Can you split audio output on Samsung?

Splitting audio output on Samsung devices allows you to play audio from different apps or sources through separate outputs simultaneously. For example, you could have music from Spotify playing through Bluetooth headphones while a YouTube video plays through the phone’s speakers. This can be useful for many scenarios like playing games while listening to music, or watching videos privately without disturbing others.

Samsung has included native support for split audio output on many of their devices, making it relatively simple to set up. The feature may need to be enabled in Settings first. Once configured, audio output devices like Bluetooth headsets and wired headphones can be assigned on an per-app basis. There are some limitations however – not all apps support split audio outputs natively. But with a few workarounds, split audio can be achieved on most Samsung Galaxy phones, tablets and even TVs.

This guide will provide an overview of how to split audio on Samsung devices, the benefits and use cases, limitations, and troubleshooting tips.

What is Split Audio Output?

Split audio output refers to sending audio to two destinations at once, like headphones and speakers. This allows you to play audio through multiple outputs simultaneously without having to switch back and forth. Split audio is useful in situations where you want to listen on speakers but also send the audio to headphones for someone else to hear without disturbing others. It routes the audio source to two or more audio endpoints.

Some common examples of split audio output include:

• Playing music or video out loud on external speakers while also hearing it privately through headphones
• Sending game audio to both TV speakers and a headset for multiplayer gaming
• Streaming audio from a PC to both built-in speakers and Bluetooth headphones

The key benefit of split audio is the ability to send the same sound to multiple listening devices at one time. This eliminates the need to manually switch back and forth between audio outputs.

Why Split Audio on a Samsung Device?

One of the main reasons to split audio on a Samsung device is to play music or video aloud while still hearing calls or alerts through headphones. This enables you to publicly play media through speakers while maintaining some privacy on incoming communications.

For example, you could be playing music out loud at a party while keeping your phone’s ringtone audible in your Bluetooth headphones. Or you could be streaming a movie on your tablet’s built-in speakers while taking a phone call through wired earbuds. Split audio allows both these scenarios.

Another common use case is playing video game sound effects out loud while voice chatting with teammates through a headset. Gamers like having the immersive audio from the game speakers without losing touch with their squad members on voice comms.

Overall, separating your media audio from your call/alert audio gives added flexibility and convenience in various everyday situations. With Samsung’s split audio feature, you don’t have to choose between listening privately or publicly – you can have both.

How to Split Audio on Samsung Phones

There are two main ways to split audio on Samsung phones – using Samsung’s built-in SoundAssistant app or using a third party app like VolumeSeparate.

Samsung’s SoundAssistant app comes pre-installed on many Samsung devices. To use it to split your audio:

1. Open SoundAssistant and enable ‘Separate app sound’.
2. Tap on each app you want to split the audio for and choose whether to play its sound through the phone’s speaker or a Bluetooth device.
3. You can also adjust the volume for each app independently.

The main benefit of using SoundAssistant is that it’s built into Samsung devices so doesn’t require downloading anything additional. However, some users find the interface a bit confusing or limiting.

Third party apps like VolumeSeparate offer a simpler interface specifically for splitting your audio. To use VolumeSeparate or a similar app:

1. Download and install the VolumeSeparate app from the Play Store.
2. Open the app and select which apps you want to split audio for.
3. Choose whether each app plays sound through the speaker or Bluetooth.
4. You can also adjust the volume for each app.

The benefit of third party apps is they provide an intuitive interface focused just on splitting your audio. However, you do have to download an additional app rather than using something pre-installed.

Splitting Audio on Samsung Tablets

Similar to splitting audio on Samsung phones, many recent Samsung tablet models also include the Separate App Sound feature. This allows you to play audio from certain apps on your Samsung tablet through a different output device, such as Bluetooth headphones or external speakers, while other system sounds continue through the tablet’s built-in speakers.

To enable Separate App Sound on a Samsung tablet, open the Settings app and go to Sounds and Vibration > Separate App Sound. Toggle it on and select which apps you want to separate the audio for. Many streaming, music, podcast, and video apps are supported.

You can also long press on the audio icon for a specific app to quickly separate the audio output. The tablet will remember your audio output preference for that app going forward.

Pairing Bluetooth accessories like headphones or speakers is the most common way to take advantage of Separate App Sound on Samsung tablets. With Bluetooth headphones connected, you can privately listen to music, videos, games, and more through the headphones while system sounds still come through the tablet speakers.

This allows you to watch a movie late at night without disturbing others, listen to music while getting other work done on your tablet, play games with immersive sound effects, and so on. The separated audio provides a more customizable, optimized experience.

