Auracast ist eine Funktion des Bluetooth-Standards, mit der ein Gerät Ton an beliebig viele Empfänger zugleich sendet. Anders als beim gewohnten Bluetooth wird dabei nichts gekoppelt, sondern der Stream aus einer Liste ausgewählt. Als Sender kommen Fernseher, Handys und Anlagen in öffentlichen Gebäuden in Frage, als Empfänger Kopfhörer, Lautsprecher und Hörgeräte. Grundlage ist Bluetooth LE Audio.

Braucht man für Auracast neue Kopfhörer?

In den meisten Fällen ja. Ältere Bluetooth-Kopfhörer können den Stream nicht aufnehmen, weil ihnen die passende Hardware fehlt. Bei neueren Modellen kommt die Funktion gelegentlich per Update dazu, sofern der Funkchip sie hergibt. Auf der Verpackung steht in diesem Fall Auracast oder LE Audio ausdrücklich dabei.

Wie viele Personen können gleichzeitig mithören?

Eine feste Obergrenze gibt es nicht, weil der Sender den Ton in die Umgebung schickt und nicht einzelne Verbindungen verwaltet. Ob zwei oder zweihundert Geräte zuhören, ändert für ihn nichts. Begrenzt wird die Zahl praktisch nur durch die Reichweite. Genau darin liegt der Unterschied zur gewohnten Kopplung, bei der ein Sender meist ein oder zwei Geräte bedient.

Funktioniert Auracast mit einem älteren Fernseher?

Direkt nicht, aber mit einem Zusatzgerät. Es wird an einen freien Audioausgang gehängt und übernimmt das Senden für den Fernseher. Wichtig ist dabei, dass der passende Ausgang überhaupt vorhanden ist, weil sehr alte Geräte teilweise nur Cinch bieten. Die Kopfhörer brauchen die Funktion unabhängig davon.

Kann jeder in der Nähe mithören?

Offene Broadcasts kann jedes Gerät in Reichweite empfangen, und genau so ist es bei Durchsagen oder im Wartebereich gedacht. Wer nicht möchte, dass jeder mithört, greift zum verschlüsselten Broadcast-Code. Ob ein Gerät das anbietet, steht in der Anleitung unter Bluetooth oder Auracast. Bei Zusatzgeräten zum Nachrüsten unterscheidet sich das je nach Modell erheblich.

TV Listening Solutions for the Television

Auracast Explained

By Faller Audio Editorial Team | Updated on September 25, 2026 | 4 min. read

Auracast is a Bluetooth function that allows one device to send audio to any number of receivers simultaneously, without needing to pair anything.

This allows multiple people to listen to the same audio on a TV using their own headphones, each with their own individual volume.

The Idea Behind Auracast

Classic Bluetooth audio usually uses a direct connection between source and receiver, such as headphones to a TV or speakers to a phone. Auracast works differently, sending to many receivers simultaneously, similar to a small radio station in a room. This function was defined by the Bluetooth SIG, the committee behind the standard.

One Transmitter, Many Receivers

The transmitter simply sends the audio into the environment without knowing who is listening. The number of devices receiving the stream doesn’t matter to it. This could be two pairs of headphones in the living room or a hundred in a movie theater. Nothing changes for the transmitter.

Technically, Auracast is built on Bluetooth LE Audio and uses the LC3 codec, among others.

No Pairing Required

You search for the stream instead of connecting. A phone usually helps with finding and selecting, displaying a list of nearby transmitters, or sometimes a QR code leads directly to the correct one. The audio stream then goes directly to the headphones.

Private streams can be protected with a numerical code. Without this code, the transmitter will appear in the list, but it cannot be listened to.

Auracast on TV

For the living room, one feature is particularly interesting. Previously, only one pair of headphones could be connected to a TV, or two on some devices. With Auracast, this limit is removed.

TV Requirements

For a TV to transmit, Bluetooth alone is not enough; three things must come together correctly.

