Arylic’s New LA50 Streaming Amplifier w/ AirPlay 2 Available for pre-order

Arylic announced the LA50 broadcast amplifiercompact stereo amplifier designed to deliver state-of-the-art broadcast features, incl AirPlay 2in a traditional speaker setup. With built-in Wi-Fi streaming and multiple audio protocols, the LA50 allows passive speakers to function as part of a comprehensive wireless audio system, including integration with Apple devices and multi-room Apple Home setups.

The LA50 is essentially an integrated broadcast amplifier, meaning it combines passive speaker amplification with network-based music streaming. The unit delivers up to 50W per channel, allowing it to drive standard bookshelf or small hi-fi speakers directly without needing a separate amplifier. An important feature for Apple users is support for AirPlay 2, which allows the amplifier to behave like any other AirPlay speaker within the Apple ecosystem. Once connected to a home network, the LA50 can appear as an AirPlay target in apps like Apple Music, allowing audio to be streamed directly from an iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Apple TV. In practical terms, this means that an existing pair of passive speakers can become AirPlay-enabled speakers, without needing to replace them with a dedicated smart speaker.

For those it is not aw faitAirPlay 2 is Apple’s wireless streaming protocol designed for whole-home audio playback. If a device like the LA50 supports AirPlay 2, it can join other compatible speakers in a multi-room setup. For example, users can:

• Stream audio from Apple Music, YouTube, podcasts, or any app with audio output directly from your iPhone or iPad.
• Connect the LA50 to other AirPlay 2 speakers, such as HomePods, Apple TVs connected to the speakers, or third-party AirPlay devices.
• Play the same music across multiple rooms at once, or control playback independently in each room.
• Use Siri voice commands to control playback on compatible AirPlay speakers.

In the Apple Home environment, AirPlay speakers can be assigned to rooms within the Apple Home app, allowing them to be controlled as part of scenes or automation. For example, the ‘Morning’ scene might trigger music playback on the LA50 in the living room while other AirPlay speakers play elsewhere in the house.

Beyond AirPlay 2, the LA50 supports many other streaming protocols, including:

• Google Cast
• Spotify Connect
• TIDAL Connect
• Qobuz Connect

These standards allow music to be streamed directly from relevant applications without relying on Bluetooth, maintaining high sound quality and stable playback. Internally, the amplifier includes an ESS9023 DAC and supports high-resolution audio playback up to 24-bit/192 kHz, depending on the source. Connectivity options include Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and standard audio inputs such as RCA analog and optical digital inputs, allowing the LA50 to work with televisions, media players, or other audio devices.

While AirPlay 2 is the main hub for Apple users, Arylic also offers its own multi-room system with the 4STREAM app, which allows multiple Arylic devices to be grouped together for synchronized playback across different areas of the home. This dual system approach means the amplifier can work within Apple’s AirPlay multi-room environment and within the Arylic ecosystem.

Devices like the LA50 represent a growing class of products designed to modernize hi-fi systems. Instead of replacing speakers with smart models, a streaming amplifier adds network connectivity and streaming protocols to existing speakers. For Apple Home users in particular, this provides an easy way to integrate older stereo systems into an AirPlay 2 multi-room setup, alongside HomePods and other AirPlay-enabled speakers.

The Arylic LA50 includes a range of connections designed to accommodate both modern broadcast and traditional audio sources. On the input side, it offers HDMI eARC, which allows it to be connected directly to a TV for audio playback, alongside a TOSLINK optical input and a stereo RCA line for external audio devices such as CD players or media streamers. There is also a USB-C port that can act as a USB DAC input, allowing a direct digital connection to a computer, and a USB-A port for local playback from USB storage devices. Network connectivity is provided via Ethernet (RJ45) in addition to dual band WiFi. For outputs, the amplifier includes a binding post for speakers that support banana plugs, as well as a dedicated subwoofer output, allowing the LA50 to be used as the core of a compact stereo or 2.1 sound system.

The LA50 is available for pre-order at arylic.com for a 20% discount off the full price (approximately US$299) when you use code LA50 on the way out.