Onkyo Corp. completed a string of announcements this week that it is now delivering firmware updates that bring support for Chromecast streaming services to key wireless speakers and AV receivers across its stable of home theater audio brands  — Onkyo, Integra and Pioneer.

This firmware release enhances audio streaming and the wireless multi-room ecosystem that are integrated into key components from each brand.

Chromecast built-in allows users to share a wide selection of music, Internet radio, podcasts, and other programs from popular Chromecast-enabled apps.  Chromecast built-in is supported on iPad, iPhone, iPod touch, Android phones and tablets, Chromebook, and Chrome browser on Mac, Windows, and Linux PCs.

Read more about the Onkyo, Integra and Pioneer components getting Chromecast updates after the jump:

Components getting the Chromecast update under the Onkyo brand include the following AV receivers: [amazon_textlink asin=’B06XTYXH9M’ text=’TX-NR676′ template=’ProductLink’ store=’hc005-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’b4119438-2c31-11e7-b49a-31dfadc930cd’], [amazon_textlink asin=’B06XVFY3M8′ text=’TX-NR575′ template=’ProductLink’ store=’hc005-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’f7bfef27-2c31-11e7-847e-7feb1a182666′], [amazon_textlink asin=’B06Y15DWXZ’ text=’TX-8270′ template=’ProductLink’ store=’hc005-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’0af56283-2c32-11e7-99ec-65fbaffcf29f’], [amazon_textlink asin=’B01LVWX8WW’ text=’PR-RZ5100′ template=’ProductLink’ store=’hc005-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’32e5b082-2c32-11e7-b7dc-dfd547af892a’], [amazon_textlink asin=’B01KYAR20Q’ text=’TX-RZ3100′ template=’ProductLink’ store=’hc005-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’43fa18a6-2c32-11e7-87ef-0b5374983312′], [amazon_textlink asin=’B01KYANDIQ’ text=’TX-RZ1100′ template=’ProductLink’ store=’hc005-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’5a50c854-2c32-11e7-bbf8-27ce8e53ea18′], [amazon_textlink asin=’B01ETUV4I8′ text=’TX-RZ810′ template=’ProductLink’ store=’hc005-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’6d0c02ee-2c32-11e7-95a5-9b981cff46de’], [amazon_textlink asin=’B01EG68PE6′ text=’TX-RZ710′ template=’ProductLink’ store=’hc005-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’84c5c5b8-2c32-11e7-895d-e965efe82b97′], [amazon_textlink asin=’B01EG56LB6′ text=’TX-RZ610′ template=’ProductLink’ store=’hc005-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’ad7e938c-2c32-11e7-b6ef-8f5ca4a7bc34′], [amazon_textlink asin=’B01D9MFL9A’ text=’TX-NR757′ template=’ProductLink’ store=’hc005-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’c1679f32-2c32-11e7-87e4-b53c57d720b2′], [amazon_textlink asin=’B01D86TLES’ text=’TX-NR656′ template=’ProductLink’ store=’hc005-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’da40db95-2c32-11e7-b034-8b9c0df823e6′], and [amazon_textlink asin=’B01CZW7H4M’ text=’TX-NR555′ template=’ProductLink’ store=’hc005-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’ed023064-2c32-11e7-9f1e-ef9c63b6979d’]; the [amazon_textlink asin=’B01ESTB1BK’ text=’HT-S7800′ template=’ProductLink’ store=’hc005-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’00ba4149-2c33-11e7-9d33-23aa71b078c7′] home theater in a box, the [amazon_textlink asin=’B01MUCPTP2′ text=’SBT-A500′ template=’ProductLink’ store=’hc005-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’19df2cc0-2c33-11e7-b805-039ede7da90a’] soundbar system, and the just-launched [amazon_textlink asin=’B071Y2QV9Y’ text=’NCP-302 ‘ template=’ProductLink’ store=’hc005-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’3115b5a0-2c33-11e7-ab08-a70725bd92a1′] multiroom wireless speaker ($349 suggested retail price).

Under Integra the firmware update will bring the latest Chromecast streaming support to the following AV receivers: [amazon_textlink asin=’B01LXG4LQY’ text=’DRC-R1′ template=’ProductLink’ store=’hc005-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’40da932d-2c33-11e7-964e-23295b8c116c’], [amazon_textlink asin=’B01LX4AYTJ’ text=’DRX-R1′ template=’ProductLink’ store=’hc005-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’59244efe-2c35-11e7-8150-79267f9a6fc9′], [amazon_textlink asin=’B01LXG4L3L’ text=’DRX-7′ template=’ProductLink’ store=’hc005-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’63b01e66-2c33-11e7-b3de-5d19762d6f2f’] (pictured at top), [amazon_textlink asin=’B01M0DZJF2′ text=’DRX-5′ template=’ProductLink’ store=’hc005-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’75190e56-2c33-11e7-93f5-1fa63bd8cc46′], [amazon_textlink asin=’B01LZEQS85′ text=’DRX-4′ template=’ProductLink’ store=’hc005-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’86565bc3-2c33-11e7-96e7-0b9a1b353e30′], [amazon_textlink asin=’B01M11FL3U’ text=’DRX-3′ template=’ProductLink’ store=’hc005-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’985c4f31-2c33-11e7-ba08-6dbcb98bd594′], [amazon_textlink asin=’B01LYFMM5E’ text=’DRX-2′ template=’ProductLink’ store=’hc005-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’a934236c-2c33-11e7-b263-d9a05ec20373′], DSX-3 and the DLB-5 object-based audio soundbar system.