Bluetooth version 5.2 or newer as the technical basis, because LE Audio builds upon it.
Actual support for Auracast in the device, which is not guaranteed by the Bluetooth version alone.
A receiver that also supports Auracast, because older headphones cannot pick up the stream.

Whether a TV has this function can be found in the device description under Bluetooth or in the sound menu under output devices. Explicit mention of Auracast is important.

Transmitters for Retrofitting

If the TV cannot provide the function, small add-on devices can help. They take the audio from an audio output of the TV and transmit it as an Auracast stream. Which output is suitable varies depending on the transmitter. Common options are the optical output, the headphone jack, and USB. These devices usually draw power via USB as well.

Multiple People, One Program

The greatest practical benefit is evident when two people want to listen at different volumes. Both use their own headphones and adjust the volume separately. Whether the TV’s speakers continue to play varies by device. This is precisely the aspect where Auracast differs from traditional pairing, where the audio is tied to a single connection and must be shared between users.

Auracast Outside the Home

Outside the home, Auracast for TV viewing is primarily intended for spaces where many people need to listen to something simultaneously. At an airport or in a lecture hall, a single pairing doesn’t work. But there, Auracast shows what the function is designed for.

Announcements and Silent Screens

At airports or train stations, announcements can be sent directly to one’s own headphones, without having to be present throughout the entire building. In gyms and waiting areas, screens often hang without sound, but their program can still be heard this way. Multiple streams can run side-by-side.

Hearing Support in Public Spaces

In churches, theaters, and lecture halls, induction loops in the floor have often transmitted sound to hearing aids. Their installation is complex and difficult in old buildings. Auracast is a possible additional or alternative solution and does not require cables in the floor. It does not automatically replace existing systems, but both systems can run side-by-side.

Availability and Limitations

The number of compatible devices is growing, but Auracast is still rarely encountered in everyday life. This is less due to the process itself than to the equipment. Both transmitter and receiver must be functionally compatible.

Device Availability

While the number of headphone and hearing aid models is increasing significantly, progress is much slower for TVs. Anyone buying a TV today and wanting to use Auracast with it should specifically look for Auracast and not rely solely on the Bluetooth version stated.

Range and Sound Quality

How far a stream carries depends heavily on the transmitter and the environment. Outdoors, you can go further than in a building, where walls and ceilings impede reception. Regarding sound quality, the operator of a public transmitter sets the settings, which is why streams can sound different.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Auracast?

Auracast is a function of the Bluetooth standard that allows one device to send audio to any number of receivers simultaneously. Unlike traditional Bluetooth, nothing is paired; instead, the stream is selected from a list. Transmitters can include TVs, mobile phones, and systems in public buildings, while receivers include headphones, speakers, and hearing aids. It is based on Bluetooth LE Audio.

Do you need new headphones for Auracast?

In most cases, yes. Older Bluetooth headphones cannot pick up the stream because they lack the appropriate hardware. With newer models, the function occasionally becomes available via an update, provided the radio chip supports it. In such cases, Auracast or LE Audio will be explicitly mentioned on the packaging.

How many people can listen simultaneously?

There is no fixed upper limit, because the transmitter sends the audio into the environment and does not manage individual connections. Whether two or two hundred devices are listening makes no difference to it. The number is practically limited only by the range. This is precisely the difference from traditional pairing, where a transmitter usually serves one or two devices.

Does Auracast work with an older TV?

Not directly, but with an add-on device. It connects to a free audio output and handles the transmission for the TV. It’s important that a suitable output is available, as very old devices sometimes only offer RCA. The headphones need the function independently of this.

Can everyone nearby listen?

Open broadcasts can be received by any device within range, and that’s exactly how it’s intended for announcements or in waiting areas. If you don’t want everyone to listen, use an encrypted broadcast code. Whether a device offers this can be found in the manual under Bluetooth or Auracast. For add-on devices for retrofitting, this varies considerably depending on the model.