Airplay 2 with AirPort Express

There are, to date, only three AirPort Express models:

• A1084 or A1088
  • Introduced in June 2004
  • 802.11 b/g
• A1264 (1st generation 802.11n model)
  • Introduced in March 2008
  • 802.11 a/b/g and draft n
  • Looks identical to the A1084 or A1088 models.
• A1392 (2nd generation 802.11n model)
  • Introduced in June 2012
  • 802.11 a/b/g/n

Your question seems to imply that Apple will be offering a firmware update on the AirPort Express for AirPlay 2.

That will be very difficult to do, since AirPlay 2 requires different hardware and the hardware on an AirPort Express has not changed in 5 years.

It looks like Tesserax has provided information on the different AirPort Express versions.

I would add that the A1392 version also offered simultaneous 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz dual band operation. All of the previous versions were single band products only.

As you can see, the current version A1392 was originally introduced 7+ years ago, so the hardware has not changed since that time.

AirPlay 2 allows you send a signal to multiple speakers from an iOS device like an iPhone or iPad.. AirPlay does not allow a signal to be sent to multiple speakers from an IOS device.

Probably more info that you want or need here: https://www.imore.com/airplay-2

Yes, it does. The AirPort Express is not AirPlay2 compatible with iOS devices. The only devices that are AirPlay 2 compatible with iOS devices are the Apple TV4 and the new HomePod speaker.

The Apple TV 4 uses different hardware and different firmware than an AirPort Express....which was designed 6+ years ago.

If users want to see AirPlay 2 in an AirPort Express product, then they will need to wait and see if Apple decides to develop and market a new version of the AirPort Express.

Maybe another way to think about this is when 802.11"ac" wireless was introduced, there were any number of users who seemed to think that Apple would offer a firmware update for the AirPort Express to allow "ac" wireless performance.

What they did not understand was that "ac" wireless required newer and different hardware, so the current version of the Express.....designed 6+ years ago when "ac" wireless did not even exist...... would never have been able to handle "ac" wireless unless the hardware was also changed on the Express.

Firmware upgrades are great, but they can't provide performance that the hardware was never designed to support.

I guess the question really is then what is it about Airplay 2 that requires a hardware upgrade when the iPhone/Mac can support it without a hardware upgrade and also currently you can stream from a mac to 2 Airport Expresses simultaneously in multi rooms.

these are user helping users with tech questions I don't think anybody here are in a position to tell you exactly how airplay 2 differ from mac multiroom streaming (which at least in my case with 2 express and 1 appletv is horrible out of sync)

because people are guessing or if they do really have more insight they would likely be under a non-disclosure agreement

Hi Rudegar,

Agreed, I think this thread is mostly people speculating and wondering if their Airport Expresses will ever support Airplay 2.

On the multirom from iTunes, I have 2 x Airport Express connected to my network by cables and they sync very well. One is directly connected to my router, the other via Homeplug.

well non of mine are by ethernet and I have 2 extremes and 2 expresses os a mesh so that could explain some of my delay

but one thing which could speak in favour of them not supporting airplay 2 is that the last airport express was released in 2012 and to a small degree it is competing with the new AirPod in terms of usage.

Call me cynical but, after some weeks of looking at the future of 'Airplay' devices I am close to concluding that all larger companies, including Apple, are focussed on pushing their users to accept the speakers in digital assistants. A HomePod is fine for casual listening but you can't even buy a stereo pair yet. The versatility of AEX units is unmatched in other manufacturers' products and it is a very great shame that neither Airplay 2 or other developments will happen.

I am still very absorbed in researching into how to replace them when they are no longer supported by Apple. I have a pair of active loudspeakers costing £2k with 2 Toslink connectors. The hardware in the speakers already includes a first-rate DAC. I don't want or need a HomePod. I also don't want an ATV where I have to send the audio signal via HDMI to my TV.

It's a very simple need which, I am sure, is shared by many others. It's a shame that the world's first trillion dollar company can't address it.

The Mac under current OS X’s for several years now can play music over multiple Airport Expresses simultaneously.

This hasn’t been available under any version of iOS on any iPhone or iPad. One can send music to just one Airport Express.

I, for one am hoping that Airplay 2 will support at least the latest Airport Express. It would be great if I could control multiple Airport Expresses from my iPhone and iPad.

It seems lame that Apple has let Airplay languish while Google's Chromecast Audio allow users to stream to multiple Chromecast Audio devices.

In the meantime checkout the recent release of Airport compatible wifi adapters by Anewish, Pyle and other companies.

When combined with the Audiocast App ios devices can play to multiple wifi adapters albeit inelegantly.

Anyone - please enlighten me. If the Airport Express works multiroom when streaming from the Mac - why would it need different hardware?