Google Chromecast Audio Update Brings Multi-Room Feature and Hi-Res Audio Support

Google's Chromecast Audio, the audio streaming device that was launched in September has started receiving a software update. The update adds two new features that will "elevate your listening experience," according to the company.

The highlight of the Chromecast Audio software update is the inclusion of multi-room support. The feature will enable users to group Chromecast Audio devices together to listen to a song simultaneously on multiple devices. For this, users will need to connect and setup a Chromecast Audio for each speaker and then use the Chromecast app to create a group. Casting audio content to a group is similar to casting content to a single speaker.

The second feature that comes as a part of the software update is the Hi-Res audio support. The Hi-Res audio support will let Chromecast Audio play audio of up to 96KHz/24bit, delivering 'higher-than-CD-quality audio' on the audio device, says Tomer Shekel, Product Manager, Google in the company blog post.

Google launched the Chromecast Audio streaming device alongside the refreshed Chromecast video streaming dongle in September. Priced at $35 (roughly Rs. 2,300), the Chromecast Audio allows one to stream music to their regular speakers directly from a smartphone or laptop. The company said that the Chromecast Audio doesn't compress audio, assuring the audiophile inside you that the device wouldn't compromise on audio quality. It works with Android and iOS devices, apart from PCs. The device supports high-quality audio, 2 watt RMS, and an optional optical digital out that sits in the hybrid port. It additionally includes a feature called guest access, allowing others to stream even if they are not connected to the user's Wi-Fi network.