Amazon Echo Input... replacement for Chromecast Audio. Questions...

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The 3.5mm output has already been converted to analog. In order to connect to a DAC you'd first need an ADC, then the DAC. Wouldn't be worth it. Maybe future editions of echo(s) will have a digital output. :dunno:
 
But, if you're not specifically looking to use your favorite DAC, just hook the echo up and enjoy. Not sure if its eavesdropping features can be turned off.
 
If the input is like the other Echo devices, the microphone can be turned off via a switch (the ring around the unit turns red), and you can select music to play via the Amazon Alexa app, which in my experience is a bit clunky. I tried an Echo Dot in my system last year, and it didn't last long - asking for specific songs was not always successful, and there was not an easy way to play my FLAC files stored on the computer through the Dot. Plus to my ears the sound quality was not what I wanted to listen to through my system.

I definitely would not go from a CCA to an Echo at this point.
 
a little off topic

I'm not sure how many conversions happens in my setup - not meant for hardcore critical listening - just fun

Amazon Fire Stick w/Alexa into my TV... TV has Optical Out. TV out into Oppo 105's DAC Optical In

Oppo analog RCA to CD input of Pre Amp (OK , you guys know the rest)

Streaming music via Fire Stick aint so bad -- in fact , good
 
Frank Sol said:
a little off topic

I'm not sure how many conversions happens in my setup - not meant for hardcore critical listening - just fun

Amazon Fire Stick w/Alexa into my TV... TV has Optical Out. TV out into Oppo 105's DAC Optical In

Oppo analog RCA to CD input of Pre Amp (OK , you guys know the rest)

Streaming music via Fire Stick aint so bad -- in fact , good
Click to expand...
Looks like just one conversion from digital to analog happening in the Oppo! What you're feeding it via the source is the big question. Lol!! Enjoy!!
 
bigx5murf said:
https://www.tomsguide.com/us/amazon-echo-input,review-5762.html

It has it's own built in DAC. But you can't use an external DAC, because it has no way to outputting a digital signal. I also doubt the voice input can be turned off completely, the device's low price means it's most likely needs more value as a data miner. I believe limited data mining ability is what truly killed off the Chromecast audio.
Click to expand...

With the Chromecast Audio device, I could plug in the 3.5mm end of an optical cable into the CCA's analog port and the other end inserted into the OPTICAL IN on the receiver. Couldn't that be done with this Echo Input device?
 
hnash53 said:
With the Chromecast Audio device, I could plug in the 3.5mm end of an optical cable into the CCA's analog port and the other end inserted into the OPTICAL IN on the receiver. Couldn't that be done with this Echo Input device?
Click to expand...
Chromecast Audio has an optical digital output in the 3.5mm jack. The Amazon Echo Input only has an analog output.
 
hnash53 said:
With the Chromecast Audio device, I could plug in the 3.5mm end of an optical cable into the CCA's analog port and the other end inserted into the OPTICAL IN on the receiver. Couldn't that be done with this Echo Input device?
Click to expand...

NO, the CCA has a combo jack that outputs both analog, and digital. The amazon echo doesn't. You could try plugging that optical cable into your phones headphone jack, does it work? No it doesn't, just like it won't work with the amazon echo.
 
Just an observation. I have a Dot connected to my Sonos units and often use the voice recognition to pause or skip a song. I guess I can understand your trepidation but it's a pretty cool function to be able to use.
 
Just picked up a Dot 3 Gen for $22 and the little onboard speakers are quite surprising. I've read that they are a major improvement over earlier generations. I can see a pair synched to play stereo replacing a Wave radio in the bedroom. A single Dot 3 outputs stereo into a stereo amp via 3.5mm cable. Wish it had a digital output but it sounds quite good as is. IMO it's internal DAC is as good or better than the CCA's internal DAC.

I can say, "Alexa play Pandora cool jazz and in the blink of an eye it's streaming. Takes me several tries on my tablet to get CCA up and running. If I want to change songs or venues on the CCA I have to turn the tablet back on but with the Dot I can say "Alexa next song or Alexa play Pandora smooth jazz". Alexa has A.I. and she has finally adjusted to my southern drawl. :D

I expect Dot 3's to hit rock bottom prices on Black Friday so I'll be buying several for Christmas presents.

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What is the main goal that you're trying to achieve here?
if it's simply to stream audio ? There may be other options to consider.
You can tell both Alexa and the Google assistant to turn off the microphones (or switch them off manually).., but you can't be really sure they are off until you physically disconnect them.
 
Since I connected the Dot 3 I haven't played any of my CCA's.

Nothing clandestine going on in my house to worry about eavesdropping. Shopping trends? I

couldn't care less who knows.

I think the Dot 3 is a loss leader for Amazon in that it costs more to make than it's selling price. I paid $35 for a CCA while the Dot 3 cost $22. The payback for Amazon

is that it encourages and allows shopping via the spoken word.

"Alexa send me six 2014 Accord oil filters" and two days later they're on my front porch.

The payback for me is it's so incredibly convenient to access a tune from Spotify or a genre

from Amazon music or Pandora. After much listening I've concluded that it's DAC is superior

to the CCA's DAC and there's little difference between it's SQ and the CCA playing through a

Topping DAC. The Dot 3 I've read is a big step up from the previous generations.
 
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I'm happy with the CCA that I got during their blowout, but the presence of Microphones in the Dot and other devices makes me uneasy. Yes you can turn them off in software or manually, but I've had Computer Mics & Cameras that I turned off in software get turned back on unannounced by various applications.

For streaming I'd be happiest if the device does not have a Mic built in at all, of course that would cause Amazon heartburn since that is the whole point of the Dot.

Mark Gosdin
 
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