All About Chromecast

What are the 3 compatible audio cables for Chromecast Audio? and why it matters?

Chromecast Audio cable
Table of Contents hide
1) Only one audio output port, but you can use 3 different types of audio cables for Chromecast Audio.
2) What are the differences between the three compatible audio cables for Chromecast Audio?
2.1) 3.5-mm stereo cable
2.2) 3.5-mm-stereo-to-RCA cable
2.3) Mini TOSLINK to TOSLINK optical cable
3) What’s the audio quality of Chromecast Audio output? Why audio cables for Chromecast Audio matter?
4) Are you using the correct audio cables for Chromecast Audio? Do you know how to get the best audio quality for Chromecast Audio?

Only one audio output port, but you can use 3 different types of audio cables for Chromecast Audio.

Chromecast Audio, like Chromecast, is very simple in design and use.

There are only two ports: one micro USB port for power adapter. The other port on the opposite side is for audio cables.

So, there is no reason to insert the audio cables for Chromecast Audio in the wrong port.

But you may not know the single 3.5-mm audio port can be used for 3 different types of compatible audio cables for Chromecast Audio:

  1. 3.5-mm stereo cable for analog output. The yellow audio cable is included in your Chromecast Audio box
  2. 3.5-mm-stereo-to-RCA cable for analog output. This audio cable is NOT included.
  3. Mini TOSLINK-to-TOSLINK optical cable for digital output. This optical audio cable is NOT included.

Although you can use 3 different audio cables for Chromecast Audio, you cannot use them simultaneously because there is only one port.

Even if you use an audio jack splitter, the audio output format is determined by the audio cable inserted into the output port.

What are the differences between the three compatible audio cables for Chromecast Audio?

The 3 types of compatible audio cables for Chromecast Audio are designed for different usages. You need to match it with your speaker or AV receiver.

If your speaker or AV receiver accepts more than one type of the 3 audio cables, you may want to understand the differences so that you can get the best audio quality.

Or if you are planning to buy a new speaker or AV system for your Chromecast Audio, you may want to check the possible inputs for the speaker or AV system.

3.5-mm stereo cable

3.5mm cable for Chromecast Audio

Most speakers, including most Bluetooth speakers, have an input port for a 3.5-mm stereo cable. And Google includes this yellow (lemonade) cable in the box already.

So, this is the simplest and cheapest solution if your speaker or sound system supports it.

3.5-mm stereo cable is for analog audio output. This means if you plug in a 3.5-mm stereo cable,  the DAC (Digital-to-analog converter) in Chromecast Audio will convert the digital audio signal into an analog audio signal automatically.

If your sound system supports digital input and has a high-end DAC, you may want to use a digital TOSLINK optical cable to benefit from the possibly better DAC.

Please note Chromecast Audio, although cheap, has a decent DAC. The DAC in Chromecast is an AKM AK4430 192kHz 24-bit stereo DAC, according to iFixit’s teardown.  The sound quality should be comparable to most  AV receivers with a price tag of about $200-$500.

The 3.5-mm stereo cable can only carry an unbalanced audio signal for stereo audio, and therefore, it is susceptible to electromagnetic interference. This is the reason why the cable should be as short as possible.

Technically, the 3.5-mm stereo cable uses the TRS (tip-ring-sleeve) connector.

Amazon Basics 3.5mm Male-to-Male Stereo Audio Cable for Speakers, Home Stereos, Car Stereo, Tablets and Smartphones, Gold-Plated Plugs, 4 Foot, Black
Amazon Basics 3.5mm Male-to-Male Stereo Audio Cable for Speakers, Home Stereos, Car Stereo, Tablets and Smartphones, Gold-Plated Plugs, 4 Foot, Black
  • IN THE BOX: 4-foot 3.5mm male-to-male stereo audio cable transmits audio in stereo format
  • DEVICE COMPATIBILITY: Works with any device equipped with standard 3.5mm audio jack or AUX-in port
  • CONVENIENT: Connects compatible devices like a smartphone, MP3 player, or tablet to a car stereo or portable speaker
  • SECURE FIT: Beveled step-down design for a secure connection
  • CLEAR SOUND: Corrosion-resistant gold-plated plugs for reliable, static-free performance
$5.29 Amazon Prime
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3.5-mm-stereo-to-RCA cable

audio cable for Chromecast Audio

If your speaker or AV receiver does have RCA jacks, you need to get a 3.5-mm stereo to RCA cable, which should be quite cheap.

