Imagine being able to share your favorite music or podcast with friends without handing over an earbud or tuning into a gym’s TV audio directly through your own headphones. This is the promise of Auracast, a groundbreaking Bluetooth technology that’s set to transform our audio experiences. If you’re curious about what is Auracast exactly, and how it works, you’re in the right place.
In this guide, we’ll explain everything you need to know about the Auracast Bluetooth audio technology, from how it works and its key applications to the devices that support it, so you can see how it’s poised to change the way we listen.
What Is Auracast and Why It Matters?
If you’ve ever wished you could listen to the same audio as your friends without sharing headphones, or if you’ve struggled to hear audio in a noisy public space, Auracast might be the solution you’ve been waiting for. So, what is Auracast?
Developed by the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG), Auracast™ is a next-gen Bluetooth audio technology that allows one device to broadcast audio to multiple Bluetooth receivers at once. This means that a single phone, TV, laptop, or music player can send audio to a group of people with their own Bluetooth headphones, speakers, or hearing aids.
But why does this matter? Well, think of it as a “radio station” for more personalized audio: you tune into the stream you want, whether it’s a friend’s playlist, a live gym class, or a silent TV in a public space. No tangled wires or pairing hassles needed. Auracast audio isn’t just a cool feature—it’s a game-changer that makes sharing audio easier, more flexible, and more accessible.
How Does Auracast Work?
Now that you know what Auracast is, you might be wondering how it actually works. It’s pretty simple when you break it down, and the technology behind it is both smart and efficient.
At its core, Auracast uses Bluetooth Low Energy (LE) Audio standard and LC3 Codec to broadcast audio from a single device to multiple Bluetooth receivers. Instead of the traditional one-to-one Bluetooth connection, where one device (like your phone) pairs with just one pair of headphones, Auracast creates an open broadcast that many different compatible devices can detect and join, similar to selecting a Wi-Fi network.
Here’s a more technical look at how it works:
1. The Broadcast Begins:An Auracast transmitter or “broadcaster”—such as a phone, TV, or public audio system—starts broadcasting. It sends out a one-to-many Bluetooth signal that contains key information like the broadcast name, content, codec configuration, and audio streams (e.g., stereo left and right).
2. Scanning and Selecting a Broadcast:Now on how to connect to Auracast, Auracast assistants—essentially the smart systems built into your devices (a smartphone or smartwatch)—scan the air for available broadcasts. You’ll see a user interface, similar to Wi-Fi networks, that lets you choose which broadcast to join, making it easy to find the right audio stream.
3. Joining the Broadcast:Once you select a broadcast, the assistant provides your listening device (like headphones, earbuds, or hearing aids) with the info it needs to join. From there, you’re ready to enjoy the audio without any complicated pairing steps.
Alternatively, you can skip the scanning by joining via a shared link or QR code. For instance, if your friend is streaming a podcast from their phone, they can share a link or QR code for you to join their Auracast channel with your headphones.
Public and Private
Auracast supports both public and private broadcast channels. Public streams can be accessed by anyone, while private broadcasts require encryption, similar to password-protected Wi-Fi. Multiple Auracast streams can coexist in the same space without interference, ensuring smooth audio access in places like airports, theaters, and conference rooms.
Latency
Leveraging the LC3 codec, Auracast latency is extremely low, offering a delay of less than 40 milliseconds (ms.) in some cases. This low latency ensures that you experience audio synchrony, particularly important for scenarios like live lectures, presentations, or watching videos without noticeable lip-sync issues.
Key Applications of Auracast
Auracast is more than just a cool new way to stream audio, it opens up a variety of exciting possibilities across different settings. Here are some of the key applications where Auracast is set to make a real impact:
Public Spaces
Imagine being in a crowded airport or a busy train station and needing to hear important announcements. With Auracast, audio can be broadcast directly to your Bluetooth headphones, ensuring that you never miss a crucial update—even with all the background noise. The same goes for stadiums or arenas where you could tune into commentary or music, all tailored to your preferences.
Group Listening
Ever wanted to listen to music or watch a movie with friends, but you’re all in different spots or just prefer your own headphones? With Auracast, you can all join the same audio broadcast, enjoying the same sound while keeping your own devices and volume settings. It’s perfect for social gatherings, movie nights, or road trips where you want everyone to enjoy the same experience without crowding around a single speaker.
