What Is Auracast? How Bluetooth Broadcast Audio Works

Imagine a TV in a gym with the sound muted, a group of friends wanting to hear the same audio, or several speakers playing from one source. Normally, each setup needs its own connection method.

Auracast is designed to make that easier by broadcasting Bluetooth audio to multiple compatible receivers at the same time.

So, what is Auracast, and how is it different from the Bluetooth you already use? Below, we’ll look at how broadcasts work, what devices can transmit or receive them, and where the technology is useful in everyday listening and public spaces.

Key Takeaways

• Auracast is a Bluetooth LE Audio broadcast feature that lets one compatible transmitter make audio available to many nearby compatible receivers.
• A typical setup can involve a transmitter, a receiver and an Auracast assistant that helps you find and select broadcasts, although an assistant is not required in every implementation.
• Bluetooth 5.2 alone does not guarantee Auracast. The product must support the required LE Audio broadcast features and explicitly implement Auracast.
• Useful applications include shared listening, silent public TVs, assistive listening in venues and multi-speaker playback.
• The soundcore Rave 3S uses Auracast for multi-speaker playback: two units can play left/right stereo, while three or more connected units play unified mono.

What Is Auracast?

Auracast™ broadcast audio is a Bluetooth capability that lets one audio source broadcast sound to multiple nearby compatible devices at the same time. Instead of pairing one phone, TV or laptop directly with one pair of headphones, an Auracast™ transmitter can make its audio available for nearby compatible earbuds, headphones, speakers or hearing devices to join.

Auracast™ is part of Bluetooth LE Audio, the newer Bluetooth audio architecture that operates over Bluetooth Low Energy. Its broadcast function changes the usual one-to-one Bluetooth connection into a one-to-many system, allowing an unlimited number of compatible receivers within range to join the same broadcast.

In practice, joining an Auracast™ broadcast can work more like choosing a Wi-Fi network than traditional Bluetooth pairing. A compatible device can discover available broadcasts and let you select the one you want to hear.

This could allow several people to listen to the same TV from their own earbuds, hear audio from a public screen, follow announcements in a venue or share audio from a personal device without passing around one pair of headphones.

The important point is that both the broadcast source and the receiving setup need compatible Auracast™ support. Having Bluetooth alone does not automatically mean a device can transmit or receive Auracast™ broadcasts.

How Does Auracast Work?

The easiest way to understand Auracast is to separate the system into three roles. These roles do not always have to be three separate physical devices.

Bluetooth SIG’s official how-it-works guide says an unlimited number of in-range Auracast receivers can join the same broadcast because the transmitter sends one broadcast signal rather than maintaining an individual connection to every listener.

An assistant makes discovery easier by showing available broadcasts in a way Bluetooth SIG compares with selecting a Wi-Fi network. Once a receiver has the information it needs, it listens directly to the broadcast; the phone does not have to remain in the audio path.

Auracast vs Regular Bluetooth: What Is Different?

Traditional Bluetooth audio and Auracast can exist on the same device, but they solve different connection problems. The main difference is whether the source creates a direct link to a specific device or makes an audio broadcast available to compatible receivers.

Auracast does not replace ordinary Bluetooth pairing. It adds a broadcast option for situations where joining one stream is more practical than creating a separate connection for every receiver.

What Can You Use Auracast For?

Auracast is most useful when several people want to hear the same audio on their own devices, or when a public venue needs to make audio available without playing it through loudspeakers.

Share Audio with Other People

A compatible phone, tablet, TV or other source can broadcast the same audio to multiple Auracast-enabled earbuds, headphones or speakers. Two people could watch the same film through separate earbuds, for example, while a group could listen to the same music without pairing each device individually.

Private broadcasts can also be protected so that only people with the required broadcast code can join.

Listen to TVs and Audio in Public Places

Auracast can give normally silent screens their own personal audio channel. In an airport, gym, waiting area or other equipped venue, you could choose the broadcast for a nearby TV and listen through compatible earbuds or headphones rather than relying on room speakers.

The same approach can be used for museum tours, conference presentations, live events and public announcements, allowing visitors to select the audio they want to hear on their own compatible device.

Play Audio Through Multiple Speakers

Auracast can broadcast one audio stream to multiple compatible speakers. This makes it possible to extend the same music or programme around a room or shared space without creating a separate Bluetooth connection for every speaker.

Improve Access to Audio in Venues

Auracast is also being introduced as an assistive listening system. It can send speech, music or announcements directly to compatible hearing aids, hearing implants, earbuds, headphones or other receivers, helping reduce the effect of background noise and room reverberation.

In the UK, RNID notes that some Auracast-equipped venues can lend visitors a neckloop receiver, allowing people with telecoil-enabled hearing devices to access the broadcast even if Auracast is not built directly into their hearing aid.

RNID currently encourages venues to provide both hearing loops and Auracast during the transition, so more visitors can access assistive audio.

What Devices Support Auracast?

To use Auracast, the products involved need specific Bluetooth LE Audio broadcast support. Auracast relies on Bluetooth features introduced with Bluetooth Core 5.2 together with the relevant Public Broadcast Profile, so look for Auracast support in the product specifications or the Auracast logo when choosing compatible equipment.

