AirPlay

AirPlay 1 vs AirPlay 2

There are two versions of AirPlay in use:

AirPlay 1

AirPlay 1 supports single-speaker streaming only. It does not support multi-room grouping, shared volume control, or advanced buffering improvements. Playback may take slightly longer to start and can be more sensitive to Wi-Fi interruptions.

AirPlay 2

AirPlay 2 supports multi-room playback, improved buffering, better network stability, and synchronised volume control across grouped speakers.

If you want to group multiple speakers together, they must support AirPlay 2.

A2D2 Stream supports both AirPlay 1 and AirPlay 2. It will automatically discover AirPlay-compatible speakers and receivers on the same Wi-Fi network.

To stream audio, simply tap the AirPlay icon in the A2D2 app. A list of available AirPlay devices will appear, allowing you to select where you would like your audio to play.

AirPlay 2 also supports multi-room playback. Grouping is managed directly from your Apple device by opening Control Centre and selecting multiple speakers from the AirPlay menu. Once a group has been created, it will automatically appear as a selectable destination within the A2D2 app.

A2D2 Stream will always send the highest quality audio stream your speaker supports. AirPlay streams audio at up to 16-bit / 44.1 kHz (CD quality). 

NOTE: 

Most Wi-Fi speaker systems add a small buffer before playing audio. This means the speaker stores a few seconds of audio in advance, then starts playback. This buffering is intentional and helps prevent:

• Dropouts (audio cutting out)

• Stuttering during brief Wi-Fi interruptions

• Sync issues when playing to multiple speakers at once

Because of this, you may notice a short delay between pressing play and hearing sound. Typical delays are around 4–8 seconds, depending on your network complexity. If you are experiencing higher latency than 4-8 seconds please read our support articles by searching for latency or delayed audio.