Soundbar Multi-Room Audio: AirPlay 2 and Chromecast

What multi-room audio means on a soundbar listing

Multi-room audio on a soundbar listing means the soundbar can join a group of speakers around the home that play audio together, each in its own room. The exact way it works depends on the maker's system and the app that controls it. When you read AirPlay 2 or Chromecast in a title, those are names of streaming protocols, not a soundbar layout.

A soundbar with a multi-room protocol is a shopping choice for people who want music from a phone in more than one room and already own other speakers from the same ecosystem. The listing states the protocol words; the maker's page states how the system groups speakers and which app you use. Read both before buying. For a wider look at how soundbars connect to your other devices, see the connectivity options guide.

• AirPlay 2 as a title or bullet word
• Chromecast (or Google Cast) as a title or bullet word
• The maker's own system name, such as HEOS on Denon pages
• A companion app named on the maker's page

AirPlay 2 as a listing word

AirPlay 2 is a word that appears on soundbar listings to name the protocol used to stream audio over Wi-Fi from an iPhone, iPad or Mac. The listing does not explain the protocol; it just names it. The Sonos site, for example, lists Apple AirPlay 2 as one way to control and stream to its speakers. When you see AirPlay 2 on a soundbar listing, it means the soundbar can receive audio from Apple devices that support the protocol.

AirPlay 2 also names a way to group speakers over Wi-Fi. A phone can send audio to more than one AirPlay 2 speaker at the same time, so a soundbar with this word can join other AirPlay 2 speakers in different rooms. How many speakers you can group and how the app controls them is stated on the maker's page, not on the listing.

Chromecast as a listing word

Chromecast, sometimes written as Google Cast, is the name for streaming audio over Wi-Fi from a phone to a speaker. On a soundbar listing it appears as a word that names the protocol, the same way AirPlay 2 does. A soundbar with Chromecast can receive audio from apps on a phone or computer that support the protocol, such as music apps that show the cast icon.

Like AirPlay 2, Chromecast allows grouping speakers over Wi-Fi so audio plays in more than one room. The listing states the protocol word; the maker's page states which apps work, how grouping works and whether the soundbar can join a group with other Chromecast speakers you already own. To understand how this differs from a direct Bluetooth stream, read the Wi-Fi versus Bluetooth streaming article.

Maker names for whole-home systems

Makers often name their own whole-home system instead of, or alongside, AirPlay 2 and Chromecast. The Denon site describes HEOS as putting whole-home sound at your fingertips, with a free app to control streaming to every room. Sonos describes its speakers working together over Wi-Fi, starting with one room and adding more when ready. When a listing names a maker's system, it means the soundbar is built to work with the maker's own app and other speakers from that same system.

A listing may show both a maker system and a general protocol. For example, a Denon soundbar listing may mention HEOS as the system and AirPlay 2 as an additional streaming path. That means you control the bar through the maker's app and can also stream directly from Apple devices. Another example of a maker-backed multi-room standard is DTS Play-Fi, which is covered in the DTS Play-Fi multiroom guide.

Comparing two listings on stated details

To compare two soundbars on multi-room audio, read the title and bullet list for the protocol words and the maker's system name. A listing that names AirPlay 2, Chromecast or the maker's system is stating which paths the soundbar supports; a listing that names none of them leaves that detail unstated. The catalogue does not separate one protocol from another, so the guides compare only the stated words.

Not stated by the seller on a listing means the seller did not include that detail, not that the soundbar lacks it. When only the title appears, check the maker's page for the full feature list. The same soundbar may appear with different titles, so compare the maker's model name across listings before you decide.

How to choose a soundbar for whole-home audio

Start with the speakers you already have in the home. If you own other AirPlay 2 or Chromecast speakers, look for a soundbar listing that names the same protocol. If you are starting fresh, decide whether you want to stay with one maker's system, which means all speakers in different rooms will be controlled by one app.

Then match the bar to your TV and room. Multi-room audio is about the streaming path, not the channel layout, so a soundbar for whole-home audio still needs the layout that fits your TV: a 2.0 or 2.1 bar for a bedroom TV, a 5.1 or Dolby Atmos bar for a living room movie setup, with or without a separate subwoofer or rear speakers. The guides compare the stated details of each layout.

• Name the protocol you already use: AirPlay 2 or Chromecast
• Name the maker's system you want to stay with
• Read the listing title and bullet list for protocol words
• Read the maker's page for app and grouping details
• Match the channel layout to the TV before you buy

What to pick for your situation

Questions

Does AirPlay 2 on a listing mean the soundbar can play music in every room?

It means the soundbar can receive audio from Apple devices over Wi-Fi and can join other AirPlay 2 speakers. How many speakers group and how the app controls them is on the maker's page.

Do I need a smart speaker to use Chromecast?

No. Chromecast on a soundbar listing means the soundbar itself receives the stream over Wi-Fi from a phone app, so no separate smart speaker is needed.

Can one soundbar have both AirPlay 2 and Chromecast?

Yes, a listing can name both protocols or the maker's system plus one of them. The title and bullet list state which words appear.

What does it mean when a listing names no protocol?

The seller left that detail out, or it may appear on the maker's page. A missing word does not mean the soundbar lacks the feature.

Is AirPlay 2 the same as Bluetooth?

No. Bluetooth is a point-to-point wireless stream between a phone and one speaker; AirPlay 2 and Chromecast stream over Wi-Fi. The Bluetooth technology overview describes Bluetooth Classic as mainly used for wireless audio streaming, but grouping across rooms is a Wi-Fi protocol feature.

Which guide should I read for a whole-home system?

Start with the best soundbar guide for the layout, and read the premium guide if you want a maker's system. For a related standard, the DTS Play-Fi multiroom article explains another way makers name whole-home audio.