Splitting Audio on Samsung TVs

Many modern Samsung TVs allow you to split the audio output so you can send sound to multiple devices at once. This is useful if you want to use your TV’s built-in speakers and also send audio to a soundbar, Bluetooth headset, or another external speaker system simultaneously.

One way to split audio on Samsung TVs is by using the Surround Sound options. In the Audio settings menu, you can choose “Surround Sound” and then configure the TV audio to play through the internal speakers while also transmitting sound via Bluetooth or the digital audio output port.

Another common technique is to pair a Bluetooth audio device like wireless headphones or a portable speaker to the TV. The TV will send audio to both its internal speakers and the wireless Bluetooth accessory at the same time. This allows you to listen privately while others can still hear the TV’s speakers. Just make sure the Bluetooth device is paired and connected before enabling multi-output audio.

The process for splitting audio may vary slightly depending on the specific Samsung TV model. It’s generally accessible through the Sound or Audio settings menu. Look for options like “Multi-Output Audio,” “Dual Sound,” or “Bluetooth Speaker Surround” to simultaneously play audio from the built-in TV speakers and an external output source.

Troubleshooting Tips

If you are having issues with split audio output on your Samsung device, here are some troubleshooting tips to try:

Check that the app has permissions to access audio output. Go to Settings > Apps and check the app permissions. Make sure the app is allowed to access media audio and microphone if needed.

Try toggling between the different audio output modes in Settings. Go to Settings > Sounds and vibration > Separate app sound and switch between Headphones, Bluetooth, and Speakers modes. See if one mode works better than others.

Check Bluetooth connections if using wireless audio. Go to Settings > Connections > Bluetooth and make sure the Bluetooth device is paired and connected properly.

Restart your Samsung device. Sometimes a simple reboot can resolve intermittent audio issues.

Update apps and phone software. Having the latest updates can help resolve bugs causing audio problems.

As a last resort, reset app preferences in Settings. This will clear any problematic app settings that may be causing audio issues.

If nothing works, contact Samsung support for further troubleshooting assistance.

Limitations of Splitting Audio

While splitting audio output can be useful in many cases, there are some limitations to be aware of. According to one Reddit user, splitting the audio signal can lead to a reduction in volume that may impact audio quality, especially when using lower quality splitters (https://www.reddit.com/r/HeadphoneAdvice/comments/hxipgg/will_a_35mm_splitter_affect_audio_quality/).

Another key limitation is that not all apps support split audio output. For example, certain streaming apps may only allow audio through one selected output device at a time. Trying to split the audio stream across multiple outputs may not work properly in these cases.

Finally, splitting audio across multiple devices can drain the battery faster on Samsung devices. The phone has to work harder to transmit two audio streams simultaneously rather than a single stream. So users should be prepared for faster battery drain when utilizing split audio for prolonged periods.

Alternatives to Splitting Audio

There are some alternatives to using software to split your audio that you may want to consider.

Use a Physical Audio Splitter

One option is to use a physical audio splitter device or adapter. These allow you to plug in one audio source, such as your phone, and output the audio to two sets of speakers or headphones at the same time. For example, you could plug your phone into a 3.5mm audio splitter and connect two sets of headphones, routing the same audio source to two different outputs.

This is likely the simplest solution if you just need to share an audio source with one other person. Physical splitters are inexpensive and don’t require any software or drivers. Just plug them in and you’re ready to go. Some devices like phones, tablets, and laptops may need an adapter to go from USB-C or lightning to 3.5mm.

Upgrade to a Device with Dual Audio Output

Some newer phones, tablets, PCs, and TVs come equipped with dual audio output features. For example, certain Samsung Galaxy and Note smartphones have the ability to pair with two Bluetooth devices simultaneously and route audio to both. This allows you to connect two sets of Bluetooth headphones or speakers at the same time without any need for splitting cables or adapters.

Upgrading your device to one with built-in dual audio can provide an easy and seamless solution. Just make sure the specific model you choose includes this capability before purchasing. Dual audio output is becoming a more common feature but isn’t universally supported yet.

Summary

To recap, splitting audio output allows you to send audio from your Samsung device to multiple outputs simultaneously. This can be useful for DJs, using your device for multimedia presentations, or listening privately while others hear something different.

Samsung phones like the Galaxy S and Note series generally allow splitting audio output through their built-in Dual Audio feature. For Samsung tablets, you can split audio by using a USB audio adapter or Bluetooth adapter. On Samsung TVs, there is an option in the Audio settings to separate audio to external speakers.

Splitting audio output has some limitations like audio quality loss and delay. But overall it provides more flexibility if you need to send audio to more than one destination. With the right accessories and settings, many Samsung devices can split audio output.