RCA cable and jacks are based on very old standards of Radio Corporation of America.  Two separate cables transmit two mono audio signals individually.

The 3.5-mm-stereo-to-RCA cable is actually a mini converter: one end uses TRS connector (for Chromecast Audio), and the other end uses an RCA connector (for your speaker)

So, Chromecast Audio treats a 3.5-mm-stereo-to-RCA cable as a normal 3.5-mm stereo cable.

You probably can find this 3.5-mm-stereo-to-RCA cable for your Chromecast Audio in the garage.  If not, you can easily get it for a few bucks from most hardware shops.

Amazon Basics 3.5mm Stereo Aux to 2 RCA Audio Cable Adapter for Sound, Connecting Amplifiers, Speakers, Smartphone, Tablet with Gold-Plated Plugs, 4 Feet/1.2 m, Black
Amazon Basics 3.5mm Stereo Aux to 2 RCA Audio Cable Adapter for Sound, Connecting Amplifiers, Speakers, Smartphone, Tablet with Gold-Plated Plugs, 4 Feet/1.2 m, Black
  • IN THE BOX: 4-foot audio adapter cable with (1) 3.5mm Male connector on one end and (2) Male RCA connectors on the other end
  • CLEAR AUDIO: Dual-shielding, polished metal connectors, and a corrosion-resistant gold-plated 3.5mm connector for pure, clear audio and minimal signal loss
  • STANDARD AUX JACK: Works with left and right audio input and devices with a standard 3.5mm auxiliary jack (typically used for headphones or ear buds)
  • CONNECTS DEVICES: Easily connects devices like a smartphone, tablet, or MP3 player to a speaker, stereo receiver, or other RCA-enabled device
$7.55 Amazon Prime
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Mini TOSLINK to TOSLINK optical cable

audio cable for Chromecast Audio Tosilink

  TOSLINK (Toshiba Link) is a standardized optical fiber connection system for digital audio.

Compared to analog audio signals through stereo cables, there is no interference for digital audio. This is the reason why most HiFi systems prefer digital input (or coaxial).

The digital audio signal is processed by your speaker or AV receiver. It is converted to analog output eventually with their own DACs.

So, technically, Mini TOSLINK to TOSLINK optical audio cables for Chromecast Audio can only avoid signal interference. There is no guarantee of better audio quality.

But generally speaking, most sound systems or speakers with digital input usually have decent DACs inside. And they usually optimize and fine-tune the speaker (and firmware) for that specific DAC chip. This is the reason why the audio quality usually is very good in such systems.

The optical audio cable is NOT included in your Chromecast Audio box. You can get a 6-feet one at about $10.

