AudioCast M5 is a ChromeCast Audio Alternative with Local Audio Files and Multi-Room Support

ChromeCast Audio launched earlier this year together with ChromeCast 2.0 in order to bring ChromeCast experience specifically to audio files via your speakers or audio system. Wireless audio streamer are not exactly new, and I’ve reviewed a few including SoundMate WM201, and the company behind the SoundMate models, UyeSee, has launched a new AudioCast M2 wireless multi-room sound streamer that looks familiar…

The main features of AudioCast M5 are listed as follows:

Connectivity – 802.11 b/g/n with WPS button
Audio Output – 3.5mm stereo jack
Power Supply – 5V via micro USB port
Multiroom streaming – Stream same song to all speakers, stream different songs to different speakers, stream same or different song to different group speakers using a single smartphone .
Streaming from phone’s internal storage, UPnP/DLNA server, online music service including Spotify, Pandora, iHeartRadio, and more coming with Tital, Dezzer, GoogleMusic, Tunein, etc…
Stereo Pairing – Turn two AudioCast M5 into separate left and right speakers.
Mobile Apps – AudioCast for iOS, AudioCast for Android.
WPS One Botton Click for WiFi Connection: Save complicated and trouble set up procedure.
Music Alam Clock with full alarm setting.
Auto-Power off with full setting.
App color just according to coverart color style.

The company also provided a comparison table matching AudioCast to other audio streaming solutions like Sonos, Bluetooth Speakers, ChromeCast Audio, and AirPlay receivers.

	Sonos	Bluetooth	Airplay	AudioCast	Chromecast Audio
Android Compatible	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes
iOS Compatible	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Compatible with Airplay Streams(from Mac OSX,iOS and iTunes)	No	No	Yes	Yes	No
Compatible with Laptops/Computers	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes
Lossless Audio	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Play from NAS	Yes	No	No	Yes	No
Play from UPnP	Yes	No	No	Yes	No
Play from Online Service	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Music Alarm Clock	Yes	No	No	Yes	No
Sleeping Timer	Yes	No	No	Yes	No
Software number Playlist	No	No	No	Yes	No
Standard Wi-Fi,with Full Home Netoork Range	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes
Multi-Room,Expandable System(Synchronous)	Yes	No	No	Yes	No
Multi Streams from Different Sources	Yes	No	No	Yes	No
Multi-Zone Streaming from a Single Device	Yes	No	No	Yes	No
Left/Right Stereo Speaker Pairing	Yes	No	No	Yes	No
WPS Quick Connection	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes

I think they compare features out of the box, as ChromeCast Audio also supports local file streaming via various methods, more or less user-friendly. They also did not mention ChromeCast Audio supports 802.11ac and features an extra optical S/PDIF output to connect to “non-smart” amplifiers and AV receivers.

The device ships with an audio cable with a 3.5mm jack in both ends, a micro USB to USB cable for power, and a user’s manual in English.

For those of you that wonder about the hardware implementation, I’ve got a sample here that I opened. The design is interestingly comprised of a module with WiFi and storage, and a baseboard with all the ports.

If you were expecting some brand new WiFi audio solution, you’ll be disappointed as the device is based on Ralink RT5350F WiSoC.

The other side of the WiFi board has a Windbond 9825 series flash (256Mbit), and the baseboard features a chip that read JC AC1543CG4NIG-E, but I can’t find any reference to this IC on the web.

AudioCast M5 can be purchased on Amazon US, Aliexpress and DealExtreme for $36 to $40. More details can be found on AudioCast website.

Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft)

Jean-Luc started CNX Software in 2010 as a part-time endeavor, before quitting his job as a software engineering manager, and starting to write daily news, and reviews full time later in 2011.