GITNUXSOFTWARE REVIEW
Technology Digital MediaTop 10 Best Dual Audio Output Software of 2026
Compare dual audio output software for Windows and macOS, covering key features and tradeoffs for choosing the right setup, with options like SoundWire.
How we ranked these tools
Vendors set the topic, but our editors set the inclusion criteria and the evaluation framework before research starts.
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Framework: Features 40% · Ease 30% · Value 30%
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EarTrumpet is the best pick for Windows users who need dual-device playback with per-app output assignment built right into the standard sound flow, whereas SoundWire is a smarter alternative for those duplicating audio to mobile over Wi‑Fi thanks to its native streaming setup that stays synchronized to chosen endpoints.
Editor’s top 3 picks
Three quick recommendations before you dive into the full comparison below — each one leads on a different dimension.
EarTrumpet
Application-aware volume and output routing controls directly inside the Windows sound interface.
Best for: Fits when dual-device playback needs per-app output assignment without building an audio matrix.
SoundWire
Editor pickNative remote audio streaming setup that keeps one captured feed synchronized to one or more output endpoints.
Best for: Fits when system audio must be duplicated and streamed with controlled latency and minimal ongoing tuning.
Audio Hijack
Editor pickSession-level “channels” that combine capture, processing blocks, and multiple outputs in one routed chain.
Best for: Fits when macOS setups need repeatable multi-output capture with per-path processing.
Comparison Table
EarTrumpet
SMBWindows volume mixer providing per-application audio control to direct sound to selected output devices.
Application-aware volume and output routing controls directly inside the Windows sound interface.
EarTrumpet is a Windows dual-audio output utility that adds per-app volume and output device controls to the Windows sound UI. It focuses on fast switching between output devices and showing active apps tied to their current audio sessions.
The app does not try to build a full audio matrix or run cross-device loopback. It is best treated as a control layer for system audio routing and multi-output playback decisions.
- +Per-application output selection through an integrated Windows volume experience
- +Quick device switching with minimal UI overhead and no extra routing panel
- +Clear visibility of which apps own active audio sessions
- +Uses Windows audio session APIs for consistent app-level control
- –No built-in audio duplication across devices for simultaneous multi-output playback
- –Limited routing beyond choosing the output device per running app
- –Does not address sample-rate sync or buffer tuning across mixed devices
- –Advanced channel mapping and stereo split workflows are not covered
Streamers and presenters
Duplicate app audio to monitor and capture
Simultaneous monitoring and recording
Windows users with extra devices
Send a single app to headphones
Correct device routing fast
Show 2 more scenarios
Remote workers and small teams
Mute media while keeping call audio
Fewer meeting interruptions
Lower browser, alerts, and media while preserving the active call output.
Gamers and voice chat users
Balance game output with chat audio
More controlled mix
Keep game playback levels separate from communication audio without changing system volume.
Best for: Fits when dual-device playback needs per-app output assignment without building an audio matrix.
SoundWire
specialistAudio transmission app that sends audio from a PC to mobile devices over WiFi for dual output setups.
Native remote audio streaming setup that keeps one captured feed synchronized to one or more output endpoints.
SoundWire is designed around virtual capture and playback endpoints so one source can be duplicated to another output path without needing per-application audio session rules. Configuration centers on selecting the capture source, defining the target output, and tuning audio parameters such as sample format and buffering for latency tradeoffs. Routing behavior stays consistent because it does not rely on application hooks for common audio paths. That makes it a fit for multi-room playback, live capture relays, and remote audio monitoring where system audio routing changes are frequent.
A tradeoff appears in channel-level control. SoundWire does not present the same kind of fine-grained mixer matrix features as dedicated multi-output audio mixers, so workflows that depend on explicit left-right channel mapping and per-output EQ usually need extra tools. It is a strong usage fit when one stable audio feed must be broadcast with acceptable latency and minimal user interaction during playback.
- +Predictable multi-output routing from one capture source
- +Configurable buffering and audio parameters for latency control
- +Reliable remote audio streaming between machines
- +Low-interaction setup for repeated dual-output runs
- –Limited mixer-grade controls for channel splitting and mapping
- –No granular per-application routing rules for mixed workflows
Live stream audio teams
Send monitor mix to remote workstation
Consistent remote monitoring
Home studio operators
Play one input on two computers
Single source, dual playback
Show 1 more scenario
Support engineers
Relay system audio for diagnostics
Faster troubleshooting feedback
SoundWire streams system audio to a second machine for real-time issue reproduction.
Best for: Fits when system audio must be duplicated and streamed with controlled latency and minimal ongoing tuning.
Audio Hijack
vertical specialistRoutes audio from applications and system sources to multiple outputs on macOS.
Session-level “channels” that combine capture, processing blocks, and multiple outputs in one routed chain.
Audio Hijack creates audio routing chains on macOS that can capture system or application audio and send it to one or more output devices. Its core model uses configurable “channels” with blocks for capture, processing, and output, which supports per-path gain and format conversion before simultaneous playback.
The tool’s built-in audio session control and precise routing graph help when duplicating audio for a second device like a capture card while keeping latency behavior predictable. Rack-level saving and preset-based workflows make multi-output configurations repeatable across sessions.
- +Block-based channel graphs make multi-output duplication auditable
- +Per-channel processing lets each output path have distinct EQ and levels
- +File-based routing presets speed up repeatable dual-output setups
- +Core Audio based routing keeps device selection consistent on macOS
- –Automation and API hooks are limited compared with scriptable routing tools
- –Live reconfiguration can require stopping a session to avoid clicks
Gamers and live creators
Split game, chat, and music paths
Independent mix control
Support teams and reviewers
Record app output for regression checks
Repeatable audio evidence
Show 2 more scenarios
Mac reviewers and content creators
Record browser and media audio sources
Source-specific recordings
Select system or application sources to produce recordings from chosen inputs.