FosPower 24K Gold Plated Toslink to Mini Toslink Digital Fiber Optical S/PDIF Audio Cable with Metal Connectors & Strain-Relief PVC Jacket - 3ft
FosPower 24K Gold Plated Toslink to Mini Toslink Digital Fiber Optical S/PDIF Audio Cable with Metal Connectors & Strain-Relief PVC Jacket – 3ft
  • [OPTICAL MINI TOSLINK TO TOSLINK CABLE] Mini 3.5mm Toslink/optical cables will NOT convert digital audio signals (optical/Toslink) into analog signals or the other way round. This is not an analog to digital converter cable. OPTICAL cables will NOT plug into standard 3.5mm headphone jack and convert analog audio signals into digital audio with optical light. It is specifically used to transmit digital (optical) audio only.
  • [COMPATIBLE DEVICES] The optical 3.5mm connector mini TOSLINK cables are made for specific devices such as iMacs, TVs and Notebooks that have a built in 3.5mm OPTICAL port. iPhones/smartphones do NOT have optical 3.5mm ports
  • [PREMIUM FIBER CORE AND METAL CONNECTORS] Low-loss, low-jitter, maximum signal transfer, precision polished fiber core eliminates RF, EM, and ground loop interference. Metal connectors dampen vibration
  • [24K GOLD-PLATED FERRULES & STRAIN-RELIEF PVC JACKET] Resist corrosion, reduce tarnish, and provide maximum protection for the fiber tip. Quality PVC jacket contributes to the OD5.0mm strain-relief construction that not only provides flexibility, but also protects the cable from kinks.
  • [LIMITED LIFETIME WARRANTY] Includes a Limited Lifetime Warranty
$7.99
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What’s the audio quality of Chromecast Audio output? Why audio cables for Chromecast Audio matter?

Chromecast Audio, although with decent output audio quality,  is not a high-end HiFi device.

The $35 price tag is reality.

But Chromecast Audio is seldom the bottleneck for audio quality in your sound system.

The final audio quality of your ear is affected by the following:

  • the speaker;
  • the amplifier;
  • the DAC;
  • signal interference and signal distortion;
  • media source quality.

The audio quality is always limited by the worst one. For example, if you have a densely compressed and distorted audio source file, there is no way to get decent audio quality, no matter what audio system you have.

Chromecast Audio may affect audio quality in the following three aspects:

  1. DAC if you use the analog output (i.e., using 3.5-mm stereo cable or 3.5-mm-to-RCA cable). As mentioned on several pages, the DAC in Chromecast Audio is a decent one. It seldom is the bottleneck for a speaker or AV receiver with only analog input.
  2. Signal interference and distortion if using a 3.5-mm stereo cable or 3.5-mm-to-RCA  audio cables for Chromecast Audio. Because both of these two cables handle only unbalanced analog audio, it is impossible to shield all interference.  But if the cable is short and the connector is in good condition, this, again, is seldom a problem. Don’t complain about the length of the 3.5-mm cable in your Chromecast Audio box.  The shorter, the better for audio quality.
  3. Media source quality. This actually is not controlled by Chromecast Audio. It depends on content providers. The dual-band with 802.11 AC WiFi connection in Chromecast Audio is overkill even for streaming lossless audio.

So, to get the best audio quality from Chromecast Audio, you may consider:

  1. If your speaker or AV receiver supports digital input, try to use TOSLINK optical audio cables for Chromecast Audio.
  2. If possible, use short audio cables for analog output. The shorter, the better.
  3. If you have the choice, choose a high-quality streaming source. If you stream local music files, try to get lossless files, e.g., FLAC.
  4. Within your budget, try to get quality speakers or sound systems. You should try to avoid the cheap Bluetooth speakers (with analog input) sold in many handphone shops. These speakers are designed for “Bluetooth” quality. Of course, there are many decent speakers with Bluetooth connectivity. This is a totally different story.

And most importantly, trust your ears, not the price tag. Cheap solutions can be good enough for you.

Are you using the correct audio cables for Chromecast Audio?  Do you know how to get the best audio quality for Chromecast Audio?

If you have any questions or encounter any problems with the three compatible audio cables for Chromecast Audio or audio quality for Chromecast Audio,  please let us know in the comment box below.

The community will try to help you find the answer or solution.

For more Chromecast Audio guides, please visit the Chromecast Audio guide page.

