Bluetooth + RokuTV Airplay for Apple TV or iPhone audio

A couple variations of the same issue with playing music throughout the home simultaneously:

• I have an Apple TV, but the AirPlay audio no longer works simultaneously with itself using a Bluetooth Speaker, AND with our Roku TV’s AirPlay in the other room. It did used to, but not for the last year or so. I assume a software update did this, but I’ve tried everything to fix it to make it work again, with no luck. On top of that, the Roku TV doesn’t always show up as a speaker on the Apple TV’s list of AirPlay devices. There’s no obvious way to make it show up, neither on the controls for the Roku TV, nor on the Apple TV. Most times (but not always), I can trigger it by connecting my iPhone or iPad to the Roku TV’s AirPlay first, but not consistently, and not at all on the Apple TV alone without the aid of the iPhone/iPad. Halp.

• When using my iPhone or iPad, I was once again able to connect music through the Apple TV AND the Roku TV like we’d been able to previously, but now, even though they’re both selected (check marked in the circles) on the AirPlay list, the music refuses to play. Occasionally, I’ll hear a blip of audio sneak out like it wants to play, but then instantly stops itself. If I deselect one, the music will work again, but not with both selected, even though it allows me to select them both. The Apple Music app’s play/pause can be selected to hit play, but automatically jumps back to pausing. It’s so frustrating, and with no error messages to explain why a feature won’t or can’t work, I’m left dumbfounded. Again, halp?

I’d love to make the BT speaker work as the main speaker for the Apple TV, and then connect my iPhone to the Apple TV to use it as an AirPlay device, which would indirectly then use the BT speaker. But when I try that, the Apple TV disconnects from the BT speaker and reverts to the physical TV’s speakers, which are not working at present - hence, the BT speaker. I’d hope then to also connect to the Roku TV’s AirPlay and use that TV’s speakers simultaneously, but again, coming up short.

I do understand that there are some specifics or restrictions with AirPlay now only working on devices that are compatible with AirPlay 2 or something, but I CAN connect to the Roku TV with audio, but not consistently, and not simultaneously with another device, I guess. So I’m not sure if the AirPlay 2 concern is applicable here or not.

We do a lot of roaming about in the home, especially on cleaning days or if we’re getting ready for the day or to go out, so having the music be able to play simultaneously again like it did when we first got this Apple TV a few years back, it’s super important for putting us in a good mood.

Thanks in advance to anyone who has any insight here, and sorry for probably writing too much!

Devices:

• Apple TV 4K running tvOS 16.5
• TCL Roku TV S425 (2018) running 12.0.0 - build 4182-30
• iPhone 11 Pro Max running iOS 16.6
• iPad Pro (6th Gen) running iPadOS 16.5
• Sony Bluetooth Speaker SRS-XB43