Apple AirPlay 2: Does it change things for multi-room audio?

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From what I've read on airplay 2, it is believe that apple will have the ability to send audio from your iPhone/ipad to multiple speakers and have them play in sync. Now, this could be just a feature of the homepod, as clearly Apple wants multiple Homepods to play in sync. However, does this also mean that other airplay 2 compatable speakers will be able to play in sync? For example, your Homepod, Bose speaker, and Sonos can all play in sync. I've read some things suggesting that's the case.

This does somewhat make sense. Airplay 2 apparently requires compatible speakers to have a lot of memory available for buffering. If you want lots of unlike speakers to play in sync, having a big buffer would likely make that more easily accomplished, as I understand it. I don't have the right equipment to test this out personally, not even sure if there are enough airplay 2 compatible speakers that have been released to test it out.

Going on the assumption that this is true, how does that change things in the world of multi-room audio? If Apple 2 can create mutiroom audio using speakers from multiple brands, and do a decent job of it, does that impact how people shop for multi room audio? I don't know that it drives people to buy Homepods, but perhaps they opt to get a Bose instead of Sonos, for example, to add on to their existing system?

As well, does this motivate Amazon and Google to come up with their own multi-room, multi-brand audio protocol? This definitely is something that customers want. Customers have been asked why they can't group echos and sonos speakers together since Sonos went live with Alexa voice control. Does that eventually cause a shift in the way customers think about mutliroom audio. In the same way they think about using Amazon, Google, or Apple for voice control, will the think of the options for multiroom being Amazon, Google, or Apple as well?

Don't get me wrong, I don't see Airplay 2, or the theoretically other multi-room audio protocols, being superior to Sonos alone. However, name recognition and marketing matters, and the others have that advantage. I can see where people would go with Apple for example, even knowing that it's not as good, just because they like the name.

I'd also say that Sonos has a strong advantage still regarding options for music sources, options for voice control (coming soon), and HT audio. Sonos seems to be focusing mostly on voice control and HT. The 'works with Sonos' program that Onkyo is in, as well as the new product announcement in a couple days as a sign that Sonos is definitely looking at Home Theatre features as a way to differentiate themselves from the competition.

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Ken_Griffiths

melvimbe

A number of years ago, we saw AirPrint from Apple and a number of printer manufacturers chose to add that print method to their printers. Their packaging came with the AirPrint logo.

Now we have AirPlay-2 and many manufacturers look like they are adding it to their speakers. I’m sure their packaging will eventually show an AirPlay-2 logo aswell.

The user expectation is that all speakers will work together and be 'selectable' in the iOS AirPlay dialog box.

There are lots of screenshots online already, where I have seen two devices selected at the same time in the new AirPlay dialog box, like an Apple HomePod and an Apple TV, for example. I appreciate those are the same manufacturer, but they are different hardware. So my money is on the fact that the user will be able to 'mix and match' speaker brands.

I think from a listening and cosmetic point of view though, I would personally stick to one particular brand... er ... Sonos is my choice, as it looks like all their old legacy speakers, Play:1/Play:3 etc. will be capable of playing AirPlay audio sources, via 'room grouping' options. This 'grouping' (Airplay) feature will probably put them way ahead of any of their competitors.

The only downside I am seeing presently, is that AirPlay 2 still looks like the audio plays via/thru the controller device and that device cannot therefore be taken away from the network whilst the music is playing, but I understand there is one exception to this rule and that is when Apple Music is sent to HomePod(s). In that instance, the audio goes direct from the Apple servers to the HomePod device and not via the controller.

Ken_Griffiths

I perhaps should also add these further remarks to my post above ...

That all the Sonos App's own (non AirPlay) built-in (numerous) music services, like Spotify, Deezer, Amazon Music, Tidal, Tune-in etc etc... and even the integrated Apple Music Service, each send their audio direct from their own respective online servers and stream it straight to the Sonos Speaker hardware and that audio-stream, is also not routed via the Sonos controller.

So that’s another BIG PLUS and reason to buy Sonos, I think. ...and I haven’t even mentioned about things like comparing speaker hardware prices yet !

Smilja

[...] There are lots of screenshots online already, where I have seen two devices selected at the same time in the new AirPlay dialog box, like an Apple HomePod and an Apple TV, for example. I appreciate those are the same manufacturer, but they are different hardware. So my money is on the fact that the user will be able to 'mix and match' speaker brands. [...]

Apple are using Airplay2 also for grouping and stereo pairing. Otherwise there's no difference to Sonos' method of grouping; you can also group a Play:5 (1st Gen) and a Play:5 (2nd Gen) for instance.

»And the world is like an apple whirling silently in space, Like the circles that you find in the windmills of your mind.« (›Windmills Of Your Mind‹ [1967]. Music by Michel Legrand ; English lyrics written by Alan & Marilyn Bergman)

Ken_Griffiths

Apple are using Airplay2 also for grouping and stereo pairing. Otherwise there's no difference to Sonos' method of grouping; you can also group a Play:5 (1st Gen) and a Play:5 (2nd Gen) for instance.

