The Play-Fi app provides access to select internet music and radio streaming services, as well as audio content that may be stored on compatible local network devices, such as PCs and media servers.
Get Started With Play-Fi
Initial Play-Fi setup is straightforward. Follow these steps to get started.
Stream Music With Play-Fi
You can use the Play-Fi app on your smartphone to stream music to linked wireless powered speakers, no matter where the speakers are located in your house. In the case of compatible home theater receivers or soundbars, the Play-Fi app can stream music content to the receiver so that you hear music through your home theater system. DTS Play-Fi can stream music from the following services: Some services, such as iHeart Radio and Internet Radio, are free. Others may require an additional paid subscription for total access. Play-Fi can also stream uncompressed music files, which offers generally better quality audio streamed over Bluetooth. Digital music file formats that are compatible with Play-Fi include:
MP3AACApple LosslessFlacWav
CD-quality files can also be streamed without any compression or transcoding. Higher than CD-quality hi-res audio files are compatible when streamed through a local network. This is referred to as the Critical Listening Mode, which provides the best listening quality by eliminating compression, down-sampling, and unwanted distortion.
Play-Fi Stereo
Although Play-Fi can stream music to any single or assigned group of wireless speakers, you can also set it up to use any two compatible speakers as a stereo pair. One speaker can serve as the left channel and another as the right channel. Ideally, both speakers would be the same brand and model so that the sound quality is the same for the left and right channels.
Play-Fi and Surround Sound
Another Play-Fi feature that is available on select soundbar products (but not available on any home theater receivers) is the ability to send surround sound audio to select Play-Fi-enabled wireless speakers. If you have a compatible soundbar, you can add any two Play-Fi-enabled wireless speakers to your setup and then send DTS and Dolby digital surround sound signals to those speakers. In this type of setup, the soundbar serves as the primary speaker, with two compatible Play-Fi wireless speakers that serve the role of surround left and right, respectively. The surround primary needs to have the following capabilities:
Be able to decode a 5.1 surround stream (such as Dolby Digital or DTS). The correct software and firmware support has been installed. Support Play-Fi functionality for accessing audio through analog or digital optical/coaxial inputs and be able to distribute that audio to the appropriate speakers.
Play-Fi Headphones App
In addition to using Play-Fi with select wireless speakers and home theater receivers, you can use Play-Fi to stream any audio source connected to a Play-Fi wireless speaker, home theater receiver, or soundbar using the line-in option (HDMI, digital optical/coaxial, or analog) via Wi-Fi to any compatible smartphone and listen on headphones. This feature requires the installation of the Play-Fi Headphones App (iOS, Android).
DTS Play-Fi and Alexa
Product Brands That Support Play-Fi
Product brands that support DTS Play-Fi compatibility on selected devices, which include wireless powered and smart speakers, receivers/amps, soundbars, and preamps that can add Play-Fi functionality to older stereo or home theater receivers include:
AcerAerixAnthemArcamDefinitive TechnologyDishPioneer EliteFusion ResearchHPIntegraKlipschMartinLoganMcIntoshOnkyoParadigmPhorusPioneerPolk AudioRotelSonus FaberThielWren
DTS Play-Fi’s Flexibility Shines
Wireless multi-room audio is exploding, and, although there are several platforms (such as Denon/Sound United HEOS, Sonos, and Yamaha MusicCast), DTS Play-Fi provides more flexibility than most as you aren’t limited to one or a limited number of branded playback devices or speakers. Since DTS has provisions for any product maker to license its technology for use, you can mix and match compatible devices from a continually growing number of brands that can suit your needs and your budget.
