VSSL allows you to stream audio to more than one speaker, or set of speakers, at the same time. We refer to these multi-room audio zones as party zones. For example, if you’re having a get together at your house and you want to play the same audio in more than one zone of your home, you could have your AirPlay, Chromecast, or Spotify Connect audio stream play in your living room, kitchen, and outside on your patio.

Setting up Party Zones in the VSSL App

Before you can use a party zone, you have to designate which audio zones you want to be a part of your party zone. After setting up your VSSL unit using the Google Home app and setup procedure, open the VSSL app. Click the hamburger menu in the top left and then click SETTINGS. Under the DEVICES list you will see your VSSL unit(s). Click the unit you would like to setup a party zone for. Under ZONE SETTINGS you will see the names of all your audio zones. Feel free to change these to better describe your setup. Once they are named appropriately, click on PARTY. You can type in any name you want for your party zone by clicking the text field that appears next to PARTY ZONE. Under the INCLUDED ZONES you can click on the zones you want to include in that party zone. A green check mark will appear for zones that are included in your party zone. Once you are done, you can exit the VSSL app.

Setting up Groups for Chromecast

Setting up groups for use with Chromecast requires additional setup within the Google Home app. Start by opening the Google Home app . In the upper right corner of the home screen, tap Devices  to see your available Chromecast Audio or speaker with Chromecast built-in. Note: All audio devices must be set up on the same Wi-Fi network, and on the same Wi-Fi network as your mobile phone or tablet. In the top right corner of the Chromecast Audio or speaker with Chromecast built-in you’d like to set up in a group, tap the device card menu and then Create Group. The default name of the group is “Home group”. To rename the group, erase the name and type in something new. You will now see a list of all available speakers, including Google Home, if available. To add or remove a speaker from the group, tap the box next to its name. A check will appear in the box next to the speaker’s name to indicate whether it will be associated with the group . Note: At least two speakers must be selected to create a group. Tap Save. After the speakers have been successfully added to the group, you will see the group device card within Devices . Note: It may take up to 5-10 seconds for the group device card to appear in the Google Home app. Tap Speakers in Group to see which speakers are associated with the group.

Using Party Zones with AirPlay

Using Party Zones with Chromecast

You can use Chromecast to cast audio to your party zone from your computer or mobile device. You can cast your computer audio from a Mac, Windows, or Chrome OS system. Start by opening a Chrome browser. Ensure your computer and VSSL unit are on the same wireless network. Go to Google Play Music (play.google.com/music) using Chrome. Click a song, album, or playlist. Click Play. If you’ve pinned the Cast button to your toolbar, click the Cast button  in the Chrome toolbar (upper right corner) of your browser. Otherwise, navigate to the Chrome Settings menu in  the Chrome toolbar in the upper right corner of your browser and click “Cast..”.

Next to the where it says, Cast to …, you’ll see a small dropdown menu where you can select your Chromecast party zone.

If you are looking to use Chromecast to cast your audio from a mobile device to your party zone, first ensure your device and VSSL unit are on the same wireless network. Open the Google Play Music app . Tap the Cast button . Select your Chromecast party zone.

Using Party Zones with Spotify Connect

You can use the Spotify app for desktop/mobile or the web based Spotify player. Before you begin you need to ensure your device is on the same network as your VSSL unit. For streaming through Spotify Connect on a desktop or the web player, click  in the bottom-right and then select the VSSL party zone you want to stream to. When streaming from a mobile device or a tablet, first play a song, then tap Devices Available in the bottom of the screen. Finally, select the VSSL party zone to stream your audio.