Audio Video News

Sound United, parent company of a half-dozen venerable audio brands, has announced that Denon, Marantz, Polk Audio, Heos by Denon, and Definitive Technology that will support AirPlay 2, the updated version of the AirPlay wireless streaming protocol Apple announced last week at its developers conference where it also introduced the HomePod smart speaker.

AirPlay 2, part of the new iOS 11 mobile operating system slated for release this fall, adds multiroom audio to AirPlay’s existing capabilities. Multiroom audio from compatible speakers will be controllable via iOS's AirPlay controls or inside third-party apps.

Initial AirPlay 2-compatible offerings from the Sound United brands will include AV receivers and “hi-fi” audio products with additional product categories to follow.

Other brands that will support AirPlay 2 include Bang & Olufsen, Bluesound, Bose, Bowers & Wilkins, Dynaudio, Libratone, McIntosh, and Apple’s own Beats line of headphones and speakers.