To enjoy group playback, all the speakers or TVs in the group need to play in sync. Having the following devices in a speaker group can sometimes result in a delay:
- Chromecast
- Chromecast Audio
- Chromecast with Google TV
- Google TV Streamer (4K)
- Speakers that work with Google Cast
If any audio is out of sync, follow the instructions below.
How to correct group playback delay
- Make sure your mobile device or tablet is connected to the same Wi-Fi or linked to the same account as your Chromecast, Google TV Streamer, speaker, or display.
- Cast music to the group that's playing out of sync.
- Stand between the out of sync speakers (or as close to in between as you can) and adjust their volume levels so you hear them both playing at about the same level.
- Open the Google Home app
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- Tap and hold your device's tile.
- Tap Settings
Audio
- Move the slider to the left or right until the audio sounds in sync.
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Audio Note: For many devices, the inherent delay is extremely short, so group playback will be in sync without any additional adjustments. Don’t adjust the group delay correction unless you notice a consistent, significant delay. The group delay correction setting only affects group playback. This setting will have no effect when casting to a single speaker or TV. A device’s group delay correction setting will be applied to all the groups that the device is a part of. If you connect a Google streaming device to another speaker or TV, the previous group delay correction setting might be incorrect. Make sure to reset it to "0" delay again and check if additional correction is required.
Tips for group delay correction
How do I know if I should correct a group delay?
Ask yourself the following questions to decide if you should correct a group delay:
- Is the out of sync playback consistent across different group playback sessions?
- Is the out of sync playback consistent during the group playback sessions?
- Is the out of sync playback distinguishable in large areas of your home?
- Does the out of sync playback prevent you from enjoying the music?
- If questions 1 and 2 are true, one of your speakers has an inherent delay that can be corrected.
- If all questions are true, you should try to correct the group delay.
How do I know which speaker should I correct?
You should always increase the group delay correction for the speaker that is playing last.
To identify which speaker to correct:
- Cast to the group and try to distinguish which speaker is playing last.
- Choose one of the speakers and start to increase the delay correction. If the sync improves, continue with this speaker. If the sync gets worse, set the delay back to "0" and switch to one of the other speakers.
How do I know what is the correct adjustment?
Follow these steps to ensure correct adjustment:
- Group delay correction adjustments should only be made while music is casting to the group. This allows you to immediately hear the changes you’ve made.
- If the group includes more than 2 speakers, choose 2 speakers that are out of sync and mute the rest.
- Stand between the out of sync speakers (or as close to in between as you can), and adjust their volume levels so you hear them both approximately at the same level.
- Start to increase the delay correction of the speaker that is playing last until playback is in sync.
- Repeat these steps if further adjustments are needed.
What is a common delay for my speaker, soundbar, or receiver?
Speaker delays vary between different models.
The following are typical numbers for specific categories:
- Speakers: 0-40 ms - typically no delay
- Soundbars: 0-80 ms - inherent delays are common
- Receivers: 0-70 ms - inherent delays are common
Note: The above numbers provide some common values. Some models' delays may be outside of the typical range.