this post was submitted on 21 Aug 2023
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Aotearoa Daily Kōrero 22/8/2023 (lemmy.nz)
submitted 1 year ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]
67 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

Welcome to today’s daily kōrero!

Anyone can make the thread, first in first served. If you are here on a day and there’s no daily thread, feel free to create it!

Anyway, it’s just a chance to talk about your day, what you have planned, what you have done, etc.

So, how’s it going?

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[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I would love some smart speakers but I find them pricey as well.

I'm using a Chromecast audio with an old pair of speakers on a smart plug. The speakers are old enough that it only has an IR remote.

I have it setup so:

  • Chromecast is detected as Playing, speakers turn on.
  • IR blaster sends commands to set the volume and bass level I like.
  • Dashboard displays additional buttons for controlling volume via IR blaster.
  • If Chromecast stops casting, the speakers turn off and buttons on dashboard disappear.

Main reason it's setup this way is I already had the old speakers and getting a Chromecast audio and IR blaster was much cheaper than getting good smart speakers. Although you're right it would be much simpler if I just get some decent smart speakers.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

That's a nice automation. Where did you get CC Audio? As they are no longer sold.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I got it shortly after I heard they were discontinued, so there was still some stock floating around. I think it might have been through Dick Smith/Kogan at the time?

If you're willing to go down the Amazon route, I think Echo Dot's have an aux out? They had a device called the Echo Input as well which was like and Echo Dot without the speaker, doesn't seem available anywhere though. I would probably only try this if I could be sure I could disable the microphone and smart speaker functions.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Thanks. Yeah I don't want any cloud based stuff, especially not from Amazon as I'm afraid they will shut down Alexa if they keep losing money on it.

Guess I'll wait for now. Thanks.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (3 children)

Understandable. I feel like there must be something out there that works as a replacement, I just haven’t looked very deeply into it.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

I saw ESPMuse, which is an ESP32 based speaker, but has terrible reviews.

I just checked TM, CC Audio is sold for $200 there. Crazy. https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/marketplace/electronics-photography/media-streaming/chromecast/listing/4278960673

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Sorry one more post :) I just found this one on Aliexpress which seems promising. Works via a dedicated app but it seems compatible with HA. https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005003331228026.html

Could be an affordable alternative.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

Interesting, now I’m wondering if I should sell my CC audio for $200 and get one of these 🤔