The Chromecast Audio takes music streaming to a whole new level and makes it affordable for almost anyone who is interested in multi-room wireless audio. It is ultra-compact and portable, allowing us to place them anywhere in our homes, and moving them around is a piece of cake, and in this case, a small piece of disc. What we need now will be a pair of speakers to match the Google Chromecast Audio and there are plenty of choices to go for.
Choosing the right loudspeakers will mainly depend on your setup and speaker requirements. Chromecast Audio sonic characteristics will be important as well and we should learn more about it so as to use this data and look for matching speakers. We will be preparing a list of the best speakers to partner with the Google Chromecast Audio and if you are currently on the market searching for one then please continue to read as we will be sharing the speaker list with you later on.
Table of Contents
Sonic Characteristics of Chromecast Audio
It is a really small device where you can place it anywhere in your house without worrying the Chromecast Audio might ruin your decor or be too distracting. The Chromecast Audio is a compact circular disc-shaped device packed with features and enables itself to connect to various types of audio setups. The most notable feature will be the Full Dynamic range and it is highly recommended to switch it on. We also recommend using WiFi over Bluetooth music streaming whenever possible as the former provides better overall sound quality. Still, it is a pity the Chromecast Audio only supports up to 24-bit/96kHz resolution.
The Full Dynamic range feature of the Chromecast Audio does make it worthwhile to partner it with a good pair of speakers or HiFi sound system. There is clarity in the overall sound reproduction, not as compressed as we have imagined. The music presentations are rather detailed and all in all, it is enjoyable to listen to Google’s Chromecast Audio. At this price point, it is really difficult to nitpick its sound quality, not to mention, the Chromecast Audio definitely served its main purpose. Now we should look into your setup and requirements, from there, it will help immensely on the type of speakers you should aim for.
Chromecast Audio Specifications
- High-Res Audio: 24-bit/96kHz
- Wireless: WiFi
- Outputs: Analog and Optical digital audio output (3.5 mm), Micro-USB
- Dimensions: 52mm x 52mm x 14mm | 2″ x 2″ x 0.6″
- Weight: 30.7g (0.068lbs)
Setups and Speaker Requirements
Going with active speakers will probably be the most cost-efficient way to set up your sound system as you can directly connect them to your Chromecast Audio and start playing your music. Active speakers with wireless functionalities will be even more convenient. Active speakers usually are more affordable and save up a lot of space since there is no need to get a separate power amplifier. This is also one of the reasons why they are widely used as desktop speakers. If you are critical about sound quality, we will suggest going with powered studio monitors.
For listeners who are planning to set up a stereo or home theater system and the Chromecast Audio is just an afterthought, we will suggest getting a pair of speakers that are matching to your main sound system instead. You might want to go with floor-standing speakers for a medium to large listening room as they are more proficient in filling the room with music, not to mention, also capable of delivering higher and deeper bass frequencies. Usually, a pair of bookshelf speakers will be an ideal choice for a small listening room. If your music is really bass-heavy, you can either integrate an active subwoofer into your sound system or go for floor-standing speakers with built-in powered subwoofers.
For listeners who want convenience above all else, go with speakers with built-in Google Assistant, Chromecast, Bluetooth, etc. For example, if a streaming service does not support Chromecast, you can still use Bluetooth. If you are planning to use the speakers for your TV, soundbars with Chromecast enabled will be ideal choices especially for listeners with limited space. Your budget will play a major role as well, the higher your budget, the more speaker choices you can go for. These are some of the things you might want to look through first and do feel free to add in more speaker requirements on your own. When you are ready, you can check out the list of the best speakers for Chromecast Audio below.
Best Speakers to match with Chromecast Audio
The B&O Play Beoplay M5 is one of the best wireless speakers to go with your Chromecast Audio. It is a beautiful-looking wireless speaker where you will be more than happy to put it out on display. Furthermore, this Bang and Olufsen speaker is Chromecast enabled and will deliver the sound in a 360-degree fashion becoming the center of attraction. The B&O Play Beoplay M5 has a warmish sonic characteristic and the bass reproduction is quite powerful for a wireless speaker of its size. It can deliver an entertaining music presentation with a nice level of clarity and will be a suitable speaker partner for the Chromecast Audio.
More Details at Amazon – Bang and Olufsen Beoplay M5 Wireless Multiroom Speaker
The Google Home Max is probably the best speaker to match with your Chromecast Audio. Home Max speaker works really well with Chromecast devices and has the sound quality to boot too. Furthermore, there is a unique feature named Smart Sound where the Google Home Max will adapt to the environment it is in and optimize the speaker for a more balanced sound. This helps to ensure the bass reproductions do not muddle the rest of the higher frequencies, providing a clear and detailed music delivery. The Google Assistant is also built into the Google Home Max smart speaker to give you more convenience.
For listeners who connect their Chromecast Audio to a stereo sound system, the Q Acoustics Concept 20 is one of the best passive bookshelf speakers to go for. It is a multi-award-winning loudspeaker with a modest price tag and is musically refined. The Concept 20 speakers provide plenty of sonic performance for the money and even though it is compact in size, they are still capable of projecting a spacious soundstage. The level of clarity is amazing, delivering a detailed and accurate music presentation with a touch of warmth. Q Acoustics Concept 20 will be a suitable match for your Chromecast Audio.
More Information at Amazon – Q Acoustics Concept 20 Bookshelf Speaker
The Wharfedale Diamond 12.3 will be one of the best passive floor-standing speakers to match with the Chromecast Audio. It is a well-balanced speaker with an impressive bass performance, it is punchy and has a nice weight to it. The Diamond 12.3 midrange reproduction is equally remarkable and the overall sound reproduction is smooth with a warmish sonic characteristic, enabling us to listen to them for hours without listeners’ fatigue. We will suggest a high-powered amplifier so as to drive the Wharfedale Diamond 12.3 with ease. They may give us a rather laid-back music presentation but they are quite entertaining and expressive as well.
More Info at Amazon – Wharfedale Diamond 12.3 Floorstanding Speaker
The Klipsch R-41PM is one of the best active speakers to match with your Chromecast Audio. It is a pair of highly-rated active speakers with a very modest price tag and does not compromise the sound quality. Instead, the Klipsch R-41PM will deliver a very detailed music presentation and at pretty loud volume without losing composure. The accuracy of the R-41PM is good and the clarity level is amazing, there is a subwoofer output if you ever decide to connect to an active sub to improve the overall bass performance. Another notable feature of the active speaker will be the Bluetooth wireless connectivity.
More Info at Amazon – Klipsch R-41PM Powered Bookshelf Speaker
The LG SK8 will be an excellent soundbar partner for your Chromecast Audio. This LG soundbar supports Chromecast and even has Google assistant. The slim and compact size will be ideal for listeners who want to improve their TV sound quality but lacks the space for a traditional stereo setup. It is an enthusiastic loudspeaker and along with its subwoofer, the LG SK8 delivers an entertaining overall sound reproduction. It is also clear sounding where the dialogues/vocals can be heard without you straining your ears. For a soundbar at this price point, there is nothing much to really complain about.
More Details at Amazon – LG SK8Y Soundbar 2.1 Channel
To Sum It Up
If your budget is tight, you might want to look into compact size powered speakers as they are usually affordable and would be great for a desktop sound system too. The speakers listed here are some of the best to match with the Chromecast Audio, you can pick them based on your setup or requirements or both. From there, arrange an audition with the shortlisted speakers and see if you like what you are hearing. For passive speakers, you might want to audition them using your own sound system if possible.
