Imagine you’ve just won the bid to modernize the audio system for a mid-size performing arts center. The client’s goal is ambitious: deliver flawless sound and true inclusivity. They want every audience member, regardless of hearing ability or language, to have a crystal-clear audio experience. They’ve heard Auracast™ broadcast audio is the future, and they're looking to you to make it a reality.
But how do you assemble a robust Auracast™ system? What are the essential components, and what does an integrator need to specify for a seamless installation? Let's break down the anatomy of a modern broadcast audio solution.
The 3 Components of an Auracast™ System
An Auracast™ system is an ecosystem where each part plays a critical role. Understanding these four components is the key to designing a reliable and scalable solution.
Every Auracast™ system starts with a transmitter. This device takes an audio feed from your source—like a mixing console, or microphone system —and broadcasts it wirelessly using Bluetooth® Low Energy (LE) Audio, the technology foundation for Auracast™ broadcast audio as defined by the Bluetooth SIG. This is the anchor point of your entire design.
For an integrator, the key specifications are:
For a listener to access audio in an Auracast™ system, two core functions must work together: discovery and playback.
Auracast™ is distinct because the transmitter broadcasts the audio stream directly to receivers over Bluetooth® LE Audio, using the LC3 codec for efficient compression. This eliminates the need for intermediate relays or Wi-Fi infrastructures, minimizing potential points of failure. The result is low-latency audio delivery (typically under 30 ms device-to-ear), synchronized across unlimited endpoints.
Depending on device design, assistant and receiver functions may exist within a single unit (e.g., a smartphone acting as both discovery interface and playback device) or be split across two (e.g., a smartphone acting as the discovery interface, and earbuds or headsets as the assistant, with a dedicated Auracast™ receiver handling audio). For system designers, recognizing how these roles align is critical for ensuring an intuitive, scalable, and future-proof deployment.
Venue-Provided Receivers: The All-in-One Solution for Compliance
In public venues, you cannot assume every guest will arrive with an Auracast™ compatible device. That’s why dedicated receivers remain a must-have for ADA and global compliance.
Purpose-built devices, like the Williams AV Infinium™ Receiver, are elegantly simple because they act as both the Assistant and the Receiver in one unit. Guests just power on the device, use the built-in controls (Assistant) to select a channel, and immediately begin listening (Receiver).
As an integrator, your planning considerations include:
Personal Devices: The Assistant–Receiver Partnership
Auracast’s breakthrough is its ability to work seamlessly with devices guests already own. In this Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) model, the Assistant and Receiver are usually separate:
Here’s how it works in practice: A guest opens the Auracast menu on their phone (Assistant), selects “Spanish Translation,” and the phone instructs their earbuds (Receiver) to join that broadcast. Within seconds, the guest is connected with no extra hardware from the venue.
For integrators, the priority is to make this process intuitive. Clear signage, QR codes, and staff training ensure guests know exactly how to discover and connect to available streams.
An Auracast™ broadcast is useless if no one can find it. The "discovery layer" is how users connect. On supported devices, available Auracast™ streams appear in a list, similar to selecting a Wi-Fi network.
To create a frictionless user journey, the integrator must consider:
When all these components are in place, the system functions as a seamless ecosystem:
This harmony creates a system that scales effortlessly. Whether serving 50 people in a chapel or 5,000 in a stadium, Auracast™ delivers clear, low-latency audio to every listener. The result is true freedom of movement, inclusivity, and confidence that every seat in the venue is a great listening experience.
For AV integrators, designing with Auracast™ offers three crucial advantages:
While the technology is revolutionary, Williams AV understands that integrators need a reliable, streamlined solution. That’s why we created Infinium™, a purpose-built Auracast™ solution designed for professional AV.
Infinium™ unifies the core building blocks into a plug-and-play architecture:
Controller + Transmitter Design: The Infinium™ controller simplifies configuration, audio input, and network management, allowing the transmitter to focus solely on broadcasting high-quality audio.
With Infinium™, integrators can specify a complete, cohesive solution from a single vendor, confident that it will reduce setup time, minimize points of failure, and work perfectly from day one.
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