Enhanced Accessibility
For those with hearing impairments, Auracast offers an incredible opportunity for clearer and more customized audio. In environments like theaters, museums, or lecture halls, Auracast allows individuals to connect directly to audio streams for enhanced clarity. This makes public audio sources more accessible and ensures that everyone, regardless of their hearing needs, can engage with the content.
Parties and Home Entertainment
Wanna sync multiple Bluetooth speakers together effortlessly for parties? Unlike traditional Bluetooth pairing, where you’re limited to one or two devices, Auracast allows you to control all connected speakers from a single device. This means better audio quality, lower latency, and a more stable connection across multiple speakers—perfect for filling large spaces with sound.
With Auracast speakers, you can also enhance your home theater experience by connecting multiple speakers for synchronized, room-filling sound. Unlike traditional Bluetooth, which can introduce delays or require complex setup, Auracast keeps everything in sync effortlessly, making movies, gaming, and music streaming more immersive than ever.
Fitness and Gym Environments
In fitness centers or group workout classes, there’s often a mix of different types of audio playing—from instructions and silent TVs to music—making it tough to focus. With Auracast, you can tune into a specific audio stream that works best for you, whether it’s workout instructions, music, or even a live commentary feed. It’s a way to make workouts more personalized, with no need to worry about competing sounds.
What Devices Support Auracast?
For a device to support Auracast, it must be equipped with Bluetooth 5.2 or later and support the Public Broadcast Profile (PBP) within the Bluetooth Low Energy (LE) Audio standard. While Bluetooth 5.2 (released in 2020) is available in a wide range of modern devices, not many of them support Auracast.
So, which devices can actually use this innovative technology? Here’s a rundown of Auracast compatible devices:
Auracast Transmitters
An Auracast transmitter is a device that sends out an Auracast broadcast. This could be anything from a smartphone, laptop, or TV to even a public address or sound system.
Many modern smartphones and tablets are equipped with Bluetooth LE Audio and Auracast. For example, Samsung has confirmed that its Galaxy S23 and later, Galaxy Z Fold 5/6, Galaxy Z Flip 5/6, Galaxy Tab S9 FE and later, and even older devices with the One UI 6.1 update will support the feature.
Companies like Listen Technologies, Ampetronic, and Opus provide public transmitters that can send out broadcasts to multiple receivers in range, while Hisense has released Auracast TVs.
Auracast Assistants
Auracast assistants help you find and connect to available broadcasts. Many devices like smartphones and tablets have native support for this, but you can also use apps from companies like JBL and Sennheiser. These apps act as your personal guide, helping you switch between multiple broadcasts in real-time, similar to how you connect to Wi-Fi networks in public spaces.
Auracast Receivers
Once you’ve joined an Auracast broadcast, you need a compatible receiver. These could be headphones, earbuds, speakers, or even hearing aids. Major audio brands like soundcore are rolling out Auracast-enabled headphones and Bluetooth speakers.
FAQs
What is the difference between Auracast and Bluetooth?
Auracast is a new feature of Bluetooth Low Energy (LE) Audio that allows one device to broadcast audio to multiple receivers simultaneously, unlike traditional Bluetooth, which requires a one-to-one pairing. This makes Auracast ideal for public spaces, assistive listening, and group audio sharing, whereas standard Bluetooth is primarily designed for private, device-to-device connections.
How to connect speakers to Auracast?
To connect speakers to Auracast, first ensure your speakers are Auracast-compatible, like the Rave 3S from soundcore. Open the Auracast assistant app or Bluetooth settings on your device to scan for available broadcasts. Once you find the broadcast you want, select it, and choose your speakers from the list of available devices. After that, you’ll be connected and ready to enjoy the audio!
How many devices can you connect to an Auracast transmitter?
Auracast supports an unlimited number of connected devices in theory, as long as they are within range and compatible with the broadcast. This makes it ideal for large-scale applications like public announcements, assistive listening, and multi-user streaming.
What’s the range of Auracast?
The range of Auracast is typically around 100 meters (approximately 328 feet), which is significantly greater than the standard Bluetooth range of about 10 meters. This extended range allows Auracast to broadcast audio across larger areas, making it ideal for public spaces like airports, gyms, or outdoor settings.
Conclusion
As we’ve discovered, Auracast is not just an upgrade to Bluetooth; it’s a game-changer for wireless audio. By enabling multiple devices to connect to the same audio stream without pairing, it enhances accessibility, group listening, and public broadcasting like never before.
Whether you’re looking to share media with friends, sync multiple speakers for parties, or need clearer audio in a bustling public space, understanding what Auracast is and how it works equips you with the knowledge to take advantage of this innovative technology.
