price to 2 digit levels may be vital for not just Connect sales but for sales of the entire product line.
However, there are those two pretty significant "ifs".
However, there are those two pretty significant "ifs".
Maybe SONOS will finally reduce the price on the grossly overpriced Connect.
We can have some fun here putting out our views on what Sonos management can do to counter this threat, and I suggest the following should be ruled out straightaway:
1. Praying the Google is unable to achieve multi room and stable music play
2. Sell the company while the value remains high
1. Praying the Google is unable to achieve multi room and stable music play
2. Sell the company while the value remains high
If in the case of CC:
1. Multi room play in sync works as well as it does with Sonos
2. Music play is as stable as it is with Sonosnet
then Sonos has an existential challenge as an independent operation, for the first time in ten years. CC then suddenly expands the competitive scenario for Sonos by orders of magnitude, to include the makers of all kinds of active speakers at price points from 2 digits all the way to 5 digits. Not just the Bluesound and few others of today.
I also see no reason why Google can't do something similar and yet more innovative given that it is now ten years down the line, than what Sonos has done with Sonosnet, if something is needed to be done for stable music play.
Interesting times ahead, and good news for all home AV users.
1. Multi room play in sync works as well as it does with Sonos
2. Music play is as stable as it is with Sonosnet
then Sonos has an existential challenge as an independent operation, for the first time in ten years. CC then suddenly expands the competitive scenario for Sonos by orders of magnitude, to include the makers of all kinds of active speakers at price points from 2 digits all the way to 5 digits. Not just the Bluesound and few others of today.
I also see no reason why Google can't do something similar and yet more innovative given that it is now ten years down the line, than what Sonos has done with Sonosnet, if something is needed to be done for stable music play.
Interesting times ahead, and good news for all home AV users.
It's possible that Sonos' hands are tied. They appear to have a great relationship with Google, and allow the Google Music app to cast to Sonos devices. They are also improving relations with Apple and Amazon, implementing Apple Music and Amazon Prime Music, neither of which support Google Cast, and probably never will.
How does Sonos go about adding native support for Google Cast without adding support for (the vastly inferior) AirPlay and risk offending Apple? Would Apple and Amazon pull their support if Sonos appeared to favor Google?
Not merely a technical challenge, I think.
How does Sonos go about adding native support for Google Cast without adding support for (the vastly inferior) AirPlay and risk offending Apple? Would Apple and Amazon pull their support if Sonos appeared to favor Google?
Not merely a technical challenge, I think.
Userlevel 7
+22
Google Cast does help with bridging that gap between home and away. Lets hope Sonos can get it running natively. I'm assuming you have no playbar or Sonos unit with input to feed google cast into your system currently.
So another use case for Google Cast for Audio that the native Sonos app cannot do. I was listening to a two hour DJ mix on SoundCloud on my way home from work. Get home, and would like to resume it on Sonos. Except there is no way to sync the listening position from the SC app to Sonos. So I ended up casting it to the CC hooked up to my TV (which is not connected to my Sonos speakers). Simple stuff like this wins BIG on user experience, and the native Sonos app cannot do it.
http://www.androidcentral.com/go-wireless-these-google-cast-enabled-speakers
Userlevel 2
+7
Interesting article about CCA and Spotify - it seems that you will need one of the premium subscriptions in order to be able to cast via CCA.
http://www.androidcentral.com/googles-deal-spotify-start-unfortunate-new-chapter?utm_medium=slider&utm_campaign=navigation&utm_source=ac
http://www.androidcentral.com/googles-deal-spotify-start-unfortunate-new-chapter?utm_medium=slider&utm_campaign=navigation&utm_source=ac
I agree, I am holding off on any more speakers until I hear more on this, I really hope they are working with Google to try and add support for cast, would make their system the best out there, also Sonos is starting to add other features (ie Truplay) which would still help set them apart from other hardware manufacturers. I think even if you could cast between many different brands I would still choose Sonos.
Userlevel 1
I've invested heavily in Sonos, but that has stopped for now. Moving into a new house next week, and will likely wait for more casting support from Sonos, or just leave all together. I can't justify spending so much money on a closed system when so many new options are coming to the market. Being able to cast directly from original native apps is simply just easier and faster in most cases when compared to using the Sonos app. I think the Sonos app is fine, and probably useful in certain situations, but I've literally decided to not listen to music at times because of going through 2 or 3 extra steps. Lazy? Sure! But we've paid a lot of money to have the best.
Userlevel 1
+1
I think we would all agree that a Google Cast parnertership similar to what LG and Sony have In place with Google would be the perfect multi room setup.
We have all stayed away from these other "newbies" going down the route that Sonos invented and brought to the market way before anyone else.
Hopefully Sonos have a great relationship with Google and the Cast option will be rolling out soon.
By the way my moto stream is working a treat connected to my play 5! I think I would keep it connected just to have the added bonus of nfc connection.