Under Pioneer Home Entertainment the Chromecast built-in firmware update is being added to AV receivers including the Elite series: [amazon_textlink asin=’B01KJS93N2′ text=’SC-LX901′ template=’ProductLink’ store=’hc005-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’f0af8be5-2c33-11e7-ab21-278b47d38e6f’], [amazon_textlink asin=’B01LX1E8TO’ text=’SC-LX801′ template=’ProductLink’ store=’hc005-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’04f6e40e-2c34-11e7-84b6-db5703ea03a5′], [amazon_textlink asin=’B01LWPPJWN’ text=’SC-LX701′ template=’ProductLink’ store=’hc005-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’17d84384-2c34-11e7-91fc-f1f064b54240′], [amazon_textlink asin=’B01JOBIFLQ’ text=’SC-LX501′ template=’ProductLink’ store=’hc005-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’2a5d2c0c-2c34-11e7-b263-d9a05ec20373′], [amazon_textlink asin=’B01DMW92ZG’ text=’VSX-LX301′ template=’ProductLink’ store=’hc005-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’3e9a98f7-2c34-11e7-a48d-f74d38919422′], [amazon_textlink asin=’B01DMW90SA’ text=’VSX-LX101′ template=’ProductLink’ store=’hc005-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’5063aace-2c34-11e7-9b93-0b3ab0e0080e’], [amazon_textlink asin=’B01MTQ5UVK’ text=’SX-S30′ template=’ProductLink’ store=’hc005-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’6261af58-2c34-11e7-8481-4349dfe9b289′], and the [amazon_textlink asin=’B01N2JGI5V’ text=’FS-EB70′ template=’ProductLink’ store=’hc005-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’74f9357c-2c34-11e7-9f45-1588c9d68220′] soundbar. Under the Pioneer series are the following AV receivers: [amazon_textlink asin=’B01EN005W0′ text=’VSX-1131′ template=’ProductLink’ store=’hc005-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’8a690791-2c34-11e7-9f25-b3d50e82e61b’], [amazon_textlink asin=’B06Y5M9WQD’ text=’VSX-832′ template=’ProductLink’ store=’hc005-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’a112936b-2c34-11e7-b547-abe29d825f25′], [amazon_textlink asin=’B01E857SZW’ text=’VSX-831′ template=’ProductLink’ store=’hc005-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’b44d5d94-2c34-11e7-ab2b-ff964aff7f93′], and [amazon_textlink asin=’B01LWPQFFF’ text=’VSX-S520′ template=’ProductLink’ store=’hc005-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’c49637be-2c34-11e7-848e-f7afe2b071e6′]; and the [amazon_textlink asin=’B01M594HCM’ text=’XC-HM86′ template=’ProductLink’ store=’hc005-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’d61102a6-2c34-11e7-9b11-41091ff16dff’] and [amazon_textlink asin=’B01MECR8LA’ text=’X-HM76′ template=’ProductLink’ store=’hc005-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’e651ee9e-2c34-11e7-a2c2-59e3e9e30da2′] network receiver/CD player systems. The update will also be added to the just released MRX-3 multiroom wireless speaker ($349 suggested retail).

The firmware update adds support for Google Home, and audio devices featuring the forthcoming Google Assistant. Users can ask Google Home to find music from supported streaming services and play it back through their suppoting component. Operations such as volume adjustment and song selection can also be performed using voice commands.

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Following the firmware update, users should be able to use the Chromecast system to stream audio from mobile devices to components by tapping or clicking on an icon built into Chromecast. This sends audio to the receiver or speaker system wirelessly, with sampling rates of up to 48 kHz supported for lossless sources.

All of the products with Chromecast built-in feature on-board Ethernet or dual-band 5 GHz/2.4 GHz Wi-Fi for stable, interference-free streaming with less buffering and fewer dropouts.

Chromecast built-in allows use of other apps while streaming music. Listeners can answer calls, send emails, or play games without interrupting audio playback.  The platform also enables streaming of single or multiple audio sources to other Chromecast-enabled speakers simultaneously.  No special device setup, password entry, or pairing process is required to connect and stream via Chromecast built-in, providing both devices are connected to the same Wi-Fi network.

To enjoy the Chromecast built-in on the supported products, apps must be Chromecast-enabled and the receiver and device must be connected to the same network.

 

By Greg Tarr

 

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