Unlocking Chromecast Audio: The Hidden Truth Behind its Discontinuation

The Chromecast Audio, a device once praised for its high-quality audio output and affordability, is now a rare find, selling used for around $100. But what happened to this seemingly perfect product? The truth lies in the fact that it was too good to exist. In this article, we'll delve into the reasons behind its discontinuation and explore alternative solutions for those who still want to use Chromecast Audio.

The regular Chromecast devices, thankfully, still support casting anything anywhere, but only with HDMI output, not with stereo audio output. This has led many users to find workarounds using UPnP DLNA, creating custom casting solutions. While these solutions may be effective, there's something to be said for the convenience of using the built-in casting feature of YouTube and Chrome.

Music and hardware companies invest millions in licensing deals to decide who can play what music where. The Chromecast Audio, with its ability to cast any audio anywhere, is deemed too powerful to exist. Casting normal YouTube videos to audio devices is also blocked by Google, which has removed stereo output from its entire product line to incentivize buying Google speakers and subscribing to YouTube Music.

However, for those who still want to use Chromecast Audio, there are some workarounds. By setting up specific rules on your router, you can allow casting to specific IP addresses or create aliases for your devices. This involves configuring the destination IP address, port number, and other settings on your router.

For example, you can set up a rule that allows casting to a single host or alias using the following settings:

* Destination: Single host or alias | ff02::fb | Port 5353

* Destination: Single host or alias | ff02::fb | Port 1900

* Destination: Single host or alias | 224.0.0.251 | Port 5353

* Destination: Single host or alias | 224.0.0.251 | Port 1900

* Destination: Single host or Alias | Chromecast Alias you created earlier | Port 8008-8009, 8443

Once this is set up, it's time to configure the firewall rules. This involves adding the IP addresses of all your Chromecast devices and creating aliases for them if necessary.

In conclusion, while the Chromecast Audio may be gone, there are still ways to make it work with some technical know-how. By setting up specific rules on your router and configuring your Chromecast devices correctly, you can continue to use this device and enjoy high-quality audio output.

Chrome cast audio