CB wrote:

Did you use a 75 Ohms coaxial cable? (FWIW see this thread here )

And what about the source (file, streaming device) you use?

?

CB wrote:

CB wrote:

Did you use a 75 Ohms coaxial cable? (FWIW see this thread here )

And what about the source (file, streaming device) you use?

?

tom555 wrote:

yes.  75 ohm cable;  Will try another to make sure it's not a cable issue.

I've had some clicking issues with a cable also. Not sure why because it was not permanent (may be due to a bad plug or ECM (electromagnetic interference?))

Note: in my setup, the Chromecast audio isn't wired (WiFi) and it just works...

Did you have a look at the settings of the multimedia server or the router/switch as well?

May it be due to a slowdown caused by file format transcoding?

May it be due to the settings of a specific software (or the lack of) you use on your server to play/stream your music?

CB wrote:

tom555 wrote:

yes.  75 ohm cable;  Will try another to make sure it's not a cable issue.

I've had some clicking issues with a cable also. Not sure why because it was not permanent (may be due to a bad plug or ECM (electromagnetic interference?))

 

Note: in my setup, the Chromecast audio isn't wired (WiFi) and it just works...

Did you have a look at the settings of the multimedia server or the router/switch as well?

May it be due to a slowdown caused by file format transcoding?

May it be due to the settings of a specific software (or the lack of) you use on your server to play/stream your music?

Thanks so much, CB, for your super helpful replies.   Just to ask:  Are you sure you aren't transcoding down below 96khz in your setup?  I only ask because I thought I had it working and then figured out I had accidently kicked my 24->16 transcoder in and was pumping out 16/48khz audio.

Anyway, I swapped out the cable.  I separated it from everything else and the clicks remain.   The server is not transcoding at all and just pumping out bits.  The Chromecast Audio can output 24/96 from the same source via it's analog and it sounds fine (which tells me the data is moving correctly to the chromecast).  So, to my deduction:  Either the Chromecast has a problem or my Beolab5 just can't handle 96khz audio.  For $35, I can buy another Chromecast audio and know definitively.

tom555 wrote:

 Just to ask:  Are you sure you aren't transcoding down below 96khz in your setup?  I only ask because I thought I had it working and then figured out I had accidently kicked my 24->16 transcoder in and was pumping out 16/48khz audio.

Even if transcoding is deactivated where it's proposed, no I'm not sure. The many options are not often explicit for the average person, and because the audible differences are not possible to compare side by side, it's quite difficult to answer your question. DLNA and Chromecast functions are simply not accessible, but the fact I can play 24bits 192khz files (without any clicking issues) makes me think "something" happens "somewhere"...

--> I did my best and prefer to enjoy my music than waste my time to compare things I don't master / can't control...

My NAS is a Synology, running the stock multimedia server + Bubbleupnp server (for when I want to get the best out of the Bubbleupnp app on Android devices) + Audio Station (for when I want to use the Synology DS Audio app).

How did you set the 24/16 bits transcoding? I don't find this possibility (only file format conversion, and there aren't any settings for frequency neither...

The "48khz" number makes me think of something linked to video (or Airplay)...

CB wrote:

No, I'm not sure. There are so many options here and there, often not explicit for the average person, and because the audible differences are not possible to compare side by side, it's quite difficult to answer your question. --> I did my best and prefer to enjoy my music than waste my time to compare things...

I think that makes a whole lot of sense.  The only reason I'm digging into this so deeply is so I can get my system set up.   Since I am looking to replace my beosystem 3 with a preamp that will fully support digital, I would prefer to have it feed the lab 5s with their native sample rate.  That being said, sending them 24/48 isn't bad since 24/48->24/96 inside the speaker will resample very cleanly and given the choice, I'd rather have 24 bits than 96khz.

CB wrote:

My NAS is a Synology, running the stock multimedia server + Bubbleupnp server (for when I want to use Bubbleupnp on Android devices) + DS Audio server (for when I want to use the DSAudio app).

How did you set the 24/16 bits transcoding (I don't find this possibility, and there aren't any settings for frequency neither) ?

The "48khz" number makes me think of something linked to video (or Airplay)...

48khz is a great sample rate.  Nyquist says it should be able to get everything we hear and more.   BTW: Airplay is only 44.1khz if I remember right. 

I didn't want to resample my hires stuff for many reasons (storage, etc), so I have the server resample it on fly and then send it to the chromecast.  I am using the Subsonic server and it didn't support resampling/transcoding based on sample rate or bit depth, either.  Very annoying.  So, I have it set up so every flac file runs through a small piece of software I wrote that looks at the sample rate and resamples it on the fly if it's > 48khz.  If that script is turned off, no resampling occurs.  That's how I know for sure when the server is resampling.  If that script is running, it is changing the bitrate or depth.

Make sure you are, in fact, sending flac files and not converting them to MP3s or something.  Subsonic, by default, ships with an MP3 converter turned on and it has to be disabled to send raw FLACs.

Happy to provide more information if anyone wants it including the script.  It's like 10 lines long.

--tom

Sorry, I was editing my message while you were writing yours... (there are some differences with what is quoted in yours)

tom555 wrote:

I can buy another Chromecast audio and know definitively.

And what about the coaxial/optical conversion?

I swapped that out with another with the same result

Any update regarding this?

I used to have this clicking problem. Solved it using proper cables: shilded 75 ohm coaxial cables.

Audio cables, even the original RCA that comes in the BL5 box, will produce clicks at higher rates.