Google used to promote audio-only Chromecast units, which had been actually useful for these of us curious about utilizing Google’s Solid know-how for steaming music to a stereo. However Google, of their infinite knowledge, stopped promoting these and immediately you’ll be able to solely get video Chromecast units that output by means of an HDMI cable. On the secondhand market, audio Chromecast units are expensive — there’s a restricted provide, in any case. That’s why Hect0rr was pressured to develop his personal audio-only Chromecast system and it’s certain to be helpful to a lot of our readers.
This system is ideal for those that need to Chromecast audio on to a stereo, with out involving a TV within the course of. And Hect0rr designed it in order that anybody can construct it with available parts that may be bought new proper now. The draw back is that this prices greater than a video Chromecast system (you’ll see why in a second), however it’s nonetheless cheaper than audio Chromecast units on the used market.
That is doable as a result of Hect0rr constructed the system round a normal video Chromecast. It merely extracts the audio to ship to a stereo and throws the video into the trash. This could work with any video Chromecast system, however Hect0rr designed it particularly for 2nd technology units and the enclosure suits these. For those who select to make use of a distinct Chromecast model, you’ll seemingly must design your personal enclosure.
The key to this whole undertaking is an HDMI-to-AV adapter. That accepts the HDMI enter from the Chromecast, converts that to an analog sign, and outputs it to 3 RCA-style jacks (audio left, audio proper, composite video).
For those who needed to see the video, that adapter could be fairly the downgrade, as a result of the efficient decision of composite video is usually solely 720×480 (at 59.94Hz). However on this case, the entire level is to disregard the video sign anyway. Audio might endure a bit (it isn’t clear what sort of digital-to-analog converter this adapter makes use of), however it most likely gained’t be noticeable to anybody however audiophiles.
Whereas it isn’t crucial for performance, Hect0rr designed a nifty 3D-printable enclosure to maintain all the pieces trying tidy. It stacks the Chromecast on prime of the adapter, with a prime cowl bearing the Google Solid emblem. It seems good and retains the wiring organized, so it may sit unobtrusively subsequent to a stereo system.