The Next Frontier in Wireless Audio for Venues and Integrators
Auracast™ broadcast audio is one of the most significant wireless audio innovations to have arrived in the Pro AV space recently. Built on Bluetooth® LE Audio, Auracast™ introduces the ability to stream high-quality audio from a single transmitter to an unlimited number of compatible receivers—including hearing aids, smartphones, earbuds, and other personal devices.
For systems integrators, resellers, and venue operators, this isn't just a new feature. It's a scalable, cost-effective, and user-friendly approach to delivering assistive listening and multilingual audio in classrooms, theaters, houses of worship, transit centers, and more.
In this blog, we’ll explain what makes Auracast™ different, how it works, and why it represents a significant leap forward in accessible audio for professional AV environments.
The Evolution of Bluetooth® Audio Streaming
Bluetooth® technology has been a key player in wireless communication for over 25 years, with five major releases shaping how we connect devices. The early versions—known as Classic Bluetooth®—helped spark the wireless audio revolution.
With version 4.0, the Bluetooth® Special Interest Group (SIG) introduced Bluetooth® Low Energy (LE), designed to reduce power consumption. While it was a significant step forward, Bluetooth® LE still came with important limitations for audio applications:
- Limited broadcast range (typically 10 to 30 meters)
- Noticeable latency (often exceeding 100ms)
- One-to-one device pairing only
These constraints made Bluetooth® LE less suitable for environments where audio needs to reach large audiences or remain tightly synchronized with video.
To address these challenges, the Bluetooth® SIG developed a new audio standard that significantly reduces latency, extends broadcast range, and enables multi-stream, one-to-many audio transmission. This advancement laid the foundation for Auracast™ broadcast audio—a transformative leap forward in wireless audio delivery.
What Is Auracast™?
Auracast™ is a broadcast audio protocol built into Bluetooth® LE Audio. It allows a single transmitter to send one or more audio streams to an unlimited number of Auracast™-compatible receivers, wirelessly and in real-time.
Instead of pairing like traditional Bluetooth®, Auracast™ lets users scan for available streams—just like finding a public Wi-Fi network. This makes it easy for people to opt in and listen using their own devices.
Technically speaking, Auracast™ supports:
- One-to-many broadcast (single transmitter to many receivers)
- Sub-40ms latency for real-time applications
- Audio range of up to 100m
- Multiple audio streams in the same location
- Low power operation is beneficial for battery-dependent hearing aids and wearables
What Makes Auracast™ Different?
From a professional AV standpoint, Auracast™ introduces a set of powerful features that surpass the limitations of traditional wireless audio systems. Here are five key advantages:
- One-to-Many Broadcast Capability
A single Auracast™ transmitter can support an unlimited number of listeners at once—eliminating the need for one-to-one pairing that previous Bluetooth® standards required. - Extended Range
Auracast™ offers significantly increased broadcast range compared to traditional Bluetooth®, reaching well beyond 30 meters in ideal conditions. This makes it a viable solution for larger venues such as auditoriums, airports, lecture halls, and transit hubs where consistent, high-quality audio needs to be delivered across wide areas. - Seamless User Access
Listeners can easily join an available broadcast using their own Auracast™-compatible smartphones, earbuds, or hearing aids. This frictionless access empowers more users—including those with hearing loss—to benefit from broadcast audio. - Multiple Concurrent Streams
Auracast™ supports multiple simultaneous audio streams in a space, allowing venues to provide multilingual content, audio descriptions, or alternate program feeds—each accessible by the user’s device of choice. - Ultra-Low Latency
With latency less than 40 milliseconds, Auracast™ delivers audio that's in sync with video and live performances—making it ideal for theaters, houses of worship, and broadcast environments.
"With Auracast, public spaces like airports, theaters, and places of worship can now broadcast audio directly to users' personal devices." — AV Technology Magazine
Real-World Applications for Auracast
The introduction of Auracast™ broadcast audio in public spaces is unlocking powerful new opportunities for accessibility and inclusion. While it’s a natural fit for assistive listening, Auracast also enables compelling use cases such as multi-language broadcasting and audio description, enhancing live experiences for all attendees. This flexible, standards-based technology is already being adopted across industries:
- Education: Teachers can transmit real-time audio directly to students’ devices—improving focus, comprehension, and accessibility. This supports both assistive listening needs and overall audio clarity in classrooms, lecture halls, and auditoriums.
- Theater: Multiple audio streams can be broadcast simultaneously—one with the standard mix, another with amplified dialogue for patrons with hearing loss, and a third offering audio description for those with vision impairments.
- Museums & Guided Tours: Visitors can listen to tour narration in their preferred language using their own smartphones or Auracast-enabled earbuds—no extra hardware needed.
- Public Transit: Travel updates, safety announcements, and wayfinding information can be streamed directly to passengers in noisy environments like airports, train stations, or bus terminals.
- Houses of Worship: Congregants can access language interpretation or enhanced audio that suits their hearing preferences, making services more inclusive and engaging for everyone.
The Future Is Auracast™
Auracast™ is not just another Bluetooth® update. It’s a new standard for shared audio, accessibility, and Pro AV integration.
For AV professionals, early adoption offers a competitive advantage. Projects that incorporate Auracast now will be ready for the wave of compatible consumer and commercial devices expected to arrive in 2025 and beyond.
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