If your question is on Chromecast, including both 1st generation Chromecast and new Chromecast (aka Chromecast 2015), please visit the Chromecast how-to guides page.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Brian says

    Hello I have question for you, toslink should be lit in red at the end cable when you connect it to CCA right? and I think it should in order for it to transmitted the signal to my Receiver, the reason why is that my CD player did showed that red beam at the end of that optical cable,that being said I think my CCA is not working no audio out at all ,we’ll it time to return it.
    Thanks

    Reply

  2. Brian L says

    Thank you for the informative post. I was on Google’s website, trying to determine output options and cable types and this post explained everything I needed. I’m off to buy a TOSLINK cable now… Tanks

    Reply

  3. Mike says

    Is Chromecast Audio similar in functionality with AirTry? http://www.airtry.com/xe/Homepage

    I’m currently looking for the best quality/price relation product to connect wirelessly my active speakers (Swans M200MKII) with my PC and play .mp3 and .flac music stored on my drive. Is it possible with Chromecast Audio?

    Reply

  4. Ryan Buck says

    I’d like to connect CCA to the binding posts on the wall plate in my house. The binding posts accept bare speaker wire. What adapter do I need?

    Reply

  5. Dan says

    I have an early 70s Sansui receiver. I bought a 3.5mm to RCA cable to plug into the AUX port of the receiver. I am hearing a very loud buzz sound through my mid 80s Klipsch loudspeakers. The receiver and the CCA usb-power supply are plugged into the same power bar. I read somewhere to plug the CCA into a wall outlet and not a power bar (which I did), however this did not work. Any other suggestions to remove this annoying buzz? Is there a way to upgrade the power source of the Chromecast? Thanks.

    Reply

  6. Mario Morales says

    What did you think, speaking on audio quality in a Chromecast HDMI vs Chromecast Audio (with TOSLINK) connected to a new generation Sony receiver?

    Reply

  7. Maarten says

    Hi, question here. I have the following setup: Marantz 1060 receiver (RCA input) with a Beogram 100 record player, vintage Marantz CD player and my PS3 connected to it (PS3: component).
    I get great sound out of all those sources.
    But most of the time I listen to music through Spotify. I have an iPad connected through 3.5 mm to RCA. But the thing is, volume is very low and all in all it doesn’t sound nearly as good as the other sources, even compared to playing Spotify music from my PS3. The difference is huge.

    What I’m wondering is, if instead of connecting the iPad directly to my receiver via 3.5 to RCA, I put a Chromecast Audio in between, will that improve the sound quality? It’s still 3.5 to RCA, but will the Chromecast Audio’s DAC do some miracle work here?
    I’m quite frustrated that my main source of music sounds the worst at the moment. 🙁

    Reply

  8. Maarten says

    No worries.
    Still having connection issues though. After the initial issues it worked fine the whole evening yesterday. But this morning my phone wouldn’t connect and now it doesn’t even show the cca as an available device. Tried going through the set up again, but it also won’t show up in my available wifi networks.

    Reply

  9. Vincent says

    Hi: I face issue when using chromecast audio witth optical link to my dac: pop, crackes sounds when using audio sample rate over 44kHz… Did you ever experienced such issue when listening high res audio?
    Any idea ? thanks!

    Reply

  10. 1gallon says

    Hi. I have a tv on my outdoor deck. The tv is connected to a small amplifier via a 3.5 stereo cable and the amplifier is then connected to the outdoor speakers via stereo wife. My question is this: Can I use a 3.5 stereo splitter to connect a chromecast audio, and, if so, would I then be able to control the amplifier with my phone?

    Reply

  11. Fabio says

    The CCA toslink signal is compatibile with an optical input of an HiFi amp?
    I mean, if I’m streaming from Google music, is the compresed signal convrted to PCM?

    Reply

  12. Leon says

    Hi. I’m curious about how volume control works with the Chromecast Audio. I have connected one, using audio cable, to my Hi-Fi amp and ‘send’ music to it from my mobile using an app called BubbleUPnP. This works great and I can control the volume using a slider in the app and using the volume up/down rocker on the side of my phone. However, I’m wondering how this actually works. The music I play is obviously digital (flac or mp3) and is transmitted as such to the Chromecast, via the router. Then the Chromecast DAC converts it to analogue. So where does the volume control come in? Is there a little pre-amp in the Chromecast that is used to control the volume? Otherwise, how? Thanks.

