Want to watch a film or series together on a Mac without letting your neighbors enjoy the soundtrack? Connect two Bluetooth headsets or earphones to it. An easy operation that does not require any additional software.
During a long train or plane trip, sitting comfortably in front of a film or series recorded on a MacBook, for example, helps the time pass more quickly. Simply put on your headphones or place headphones on your ears to immerse yourself in the bubble. But what if you want to enjoy content together without disturbing your neighbors by turning up the volume? By connecting two pairs of headphones or two Bluetooth headsets simultaneously to the Mac of course! This operation does not present the slightest difficulty. It relies on a utility available in macOS for a long time: Audio and MIDI Configuration. It is through this small app that it will be possible to connect two Bluetooth sound outputs and to instruct any Mac (a MacBook, an iMac, a Mac mini, etc.) to simultaneously send the audio to both headsets. Practical. You will be able to watch a film or series or listen to a music playlist while enjoying good sound without affecting the surroundings. Note that if you have a Bluetooth headset and a wired headset, the procedure also works. And no need to have Apple peripherals. Any headset or earphone will do the trick.
How to connect two Bluetooth headsets at the same time to a Mac?
To enjoy Mac audio on two headsets simultaneously, both devices must have already been independently connected to the computer at least once and therefore appear in the list of known devices.
► If you haven’t already done so, pair a first headset to the Mac via Bluetooth as you usually do. In our example, we find AirPods Pro and Bose QC EarBuds II headphones.
► From Finder, now navigate to the folder Applications > Utilities and open the app Audio and MIDI setup. All audio input and output devices connected to the Mac are displayed here. The trick is to create a profile that combines two audio outputs to create just one. Click on the button + at the bottom left of the window. In the menu that appears, choose Create a multiple output device.
► The content of the window changes. In the middle pane, check the boxes corresponding to the two headsets or pairs of earphones to use. If a wired headset is part of the bundle, check the box External headphones.
► Then define which of the headsets will be the main earphone using the first drop-down menu at the top of the window (generally, the computer owner’s headset). The pairing of the two devices is complete. All that remains is to activate this configuration.
► Open the Settings System of the Mac then click on Her. The configuration Multiple output device must be in the list of available audio devices. Click on it to select it. All that remains is to put on your respective headsets or earphones and enjoy the show together…. or more. A multiple output device can accommodate more than two audio outputs.
