As wireless audio rapidly gains traction across personal and public settings, the constraints of traditional connection methods, such as limited accessibility for those with hearing loss and restricted application scenarios, become increasingly apparent. There is an opportunity for the wireless audio sector to address these limitations and enhance the user experience. Auracast™ broadcast audio is an ideal solution for helping spaces usher in inclusive audio experiences that support diverse use cases, promote greater audio accessibility, and enhance user experiences to empower a more vibrant lifestyle.
As a key Bluetooth® technology feature, Auracast™ broadcast audio lets you share your audio with friends and family, unmute public TVs and broadcasts, and hear your best wherever you go. Since its launch, Auracast™ broadcast audio has been deployed and proven across a diverse range of settings, including theaters, music venues, and conference halls. Solutions in these spaces enhance engagement and accessibility through multichannel broadcasting, high-fidelity audio, and narration services.
By including Auracast™ broadcast audio in home theater solutions, Hisense has addressed the pain points of traditional approaches, supporting an open-standard wireless home surround sound system that delivers an entirely new audio experience for users.
Lori Lee, senior director, APAC & China, Bluetooth SIG, Inc., recently spoke with ZiJing Deng, head of network communication technology and wireless technology expert from Hisense, regarding the deployment of Auracast™ broadcast audio in Hisense’s home theater solutions.
Q&A with ZiJing Deng from Hisense
How does Hisense’s home theater solution leverage Auracast™ broadcast audio, and what key challenges does it address compared with traditional approaches?
Hisense is among the first in the industry to launch a home theater solution powered by Bluetooth® LE Audio and Auracast™ broadcast audio. By integrating Auracast™ broadcast audio into the TV and surround sound speaker ecosystem, the TV functions as an audio broadcaster, transmitting synchronized multi-channel audio streams to multiple speakers via a standardized protocol. This establishes a wireless audio surround sound system based on truly open standards.
Compared with traditional approaches, this solution addresses four critical pain points of protocol fragmentation, setup complexity, latency, and stability. Conventional systems rely on proprietary technologies, leading to closed ecosystems. Auracast™ broadcast audio leverages unified Bluetooth SIG standards, enabling seamless cross-brand interoperability. Unlike traditional device-by-device pairing, Auracast™ broadcast audio allows speakers to instantly discover and join an audio broadcast, streamlining the installation process. Also, Bluetooth LE Audio is architected for low energy, high reliability, and precise synchronization, ensuring cinema-grade lip-sync and multi-speaker alignment.
By integrating Auracast™ broadcast audio into the TV and surround sound speaker ecosystem, the TV functions as an audio broadcaster, transmitting synchronized multi-channel audio streams to multiple speakers via a standardized protocol.
What new and improved user experiences or use cases does Auracast™ broadcast audio support in a home theater environment?
Auracast™ broadcast audio transforms the home theater from a static setup to an open wireless audio platform. TVs supporting surround sound using Auracast allow users to flexibly build 2.1 or higher channel systems. External speakers can work in tandem with built-in TV speakers to enhance spatial audio immersion.
Auracast™ broadcast audio also empowers multi-use private listening; multiple viewers can tune in to the same broadcast using Auracast™ enabled headphones, enjoying a cinema experience without disturbing others. Furthermore, due to cross-brand scalability, users can expand their system with Auracast™ speakers from different manufacturers, significantly reducing ecosystem lock-in. More importantly, the solution has high plug-and-play simplicity with instant connectivity, eliminating complex setup procedures.
How has the industry responded to this solution?
The solution has successfully transitioned from core technical verification to full commercial deployment. Hisense has integrated Auracast™ capabilities across its premier TV and home theater product lineups.
Industry feedback has been positive, with the solution recognized as a pivotal milestone in the standardization of surround sound audio. Partners agree that a Bluetooth standardized ecosystem will act as a catalyst for large-scale collaborative innovation.
What advantages does Auracast™ broadcast audio bring to TVs and home entertainment systems?
Auracast™ broadcast audio delivers three strategic advantages: standardization, interoperability, and innovation potential. It can replace fragmented proprietary protocols, driving economies of scale across the industry; dissolve brand barriers, accelerating the creation of a cross-device ecosystem; and provide a unified foundation for advanced use cases such as immersive spatial audio, multi-room synchronization, and hearing aids. This shifts the industry focus from isolated devices toward ecosystem-driven collaboration.
Looking ahead to 2026, does Hisense plan to include Auracast™ broadcast audio or other Bluetooth features into more home or consumer electronics scenarios?
We are actively developing abilities around Bluetooth® HDT. Future upgrades will support physical layer rates up to 7.5Mbps, enabling true lossless wireless surround sound and eliminating the quality gap between wired and wireless systems. Moving forward, we will actively adopt the Bluetooth SIG’s standardized HDT specifications to further enhance our Bluetooth surround sound and overall audio quality. We are currently working closely with our chipset vendors to make this happen.
Meanwhile, the Hisense dual-audio track sharing feature via Auracast™ broadcast audio allows different users to select their preferred audio tracks (e.g., different languages or sound effects) simultaneously without interference. Additionally, Hisense TVs will stream audio directly to Auracast™ enabled hearing aids and assistive devices, ensuring an inclusive, synchronized, and crystal-clear listening experience for those with hearing loss.