    Reply

  13. Leon says

    Thanks for the quick reply. When you say the app passes the info to the Chromecast, which then “adjusts its output” this is at the heart of my question. Can a DAC adjust its output? if so, then thats the answer, but I thought a DAC couldn’t do that. If I bought a seperate DAC I would assume that it would output analogue info at a certain fixed level, leaving subsequent equipment to do the amplification and adjustment.

    Let me ask this in another way. Say I connect the Chromecast to an amp using an optical cable, so that it feeds a DAC built into the amp. Then the connection is digital all the way in and out of the chromecast. Would the app playing the music still be able to control the volume? I think not. So I’m thinking that the Chromecast must have some sort of pre-amp circuit to allow for volume adjustment.

    Its just that im curious about this sort of thing. Thanks again.

    Reply

  14. Leon says

    Thanks. I thought that was the case. So if I buy a separate, high quality, DAC and connect the Chromecast to it using an optical lead, then this will bypass the internal amp circuitry of the Chromecast, meaning better sound, yes? But then the volume could not be controlled from the sending app, yes?

    Reply

  15. Leon says

    Thanks Simon. My questions have been answered. I’ve compared flac files sent from my mobile, using Chromecast Audio, with the original CD and using headphones. I’m surprised at how well the Chromecase performs. My main reason for deciding on the Chromecast is to give me remote volume control. My rather old Audiolab amp doesn’t have remote control and I’ve been finding it a nuisance to be constantly walking back and forward to turn it up or down.

    Reply

  16. ranbeer says

    i wish to connect chrome cast audio to my arcam dac via a optical out, and then further to my stereo marantz reciever 8005 amp to a monitor audio RS8 setup.
    would this effect quality over my direct wired setup with my arcam dac via a computer. i play hi-res flac files.

    Reply

  17. ranbeer says

    Another option for me is to connect a chromecast media to my Arcam DAC via its HDMI out to my DACs usb input. Further connecting my DACs output to my hifi audio setup.
    would chromecast media serve as a data transfer to my DAC, I can get an advantage of using DACs superior interface to produce best possible sound quality.

    Reply

  18. Shameel Ariff says

    Hello..i am having a Yamaha Network Receiver RN 402 which is awesome..can you please let me know can i stream music via google chromecast audio device? Also my receiver has a digital output.

    Reply

  20. Chetanya says

    Hi…I have a very basic question. Can we use mini toslink cable to connect to optical out of Chromecast audio to get a 5.1 or possibly a 7.2 output for a home theatre setup?
    I’m planning to purchase a home theatre system and want to know if I can connect my receive this way to make it Play surround sound without the use of Bluray or DVDs

    Reply

  21. Ciaran Duke says

    Hi Simon – great page. Can you tell me if the CCA Toslink limits output to a maximum of 48khz? I have some high resolution source material (96khz and upwards) but when I google cast it from my phone, the display on my amp indicates that CCA is downsampling it to 48khz. For higher quality, would I therefore be better off using CCA’s analog out connection or is this also likely to downsample? Thanks.

    Reply

  22. Bredt Westley says

    To stream my music, I have the option of using my CCA with optical output, or using the built in AirPlay2 streaming in my receiver. Since my receiver does all the DAC, is there an advantage to either one of these wireless connection when it comes to the best audio quality?

    Reply

  23. Michael D Paur says

    I purchased a CCA through an eBay seller just before Christmas and was impressed by the sound quality..However a fault quickly developed with the supplied yellow 3.5mm cable and after losing one channel is now not working at all.I have tested another cable of a similar length but there seems to be a subtle loss of sound quality and level as the yellow cable level was specifically designed of course to work with the CCA.
    The seller has been unable yet to find a genuine replacement so can you help with this please as the supplied cable should not have failed so soon after purchase?

    Reply

  24. Leo says

    I think you should mention in order to achieve digital (toslink) connectivity you need a minijack to toslink adapter.
    😉

    Reply

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