Michael Glasson Posted May 28 Share Posted May 28 Since Kef updated its firmware (to version 3.3) to include support for Google Cast 2.0, Poweramp (but not other players) has lost the ability to cast to these speakers. Speakers can be selected as a cast target, but playback is not successful. Instead of playback, one of two things happens. A sub-second fragment of music may be heard, or nothing is heard, but the playback progress graphic shows brief progress, then jumps back repeatedly. I have raised the issue with Kef, but I suspect they will say that if MediaMonkey, Kef Connect, YouTube and Google Home cast can play and only Poweramp (and Plexamp actually) cannot play, then it's not their problem. I have also raised this issue with the Plex people. The workaround of using Google Home 'cast my screen' is very clumsy compared with the seamless ability to select the Cast-enabled speakers in Poweramp and play to them. Given that it is unlikely you will have Kef active loudspeakers available, is there any chance that you might comment on Poweramp support for Google Cast 2.0 and any possible playback issues? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andrewilley Posted May 28 Share Posted May 28 Do the other apps play local content correctly - i.e. files on your phone rather than sourced/streamed over the internet? Often the issue can be bandwidth, are both devices on the same local wireless network (e.g. 5GHz signal vs 2.4 GHz). Does the problem eventually correct itself if you leave it trying for long enough? Have you tried disconnecting and re-pairing both devices' wireless connections? Andre Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul_B Posted May 29 Share Posted May 29 (edited) I am having a very similar issue, albeit with Plexamp (i don't have Android), Only started a few days ago with Kef LSX2. I can Google cast to the NVIDIA Shield, the TV, the Pioneer Amp, but when i try cast to Kef LSX 2, i get an error 'could not switch to player'. I CAN cast from youtube music from the same iphone to the Kef speakers. So it is specifically Plex (and possibly Poweramp), or some protocol that links them that is distinct from youtube music. Edited May 29 by Paul_B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andrewilley Posted May 29 Share Posted May 29 Again, is the difference due to playing local files on the phone - versus streamed content such as YouTube/Spotify. They are handled in completely different ways. Andre Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul_B Posted May 29 Share Posted May 29 I can't say, i don't have any local files on the phone. Plexamp FLAC and MP3 files are stored on my server, which works fine, and plays directly on the phone, but can't be cast to KEF speakers, but can be cast to all other devices. I set up a new, fresh server with just a few files to test and that also could not be cast to KEF speakers. Both Google cast and Airplay from Spotify are unaffected Google cast from youtube and youtube music are also unaffected. Playing Plexamp files on the phone (via LAN server), or casting to all other android devices is unaffected Only playing Plexamp files on the LSX 2 speakers is affected. Hope that helps! Thanks for taking the time. Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andrewilley Posted May 29 Share Posted May 29 By "local" files I meant ones that Poweramp is reading and decoding to PCM for processing, and then outputting in full again to the Chromecast device. As opposed to a streaming service (YouTube etc) where the loudspeaker actually does all the heavy lifting, all the phone is doing is telling the speaker where on the internet the music resides and the speaker fetches it. Retrieving from the NAS and outputting the same content to the speaker could be the issue here though (it's not something that Poweramp natively supports, although some third-party apps can map the NAS's content into Android's storage framework). Have you tried putting a few of your audio files into the phone's internal storage as a test? Andre Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Glasson Posted May 31 Author Share Posted May 31 Hi @Paul_B, @andrewilley, I use Poweramp with local files and Plexamp with a Plex server. Both started to fail to cast at exactly the time when Kef updated their firmware to version 3.3, with release note stating that this firmware version supports Google Cast 2.0. I notified Kef support and they responded to me this morning that the issue is that the affected players - Poweramp and Plexamp - are not compatible with Google Cast 2.0. Given that I can play both local and server-based content with Google Home cast, Youtube Music, MediaMonkey, BubbleUPnP, Emby and maybe others, I strongly suspect that Kef support is correct. My workaround at the moment is to use BubbleUPnP and Plex DLNA for casting to Kef loudspeakers via Google Cast. I have an alternative, which is to cast with Plexamp to a Chromecast attached to a TV that in turn has an optical link to the Kef speakers. Plexamp is a greater concern to me at the moment, as that is my preferred player for home. I use Poweramp with local files when I am out and about. Needless to say, I am also following up with Plex :). @andrewilley, you have been a magnificent and dedicated supporter of Poweramp for a long time now. I appreciate your continued knowledgeable and patient work. Cheers mate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andrewilley Posted May 31 Share Posted May 31 I don 't see why Kef's update to also support Google Cast 2.0 should break existing functionality, but from what you've said that does seem to be what they've done. @maxmp Any thoughts on this, do you have any other test kit which supports Google Cast 2.0 and does that break legacy Chromecast playback too? Andre Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Glasson Posted June 2 Author Share Posted June 2 On 6/1/2024 at 9:31 AM, andrewilley said: I don 't see why Kef's update to also support Google Cast 2.0 should break existing functionality, but from what you've said that does seem to be what they've done. @maxmp Any thoughts on this, do you have any other test kit which supports Google Cast 2.0 and does that break legacy Chromecast playback too? Andre That's a good question, but I suspect the answer is, 'no'. I have several Chromecasts and Chromecast Ultras and they work fine with Poweramp, Plexamp and all the rest. Chromecasts update themselves automatically over the air. Maybe there is something about the approach Kef have taken to their software upgrade. Anyway, I think I am going to let this slide on the Poweramp front at the moment. It's still my player when I am away from my home network and is doing fine in that role. Michael Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Solution Paul_B Posted June 3 Solution Share Posted June 3 I found a temporary solution, that is to install an app called Prism Music. It logs into Plex server and is pretty similar to Plexamp, allowing local file playback, but crucially i can Chromecast to the LSXII speakers. This will keep me going until Kef or Plex find a solution. What i don't get is that this should be affecting 1000's of people, yet there is basically no word of it. Makes me think it is something to do with my setup, even though i didn't change anything to knock Plexamp Chromcast out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Glasson Posted June 9 Author Share Posted June 9 (edited) I too found a workaround, @Paul_B, @andrewilley. I have switched from Plexamp and Poweramp to Symfonium for playing at home from Plex server to Kef speakers. Symfonium is a close rival in UI and player experience to Plexamp and Poweramp, but crucially, it supports a wide range of media servers and sources, as well as a good range of renderers/players. For example, Symfonium sees my Plex server and both the UPnP and Chromecast endpoints on my Kef LS50 wireless II speakers. It can play nicely using either protocol. The problem I had with BubbleUPnP was that it only worked with a DLNA source and the player interface was nowhere near as nice as those on Poweramp and Plexamp. Edited June 9 by Michael Glasson Fixed error Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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