Glad to have read this. I was contemplating going that route to replace just some RaspberryPis that suffer what you might expect over its noisy USB ports. Maybe the Pi 4 will remedy this. $40 is probably worth spending to find out.
Found happiness with my Chromecast Audios. Glad I grabbed a few of those. Only downside is I would prefer using USB as my input on the Schiit Bifrost over optical.
I too find the Chromecast Audio to be very good for the $. Be sure to enable full dynamic range setting in Google Home app for the device, otherwise it will be limited in dynamic range if using 3.5mm analog output.
When Chromecast Audio is connected through an optical interface (see here for compatible cables), it will always use Full Dynamic Range. Setting Full Dynamic Range to OFF won’t have an effect as it will remain ON.
Just switched from the Chromecast Audio to the Bluesound Node2i. It has the Amazon HD built in, and I find now there are no drop-outs and the sound seems much cleaner. Using the same optical line into my SGCD. I’m waiting for my digital coax cable to arrive to see if it also makes a difference. Refurbished, the Node 2i was about $400 more than the Chromecast audio. I’ll go back to it in a few days and compare the sound again. Easier for me to see if an upgrade works if I compare backwards. Sorry if this is thread drift.
Pricey upgrade. Where did you find a refurbished one?
eBay vendor The 2i has the major music services built in, rather than casting from the phone. It also has a built in DAC which I won’t be using. Lots of good things said about the BluOs app; I have it on my Samsung 10e and so far works without a hiccup.
thanks!
The one thing that would help your Chromecast Audio signal immensely is a WIRED ETHERNET CONNECTION. (Maybe you already did this, but if not, this is one product that will allow you to do that.)
OK I went ahead and ordered an opticalRendu which arrived a few days ago. I am using the SGC Linear Power Supply as it was part of the bundle I purchased. I’m currently using a cheap USB cable that I had lying around. I have a few USB cables on the way to give them a try.
My Setup (I can compare between opticalRendu and Bridge)
Router > RJ45 > Switch > RJ45 > Fiber Transceiver > Fiber > opticalRendu > USB > DSD.
Router > RJ45 > Switch > RJ45 > Fiber Transceiver > Fiber > Fiber Transceiver > RJ45 Bridge.
I using Roon on a dedicated Mac Mini
My initial reaction is yes the opticalRendu sounds different but not to the point where I believe it is much better than the Bridge II. The opticalRendu sounds a bit livelier. Not sure if that is a good or bad thing. I do expect a different sound when I get the new USB cables so I will see.
USB cables on the way are:
I listened to my Ultra quite a bit earlier this week at my cabin. Only a few times did it do the click and pop thing. Odd thing was, it was repeatable. For the most part it sounded swell. I have some upgrade cables for it next time I go there. Weird stuff, this xRendu stuff.