Ahead of Apple's official AirPlay 2 launch, Sonos this week provided additional details as to which speaker models will gain initial support the forthcoming wireless protocol.
Owners of Sonos' Playbase, Sonos One, and current-generation Play:5 will be able to enjoy AirPlay 2 support shortly after Apple launches the standard, reports The MacObserver. Compatibility will be enabled via software update.
Sonos originally pledged support for AirPlay 2 back in October, but failed to detail specific models that would gain compatibility with the still unreleased standard. Now that the release of AirPlay 2 seems imminent, Sonos is putting an end to speculation.
As Sonos speakers exist in a standalone wireless ecosystem, and can therefore connect with one another, the upcoming switch to AirPlay 2 could be confusing for consumers. For example, if a user has an AirPlay 2-enabled Playbase in the living room and a non-AirPlay 2 Play:1 grouped together in the dining room, they can technically send AirPlay 2 audio to the entire group.
AirPlay 2, which allows multi-room audio streaming from a host device like an iPhone, was unveiled nearly a year ago at WWDC 2017. The protocol made a brief appearance in an early iOS 11.3 beta build, but was removed before release. AirPlay 2 is once again present in the latest betas of iOS 11.4, suggesting the technology is ready for release.