Same audio to 4 Bluetooth headsets
I'm starting a running program with my family. Part of the fun is building a shared playlist and listing to cues together. I'd like to run the audio off one phone and have it go simultaneously to 4 headsets. I see there's phone apps that do today but my kids don't have phones. Is there a hardware device that can do this?
Incoming infodump. I agree with another commenter that Auracast ist exactly what you want, problem: barely available.
Bluetooth is split into 2:
Bluetooth Classic
Bluetooth Low Energy
Auracast is a very new standard using BLE Audio. I've seen some aliexpress sellers selling Auracast hardware for silent discos. But from well known brands I haven't seen a thing
Most BT headphones you buy use Classic, and cannot achieve multiple connections. So no built in solution.
Obviously there are proprietary Technologies that had custom transmitters/recievers for this exact usecase.
TLDR: If your Phone can do BLE Audio you could gamble on some Auracast hardware from aliexpress. Else, look for premade solutions not using Bluetooth
There are apps that will synchronize audio, like snapcast. But yes, you would need individual devices.
You can also find a device that is capable to send two BT signals but I'm guessing one that sends 4 might be pro audio level.
Also, if you have a headphone jack, you could use a 4-way headphone jack splitter and 4 of those little car audio bluetooth adapters. A little hacky, but it wouldn't break the bank.
Auracast is basically what you're after but not out yet. I think a couple of transmitters and a headphone splitter is your best bet. There are products like this but you need to use their headphones and figure out power for the transmitter. It is USB C though, looks like a power bank would work.
If you have a Mac of some kind, you can pair and output to multiple headphones:
https://support.apple.com/en-au/guide/audio-midi-setup/ams7c093f372/mac
Doesn't help you with android of course, but if you dont find a solution that might be worth looking at.
How is a mac connecting to multiple bt devices help while running outdoors? Do you carry the mac along?
If its a laptop, yes. I was only suggesting it in case someone else finds this post later and finds it a suitable solution, I dont think it'll work for the OPs use case.
My old Samsung phone could output to two Bluetooth devices at the same time, but it wasn't exactly synchronized. I don't think Bluetooth is good at getting the timing just right.