If you want to play audio through multiple outputs on a Mac, you might already have a free tool sitting in your Applications folder: Audio MIDI Setup. It's been bundled with macOS for years and it can create a "Multi-Output Device" that routes audio to multiple speakers or headphones at once.
So why would you pay $19.99 for Audio Splitter Max? Here's an honest look at both — where each one wins, and when each one makes sense.
⚠️ Heads up: If you only need basic multi-output on Mac and don't care about per-device volume or EQ, Audio MIDI Setup might be enough. We'll tell you exactly when it isn't.
Audio MIDI Setup is a system utility. It was designed by engineers for engineers — it looks like it hasn't changed since 2008. Audio Splitter Max is a purpose-built audio routing app with a modern interface. You can see the difference in 5 seconds:
| Feature | Audio MIDI Setup | Audio Splitter Max |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple audio outputs simultaneously | ✓ | ✓ |
| Works on Windows | ✗ | ✓ |
| Per-device volume control | ✗ | ✓ |
| Per-device EQ (5-band) | ✗ | ✓ |
| Delay compensation per deviceSync Bluetooth to wired outputs | ✗ | ✓ |
| Per-device mute | ✗ | ✓ |
| Channel routingL/R, Bass, Vocals, Mono splits | ✗ | ✓ |
| Level meters / visualizer | ✗ | ✓ |
| Virtual audio inputBlackHole, VB-Cable | Complex setup | ✓ |
| Works system-wide (any app) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Browser tab capture (no system change)Chrome extension (Lite/Pro) | ✗ | ✓ |
| Price | Free (built-in macOS) | $19.99 one-time |
You're on macOS, you only need audio to go to two outputs at the same volume, you don't need EQ or delay control, and you're comfortable navigating a system utility. It's free and it works.
You need per-device volume, EQ, or delay. You're on Windows. You want a dedicated app that doesn't require wiring up aggregate devices in a system panel. Or you want a visualizer for live events.
This is where most people hit a wall with Audio MIDI Setup. When you create a Multi-Output Device, volume control is shared — your system volume slider raises and lowers all outputs together. You can't set your studio monitors to 60% and your headphones to 100% independently.
Audio Splitter Max gives every output device its own volume slider. Bluetooth headphones default to 150% to compensate for the typical BT volume drop. Wired outputs stay at 100%. You can mute one device without touching the others. This alone is worth the price for anyone doing serious listening.
Bluetooth audio has latency. Typically 100–300ms depending on the codec. When you mix a wired monitor and a Bluetooth headphone in Audio MIDI Setup's multi-output, they'll be audibly out of sync. MIDI Setup has no way to compensate for this.
Audio Splitter Max includes a per-device delay slider (up to 1000ms). Add delay to the wired monitor until it matches the Bluetooth latency. It also includes Auto-Sync, which detects reported device latency automatically on session start.
Audio MIDI Setup is macOS-only. Windows has no built-in equivalent. Your options on Windows are VoiceMeeter (complex virtual mixer), third-party virtual audio drivers, or Audio Splitter Max. For most users, Max is by far the easiest path.
One thing Audio MIDI Setup can't touch at all: browser tab capture. Audio Splitter Lite and Pro (the Chrome extension) capture a specific tab's audio without touching your system audio output settings. No multi-output device setup required. No system preferences. Open the extension, click Capture, add a device, done.
This is why the Chrome extension is often the better starting point — it's free, requires no configuration, and doesn't interfere with anything else running on your machine.
💡 Recommended path: Start with the free Lite Chrome extension to see if multi-output routing works for your hardware. If you need more devices, EQ, or delay — or if you're on Windows — upgrade to Max.
Lite Chrome extension · 2 devices · No setup · No account
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