Auracast support can appear across a wide range of devices, including:

• Smartphones and tablets, such as Samsung Galaxy S23 and later flagship phones and Galaxy Tab S9 and later flagship tablets, which can support Auracast broadcasting or help you find and join nearby broadcasts.
• TVs and laptops, which can broadcast programme audio to compatible listening devices.
• Earbuds and headphones, which can receive personal or public Auracast broadcasts.
• Bluetooth speakers, which can receive the same broadcast for multi-speaker playback.
• Hearing aids and hearing implants, including both NHS and privately supplied compatible hearing devices.
• Standalone transmitters and receivers, which can add Auracast to equipment that does not have it built in. Bluetooth SIG specifically notes that aftermarket transmitters can be used to add Auracast broadcast capability to TVs and other audio sources.

For everyday users, the simplest check is the exact product specification. If you want to listen to an Auracast broadcast, your earbuds, headphones or other listening device need compatible receiving support; if you want your TV or another device to share audio, it needs Auracast broadcast support or a compatible external transmitter.

Also check whether the feature is already enabled. RNID notes that some products advertised as “Auracast ready” still require a future software or firmware update before Auracast can actually be used.

How Do You Use Auracast?

The exact buttons and menus differ by product, but the general process is straightforward:

1. Confirm that the source and receiving devices explicitly support Auracast in the roles you need.
2. Update device firmware and companion apps before setup.
3. Start the Auracast broadcast on the transmitter or host device.
4. Use an Auracast assistant or the receiver’s own controls to find the broadcast, if required.
5. Join the broadcast and confirm that the receiver or speakers are using the intended audio mode.

For speakers, also check the manufacturer’s rules for stereo channels and larger groups. Auracast provides the broadcast framework, but a speaker brand can still define how its own products assign channels, synchronise controls, or combine models.

Use Auracast to Expand Party Sound with soundcore Rave 3S

For a party that needs more coverage than one speaker can provide, the soundcore Rave 3S puts Auracast into a practical multi-speaker setup.

You can link additional Rave 3S speakers as the space or crowd grows, while each unit delivers 200W party sound and a built-in karaoke setup with AI Vocal Removal and wireless microphones.

Best for: House parties, karaoke nights and larger gatherings where you want powerful sound that can expand across multiple speakers.

Key features:

• Expand your sound with Auracast: Press the Auracast button on each Rave 3S to connect multiple units. Two speakers can play separate left and right channels for stereo, while three or more play the same mono audio across the group.
• Fill larger spaces with 200W sound: A 6.5-inch woofer and three 2.5-inch full-range drivers deliver powerful output, with BassUp™ adding extra low-end impact for parties and gatherings.
• Turn any song into karaoke: AI Vocal Removal lets you reduce the original vocals in tracks from your favourite music apps, so you can sing along or take the lead.
• Sing with two wireless microphones: Two included wireless microphones support duets, with anti-feedback technology and vocal controls designed for clearer karaoke performances.
• Keep the party going for up to 12 hours: The rechargeable battery provides up to 12 hours of playtime, while IPX4 water resistance adds protection against splashes.

For more listening setups, explore our wider range of Bluetooth speakers, from compact portable models to larger speakers built for parties and outdoor gatherings.

Conclusion

So, what is Auracast? It is Bluetooth audio moving from one-to-one connections into broadcast. One compatible source can make audio available to many nearby compatible receivers, whether those are speakers at a party, earbuds listening to a silent TV or hearing devices receiving venue audio.

The main buying rule is simple: do not rely on the Bluetooth version alone. Check that Auracast is explicitly supported, enabled and useful for the role you need.

FAQs

What is Auracast in one sentence?

Auracast is a Bluetooth LE Audio broadcast feature that lets one compatible transmitter make audio available to many nearby compatible receivers without creating a separate traditional Bluetooth pairing for every listener. Depending on the setup, a phone or another Auracast assistant can help you discover and choose the broadcast before the receiver joins it.

How many devices can connect to Auracast?

Bluetooth SIG states that an unlimited number of in-range Auracast receivers can join one broadcast because the transmitter sends a single broadcast signal rather than maintaining a separate connection to each listener. In practice, usable coverage still depends on the transmitter, receiver, antenna design, building layout and radio environment.

Do all Bluetooth 5.2 devices support Auracast?

No. Bluetooth 5.2 introduced core features that Auracast can use, but Auracast is not automatically enabled on every Bluetooth 5.2 device. The product also needs the relevant LE Audio broadcast profile support and manufacturer implementation. Check the official specifications for Auracast by name rather than assuming that a newer Bluetooth version is enough.

Is Auracast useful for people with hearing loss?

Yes, when both the venue and listener have compatible equipment. RNID lists Auracast receivers in hearing aids, hearing implants, earbuds, headphones and neckloops, and some venues can provide a receiver for visitors who need one. RNID also encourages venues to retain hearing loops alongside Auracast so people with different hearing devices can use the system that works for them.