We have all stayed away from these other "newbies" going down the route that Sonos invented and brought to the market way before anyone else.
Hopefully Sonos have a great relationship with Google and the Cast option will be rolling out soon.
By the way my moto stream is working a treat connected to my play 5! I think I would keep it connected just to have the added bonus of nfc connection.
Userlevel 7
+22
I will do a review of the single when I get it. Should receive next week.
My entire comparison was about Chromecast Audio dongle...I should have added the word "dongle" to my 1st sentence. But we are in agreement overall, with 1 exception...
You state "which is basically comparable to the Sonos CONNECT (at a fraction of a price)"...I think the missing piece is we don't yet understand the implementation and efficiency of the new Chromecast App for multi-room systems. This could make/break the experience.
Userlevel 7
+22
Yes if you were listening to Spotify radio I assume it would just keep going. I will let you know what I find when I get it. Would be nice if a setting in the Google audio device to disconnect overnight.
Chris, it will be interesting to see how the Google device works in your setup. I had used a bluetooth device on a Play:5 to stream music. I ran into an issue which only seems likely to be worse with the Google device.
When I go out, I often just turn off the speaker using the power switch on the speaker. The problem was that the bluetooth adaptor was live, so my phone was still sending the music to it. The online site only stopped sending songs when i got out of bluetooth range. It is my understanding that the Google device runs independent of the phone once launched. So if I launch Spotify from my phone using the cast function, and then turn off the speaker, it sounds like Spotify will just continue to send music to the Google device. It could be hours or even days playing with no one listening.
I realize I'm not directly paying for the extra streaming. But obviously any cost to Spotify will eventually be passed onto the listeners. I can see the streaming services only playing for an hour or so and then requiring a positive response that someone is there.
When I go out, I often just turn off the speaker using the power switch on the speaker. The problem was that the bluetooth adaptor was live, so my phone was still sending the music to it. The online site only stopped sending songs when i got out of bluetooth range. It is my understanding that the Google device runs independent of the phone once launched. So if I launch Spotify from my phone using the cast function, and then turn off the speaker, it sounds like Spotify will just continue to send music to the Google device. It could be hours or even days playing with no one listening.
I realize I'm not directly paying for the extra streaming. But obviously any cost to Spotify will eventually be passed onto the listeners. I can see the streaming services only playing for an hour or so and then requiring a positive response that someone is there.
Userlevel 2
+7
I thought (well, rather hoped) that when Google launched their own Play Music app which did allow you to 'Cast' to individual Sonos speakers directly from their app - that this would be available to other content providers, but sadly this didn't pan out. Some time after that Google made their Cast Audio announcement and I guess focus has been elsewhere.
However, the Google (lets call it) experiment - does prove that Casting is technically possible on existing equipment - so there is hope for the future.
However, the Google (lets call it) experiment - does prove that Casting is technically possible on existing equipment - so there is hope for the future.
Powered speakers
Chromecast Audio
Power running to Chromecast Audio device
Power running to powered speakers
And something I've not seen mentioned...speaker wire connecting the 2 speakers
This is not really an accurate comparison. It only applies if you are using Google's own Chromecast Audio dongle, which is basically comparable to the Sonos CONNECT (at a fraction of a price). Google is partnering with various companies to add Google Cast for Audio support directly to their all-in-one speakers. So hardware competing directly with the Sonos PLAY line exists (Sony and LG are already shipping), it's just not being made directly by Google. So the start of the hardware ecosystem is there, and if Google delivers multi-room synchronization that works well, then the one main advantage Sonos has evaporates.
I'm not about to ditch my Sonos gear, either. But without them adding Google Cast for Audio support, I'm not likely to expand it, either. Audio content providers don't want to support multiple APIs for accessing whole-home speaker systems. So when faced with selecting between implementing Google Cast for Audio and implementing Sonos' proprietary API, I don't see many putting developer resources into Sonos going forward. Further, the Sonos Controller app tries to make all content providers a one-size-fits-all and is also aimed at making the branding Sonos rather than that of the content provider. As a content provider, you absolutely want to control your brand experience, and making your own app with user experience tailored to your service will be 1000x more appealing than implementing Sonos' API and showing up as just another random Music Service in Sonos' app. It's better for the end users, too (witness all the desperate cries for Sonos to implement Spotify Connect because the Sonos Spotify experience blows donkey balls compared to Spotify's native app).
And yes, Google Cast for Audio is similar to AirPlay. Except it has one big difference: it works on both Android and iOS. So again, for developers, it makes more sense to support Cast than it does Airplay from a development effort and support perspective. But to be fair, I think Sonos should also implement an Airplay receiver, since the Apple ecosystem is pretty large on its own. With Spotify caving and implementing Google Cast support, I think Sonos was probably smart to pass on Spotify Connect as I expect hardware vendors to abandon Spotify's proprietary streaming in droves now and only implement Google Case for Audio.
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