Background
AirPlay 1 vs AirPlay 2, for people with more than one speaker
The version number matters for exactly one reason: whether several speakers can be held to the same moment. Everything else about the two is close enough not to care.
What actually changed
AirPlay 1 was designed to move audio from one device to one receiver. It works well and it is still in service in a lot of houses. Its weakness is that each stream carries its own idea of time — put two receivers on two streams and nothing forces them to agree.
SoundFerry sends the same audio to multiple network outputs and provides per-speaker synchronization delay adjustments. Check timing on your own device and network configuration.
The deeper buffer is also why AirPlay 2 survives a wireless hiccup that would have caused an audible dropout on AirPlay 1 — and why the delay between pressing play and hearing sound is a couple of seconds.
Side by side
| Feature | AirPlay 1 | AirPlay 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Introduced | 2004 (as AirTunes) | 2018 |
| Multi-speaker groups | Not defined | Core feature |
| Clock synchronisation | Per-stream, loose | PTP-style timing; verify your setup |
| Buffering | Depends on receiver and settings | Depends on receiver and settings |
| Audio format | ALAC, 44.1 kHz / 16-bit | ALAC, 44.1 kHz / 16-bit |
| Typical devices | AirPort Express, older receivers, shairport-sync | HomePod, Apple TV 4K, Sonos (2018+), WiiM, most modern hi-fi |
| Works with SoundFerry | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stays locked with other speakers | Check your setup | Check your setup |
Questions
Can I mix AirPlay 1 and AirPlay 2 devices in the same group?
Mixed groups require testing with your devices and network. Timing can differ between receivers; use per-speaker delay adjustment and listen in adjacent rooms.
If they are, put the AirPlay 1 device in its own group.
Which one do I have?
Anything sold from 2018 onward is AirPlay 2. The common AirPlay 1 devices still in service are the AirPort Express (AirPlay 2 only on firmware 7.8), older third-party receivers, and Raspberry Pis running older builds of shairport-sync.
Is AirPlay 2 lossless?
AirPlay carries ALAC, which is lossless — at 44.1 kHz, 16-bit. High-resolution material is down-converted to reach it, so a 24/96 file will not stay 24/96 over the air. This is a property of AirPlay, not of any app.
Do the speakers actually stay in sync?
SoundFerry manages playback across selected speakers. Timing depends on the devices and network; SoundFerry provides per-speaker delay adjustment. Try your speaker combination before purchasing. No fixed synchronization accuracy is guaranteed.
How much delay is there?
The managed default audio path adds several seconds of delay. It is intended for listening rather than live instrument monitoring, gaming or video calls. Video playback may need delay compensation.
Both work. Only one keeps the house together.
SoundFerry sends to either, and tells you which is which in the speaker list.
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