I have a not-very-new home cinema system that I'd like to stream music from phone/tablet/PC through. However, it doesn't have Bluetooth so it makes it a bit challenging. It's an LG system, and there is an LG android app that I've tried in order to stream via wifi, but it's flaky to put it mildly.

 

Has anyone used any Bluetooth streaming devices to do something like this? I've been looking at Chromecast as I believe this would enable me to stream music, plus I think I could also view photos/videos from phone/tablet on the TV too. Any Chromecast users here? Happy with it?

Chromecast doesn't do Bluetooth, requires WIFI... (At least, the audio does).  Though there is a guest mode where it acts as its own AP.

 

For Bluetooth....

http://gadgetviper.com/best-bluetooth-audio-receiver-2015/

 

Mate has just bought the Audioengine offering.... It arrives tomorrow.

 

J.

I'm a Chromecast user as well as a Roku stick user. happy with both, although they have subtle strengths and weaknesses. Roku does support Amazon Prime  video and Netflix which is great if you have those accounts. The Roku has a screen mirror function, but for some reason it's been described as 'beta' for well over a year. There are new Chromecast keys and Roku sticks now and both support 4K video. The Chromecast has a slight edge if you have the latest spec in TV, as it supports not only 4K and HDR, but also the rarer Dolby Vision HDR The new stick/dongle are said to be much quicker than the originals, but I'd check if the new Roku supports screen mirror. 

I use a Chromecast Audio to stream audio from a Network storage thing (a NAS) which is hardwired to the house network. The Chromecast Audio is controlled wirelessly from my Android tablet. The CA has an analogue and an optical digital output. I feed the optical output to an external DAC. The sound quality is superb. The analogue output was very good but easily surpassed by the digital output. I had a bluetooth dongle thing called a Neet Airstream (about £30 from Amazon). This simply plugged into an available input on my amp and allowed audio streaming via bluetooth from my phone. Very simple. Sound quality was pretty good but again easily surpassed by the CA digital. I have not used a Chromecast. The Chromecast and Chromecast Audio are 2 different things.

I love my Chromecast, its plugged into an unused HDMI port on my AV amp and I use it for Netflix, Youtube and streaming photos, videos and music from the phone or my tablet.

 

Really simple and easy to use too

Thanks for the info everyone. I had a look at the Roku as well...defo looks like it's worth considering.

 

Am I right in thinking that the Chromecast 2 can plug into a spare USB slot on the TV and use it as a power supply? Whereas the new Chromecast Ultra needs a separate power supply? Not that it's probably worth getting the Ultra as my TV is only HD, not UHD.

I use my Roku and Chromecast devices by utilising the spare USB on the telly they are plugged into -assuming the obvious - and they work perfectly. haven't been able to find much out about the Chromecast Ultra as nobody had them when I went looking

I've gone for the Chromecast 2 - didn't seem much point getting the Ultra as I don't have a 4K TV!

 

(Mind you...I'm not allowed to have it until Christmas so can't actually comment on it just yet!!)