Multi-Room Audio: Creating a Whole-Home Sound System with Your iPhone

Turning your house into a connected audio haven is easier than ever with the iPhone and the right multi-room audio setup. Using your iPhone, you can control music in every room, sync audio across multiple speakers, and create a seamless listening experience throughout your home. In this guide, we’ll explore how to create a whole-home sound system using your iPhone, leveraging technologies like AirPlay 2 and multi-room speakers.

Index

• Why create a multi-room audio system with your iPhone?
• How does AirPlay 2 power multi-room audio?
• Best multi-room audio systems compatible with iPhone
• How to set up multi-room audio with iPhone
• Controlling your whole-home sound system with iPhone
• Best apps for multi-room audio control
• Conclusion

Why create a multi-room audio system with your iPhone?

A multi-room audio system lets you play music or other audio throughout your home from a central source, in this case, your iPhone. Whether you want music to follow you from the kitchen to the living room or you want different tunes playing in each room, multi-room audio systems provide flexibility, convenience, and an immersive sound experience.

Some key benefits of using your iPhone for multi-room audio include:

• Convenience: Your iPhone acts as a universal remote, controlling playback in different rooms.
• Seamless integration: You can control music from your favorite streaming services, like Apple Music, Spotify, or Pandora, right from your iPhone.
• Multi-speaker syncing: Sync audio across multiple speakers in different rooms to create a unified listening experience.
• Custom zones: Play different music in different rooms, or create zones for specific groups of speakers to enjoy varied experiences in your home.

How does AirPlay 2 power multi-room audio?

The foundation of Apple’s multi-room audio solution is AirPlay 2, a wireless streaming protocol that allows you to send audio from your iPhone to multiple speakers throughout your home.

Key features of AirPlay 2 for multi-room audio:

• Multi-room streaming: AirPlay 2 supports streaming music to multiple speakers at the same time. You can control which rooms play music and adjust the volume independently.
• High-quality audio: AirPlay 2 streams lossless audio, ensuring that your music sounds its best, regardless of which room you’re in.
• Seamless control: Control your entire system directly from the Control Center on your iPhone or the Home app, and even use Siri for voice commands like, “Hey Siri, play music in the kitchen and living room.”

Best multi-room audio systems compatible with iPhone

Here are some of the best multi-room audio systems and speakers that integrate perfectly with iPhone via AirPlay 2:

1. Sonos:

• Sonos One and Sonos Five speakers are among the most popular choices for multi-room setups. They offer excellent sound quality, support AirPlay 2, and allow you to expand your system over time.

2. Apple HomePod:

• The HomePod and HomePod mini are Apple’s own smart speakers. They natively support AirPlay 2, making them an ideal option for iPhone users who want seamless integration with Siri and the Home app.

3. Bose SoundTouch:

• Bose offers a range of high-quality speakers that support multi-room audio and work well with AirPlay 2, such as the Bose SoundTouch 10 and Bose Home Speaker 500.

4. Bang & Olufsen Beosound:

• For premium sound and design, Bang & Olufsen’s Beosound speakers, such as the Beosound 2 and Beosound Balance, provide top-tier performance with AirPlay 2 integration.

5. Marshall Uxbridge:

• Marshall speakers combine iconic design with modern features like AirPlay 2, making them great for multi-room audio setups that blend style with functionality.

How to set up multi-room audio with iPhone

Setting up a multi-room audio system with your iPhone is straightforward, thanks to AirPlay 2. Here’s how to get started:

1. Ensure your speakers support AirPlay 2

• To enable multi-room audio, make sure all your speakers support AirPlay 2. Most newer smart speakers from brands like Sonos, Bose, and Apple have AirPlay 2 compatibility.

2. Connect your speakers to the same Wi-Fi network

• Make sure that all your AirPlay 2-enabled speakers are connected to the same Wi-Fi network. This allows your iPhone to stream music to multiple speakers simultaneously.

3. Use the Home app to group speakers

• Open the Home app on your iPhone.
• Add all your AirPlay 2-enabled speakers to the app.
• Once added, you can group speakers by room or create custom zones to control different areas of your home.

4. Start streaming music

• Open your favorite music app (such as Apple Music, Spotify, or Pandora).
• In the playback screen, tap the AirPlay icon.
• Select the speakers or rooms where you want the music to play. You can choose one or multiple speakers and adjust the volume for each room individually.

Controlling your whole-home sound system with iPhone

Once your multi-room audio system is set up, controlling it is easy using your iPhone:

• Control Center: Swipe down from the top-right corner of your iPhone screen (or up on older models) to access the Control Center. From here, tap the AirPlay icon and manage audio in multiple rooms.
• Home app: Use the Home app to control individual speakers, adjust volume levels, and create groups of speakers for specific zones.
• Siri commands: For hands-free control, use Siri. You can say things like “Hey Siri, play jazz in the living room” or “Hey Siri, turn off the music in the bedroom.”

Example Siri commands for multi-room audio:

• “Hey Siri, play music everywhere.”
• “Hey Siri, turn down the volume in the kitchen.”
• “Hey Siri, stop playing music in the living room.”

Best apps for multi-room audio control

In addition to Apple’s Home app, here are a few other apps that can help you manage your multi-room audio system:

1. Sonos app:

• The Sonos app offers intuitive controls for all Sonos speakers, including room-by-room playback control, volume adjustment, and grouping of speakers for multi-room listening.

2. Bose Music app:

• For Bose speakers, the Bose Music app lets you control multi-room setups, access streaming services, and fine-tune your sound preferences for each speaker.

3. Spotify:

• Spotify supports multi-room audio when using AirPlay 2-enabled speakers. You can manage playback across multiple rooms directly from the Spotify app.

Conclusion

Creating a whole-home sound system with your iPhone is easier than ever, thanks to AirPlay 2 and a wide range of compatible speakers. Whether you’re syncing audio in every room or customizing zones with different music in different spaces, your iPhone provides seamless control over your multi-room audio experience. With just a few taps in the Home app, Control Center, or via Siri, you can create a personalized, immersive audio environment throughout your entire home.