Yes exactly, that really reinforces the point too, that we should be able to 'mix and match' our devices. Can’t wait to see it in action.

Smilja

Yes exactly, that really reinforces the point too, that we should be able to 'mix and match' our devices. Can’t wait to see it in action.

We'll see, if Sonos are going to introduce Airplay2 as a second/parallel method of grouping their speakers (what would be a fundamental requirement for such a scenario). I very much doubt it, though.

»And the world is like an apple whirling silently in space, Like the circles that you find in the windmills of your mind.« (›Windmills Of Your Mind‹ [1967]. Music by Michel Legrand ; English lyrics written by Alan & Marilyn Bergman)

Ken_Griffiths

Smilja,

My thoughts are you will be able to Group Rooms in the Sonos App (or maybe via voice command ??) .. so it could be a Sonos One, together with a Play:3, for example, and in your iOS device AirPlay dialog list it will show as a speaker (same has HomePod does) and when you press 'play' the audio will come out of both grouped speakers ... that’s my guess.

I don’t think you will be able to do it though if the Sonos One speakers are part of a Home Theatre setup as you can’t currently unbond those and group them with other speakers.. well not very easily at the moment.

It’s all guesswork of course, but I am hoping I can Group my Apple TV with my Sonos One, I think that will be good if I can watch YouTube or Netflix on my iPad or Apple TV and the audio goes to my Sonos speakers in sync with the video ... we shall see.

I guess we will have to ensure we don’t set our expectations too high, as it is fairly new stuff and it looks like Apple initially has had some teething issues with it in recent months and had to delay the rollout.

melvimbeAuthor

Yes exactly, that really reinforces the point too, that we should be able to 'mix and match' our devices. Can’t wait to see it in action.

We'll see, if Sonos are going to introduce Airplay2 as a second/parallel method of grouping their speakers (what would be a fundamental requirement for such a scenario). I very much doubt it, though.

I doubt they are going to advertise that as feature. First off you wouldn't be able to initiate an 'airplay grouping; from the Sonos app. Or at least, it would be very confusing if you were. Second, it would only be able to group the speakers that are compatible with airplay 2. Third, as has been pointed out, it's dependent on streaming from your phone. Overall, it's going to be an inferior method of grouping I'd say. I suppose they could advertise it as a way to group Sonos with other brands, but I don't know that they want to really advertise that, and Apple can do that advertising for them.

I believe that airplay 2 could end up being sort of a dud. It may not work all that well. If it does, it may not be something users get used to using to group speakers for multi-room. I do think it's going to be a big enough threat, that Amazon and Google will follow sit. Amazon's new speaker SDK may even allow you to do multiroom across multiple brand names as well. I wouldn't be surprised. I guess I'm saying that I don't think Airplay 2 itself is going to be that much of a game changer, but the competitors that trying and follow could change the market.

If the general consumer believes there is no difference between Sonos multi-room tech, and Apple (or whoever's multi-room) that is cheaper, than it could easily effect their buying choices. BTW, it's worth noting that airplay 2 only works on high end equipment. Right now, the Sonos One is the cheapest speaker or amp you can buy that is airplay 2 compatible.
.

Danny

Ken_Griffiths

I don’t envisage for one minute, the grouping of different brands of speakers via the Sonos App... the Sonos grouping/pairing/bonding is unique, quick and simple.

I just see there being the 'extra layer' of grouping all brands of AirPlay devices together via the iOS dialog box (see screenshot I got from Google images).

It looks like a pair of AirPlay HomePod speakers grouped with another type of speaker ... this is what I’m hoping for.

Ken_Griffiths

Oh by the way, in that google image in my last post, I wonder what the 'office' bit is at the bottom of the iPhone window and the kitchen bit is at the top?? ... is this music playing in another two different rooms perhaps?

Why is one at the top and the other is below the main AirPlay dialog box. That has me a little confused, if anyone has any ideas about that.

Sonosjunkie

Prodigy III

Why is one at the top and the other is below the main AirPlay dialog box. That has me a little confused, if anyone has any ideas about that.

Simply look like other rooms that are currently playing music but not in a multi room group. Why the ocon is dofferent I can’t speculate. That graphic looks like two rooms are already playing dofferent content in isolation and that the other 4 devices were in a group, but two have been deselected. I don’t yet have any AP2 capable devices to test. Maybe before this week is out we’ll get a Sonos update so can mess about and see how ot works.

Lounge: 5.1 Arc HT (2x Subs and 2xP5 rears) with LGOLED77CX. Kitchen: 2xOneW, 2xP3w with SubW. Bedroom: 2xP1s. Office/Studio: 2xP5w. Snug 2xP1s. Garage: 2xOneW. Also 3x Moves.

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