Point of higher priced streamer?

“I have decided to buy a Chromecast Audio (CA), which although discontinued, it can be still be found in e-bay for a whopping $50. According to numerous sites if connected via optical to a "decent" high performing DAC (e.g. Topping D50), it will outperform many higher-priced streamers and it will be hard to beat, at least from the performance measuring perspective.”

I never laughed so hard in my life 😆

A few years ago I held on to the same belief that streamers don't make a difference. I lived with an Apple TV, and later, Chromecast Audio for almost 3 years. The music did not sound bad, but there was an obvious digital glare and fatigue. I just didn't know what I was missing. It was only when I moved up to Bluesound Node 2i, and later on Sonore Optical Rendu, that I realized what was missing. The biggest improvement, at least in my system, was the reduction in floor noise and an overall 'musicality' that was missing earlier. So in short, NO, the Chromecast Audio is not on par with higher priced streamers. Not even close! 

I have used a Chromecast Audio feeding a Benchmark DAC2 and the noise floor was dead silent, as I would expect with any optical connection to be. That said, I was using ROON, and I have no idea what you were using. Unless your sofware was ensuring bit-perfect output, you may have been feeding the Chromecast a very poor signal.  The biggest issue is optical out can limit you, but the Benchmark handles jitter quite well which is not universal.

Thought the Bluesound Node2i was broken till I discovered the audio clock trim setting and turned it off.

Chromecast Audio is (was) a very good, convenient device for modest systems. It does the job well in freeing up your laptop for streaming functions. That’s where it ends.

@lalitk 

Seriously laughing along with you!