Apple has listed all third-party speakers and hi-fi receivers that will support the technology AirPlay 2, which became available today with updates iOS and tvOS.
After several beta releases, Apple has finally released iOS 11.4 and tvOS 11.4 to the public, and the new versions contain support for technology AirPlay 2, which has been delayed for a long time.
With AirPlay 2, you can use Siri to control music playback on supported speakers.
Today the Apple HomeKit site has been updated with a section with all available HomeKit-enabled home accessories and smart devices. Also a list of speakers and receivers has been added that will support AirPlay 2.
The following devices will receive support AirPlay 2:
- Apple HomePod
- Beoplay A6
- Beoplay A9 mk2
- Beoplay M3
- BeoSound 1
- BeoSound 2
- BeoSound 35
- BeoSound Core
- BeoSound Essence mk2
- BeoVision Eclipse (audio only)
- Denon AVR-X3500H
- Denon AVR-X4500H
- Denon AVR-X6500H
- Libratone Zipp
- Libratone Zipp Mini
- Marantz AV7705
- Marantz NA6006
- Marantz NR1509
- Marantz NR1609
- Marantz SR5013
- Marantz SR6013
- Marantz SR7013
- Naim Mu-so
- Naim Mu-so QB
- Naim ND 555
- Naim ND5 XS 2
- Naim NDX 2
- Naim uniti nova
- Naim Uniti Atom
- Naim uniti star
- Sonos one
- Sonos Play: 5
- Sonos playbase
More companies will add support for AirPlay 2 in the future.
Excerpt from today's press release Apple:
AirPlay 2 allows you to create an advanced wireless multi-room audio system for conveniently streaming music or podcasts from anywhere in the house to multiple devices in perfect sync. While listening to music, you just need to select or deselect the devices on which the music is played through the Control Center or ask Siri to play music in the desired room, group of rooms or throughout the house. HomePod automatically supports AirPlay 2 features, so music can be streamed throughout your home without having to manually group speakers.
Controls AirPlay 2 are available in all apps iOS and Control Center, so you can easily control playback in every room, on every speaker. And subscribers of Apple Music can ask Siri to put different songs in different rooms or the same song throughout the house, without even leaving the room. HomePod – just like iPhone and iPad – will be able to communicate with other columns with AirPlay 2 support as they appear, so Siri will be able to control music playback on Bang & Olufsen, Bluesound, Bose, Bowers & Wilkins, Denon, Libratone, Marantz, Marshall, Naim, Pioneer and Sonos speakers.
At last year's WWDC Apple named several companies whose columns will have support AirPlay 2. Among them were Bang & Olufsen, Denon, Marantz and Naim, and now the list is much longer.
Sonos will be holding a showcase next week and we'll likely know when support for AirPlay 2 hits the One, Play: 5, and Playbase columns.
Rival Bose is holding an event on June 20 to unveil the new speakers.
HomePod maintains AirPlay 2 after installing the latest available system update.
You don't even need a wireless speaker to enjoy the new technology, because you can use your Apple TV 4th generation or Apple TV 4K with tvOS 11.4 to connect. Thus, any column can be used AirPlay.
The Beats column, due out this year, will also support AirPlay 2.