Broadcasters and stream operators
Route mixes to monitoring and streaming
Controlled broadcast path
Combine microphones, effects, and app audio into one session with multiple outputs for control.
Best for: Fits when macOS setups need repeatable multi-output capture with per-path processing.
NVIDIA Broadcast
specialistAI-driven audio software that processes and routes microphone and speaker audio through virtual devices.
AI-based noise removal and room echo cancellation applied before audio leaves the NVIDIA virtual endpoint.
NVIDIA Broadcast creates virtual audio endpoints that apps and conferencing tools can select for separate playback. It supports effects that run in the Broadcast processing stage, including noise removal and echo control, and it can route the processed result to the selected output device. Compared with application-first routing tools like Sonar or SoundWire, Broadcast’s core strength is effect processing plus consistent virtual endpoint behavior on the same Windows host.
- +AI noise removal and echo control on virtual endpoints
- +Consistent virtual device selection inside Windows audio apps
- +Low-friction setup for dual-output conferencing workflows
- +WASAPI-compatible endpoints for common capture and playback apps
- –Limited per-application routing and channel mapping controls
- –Processing requirements can add latency to mic monitoring
- –Dual-output is strongest within the NVIDIA virtual device model
- –Advanced routing scenarios need additional audio software
Live streamers on Windows
Mic effects sent to two endpoints
Cleaner broadcast and monitoring
Remote presenters
Conference send plus local recording
Consistent voice across both paths
Show 1 more scenario
Small studios
Loopback capture with enhanced mic
Less post-edit work
Enhanced microphone audio can be routed via NVIDIA virtual devices for capture and monitoring in one workflow.
Best for: Fits when dual output depends on AI mic effects with predictable virtual endpoints on one Windows machine.
SteelSeries Sonar
SMBAudio mixing software that routes game, chat, and media audio to separate output devices simultaneously.
Sonar’s integrated voice processing and per-source controls inside its virtual mixer for mic and system audio.
Sonar provides a software mixer that routes microphone and system audio into Sonar processing and then out through Sonar virtual devices, which simplifies dual-device audio routing for headsets plus capture devices. Built-in blocks for voice processing and audio cleanup reduce the need to stack third-party filters before sending audio to a second endpoint. Its per-application routing helps keep browser tabs and launchers from sharing the same output path as the game audio. This design fits setups that need consistent routing each time an app restarts.
- +Game and voice processing integrated into the Sonar mixer
- +Per-application audio routing keeps chat separate from game audio
- +Virtual devices make dual output routing simpler than cable chains
- +Mixer controls reduce repeated per-app output setup
- –Advanced pro routing workflows may need extra Windows audio steps
- –Some processing behavior can be harder to replicate across apps
- –Routing can break when an app recreates audio sessions
- –Limited extensibility versus tools that expose deeper routing graphs
Streamers and content creators
Separate mic, game, and chat capture outputs
Clean captures with consistent routing
PC gamers with Discord
Keep Discord voice isolated from game audio
Less audio bleed between sources
Show 2 more scenarios
Podcast teams on Windows
Send controlled system audio to recording
More predictable post-production levels
Sonar outputs tuned system playback to a secondary device used by recording software.
Small esports squads
Two endpoints for practice and broadcast
Fewer setup changes mid-session
Dual output control supports simultaneous monitoring and broadcast capture without manual rewiring.
Best for: Fits when streaming and voice chat need independent control across two audio endpoints.
BlackHole
API-firstmacOS virtual audio driver for connecting applications and building multi-output audio setups.
High-stability virtual device endpoints that behave like real audio interfaces in device-based routing.
BlackHole from existential.audio is a low-latency virtual audio device meant for dual-audio output duplication and application-to-application routing. It creates stable virtual endpoints on macOS using loopback-style capture and output registration, so the host mixer can treat it like a real device.
- +Creates stable virtual endpoints for consistent dual output routing
- +Minimal software surface reduces failure points in audio graphs
- +Works well with pro tools that select inputs and outputs by device
- +Low-friction setup for simultaneous playback with existing mixers
- –No integrated audio matrix or per-app automation inside the app
- –Routing complexity increases once buffer and sample-rate alignment matter
Desktop audio specialists
Buss channels between compatible apps
Channel-aware signal paths
Remote presenters and hosts
Feed conferencing software a selected virtual source
Conferencing gets chosen audio
Show 2 more scenarios
Producers and audio engineers
Connect DAW and plugin hosts virtually
No physical patching
Create reusable software signal routes between workstations, plugin hosts, and processors.
Streamers and content creators
Provide DAW audio to streaming tools
Selectable app capture source
Make program audio available as a selectable capture source for streaming and recording apps.
Best for: Fits when macOS workflows need dependable virtual devices for simultaneous playback and app-level output assignment.
Equator
vertical specialistSpatial audio mixer and router for Eventide H90 processors with multi-output routing capabilities.
Dual destination volume and monitoring controls built for two-output duplication rather than full matrix routing.
Equator is a dual audio output tool that focuses on duplicating and splitting a single app or system audio stream into two independent playback targets. It provides per-output controls for device selection and monitoring so the two outputs can run with different routing choices.
- +Straightforward dual-device output duplication with minimal routing steps
- +Independent output volume controls per playback target
- +Fast switch between devices for live monitoring and recording chains
- +Clear UI layout for selecting the two destinations
- –Limited per-application routing compared with session-aware tools
- –No exposed channel mapping or stereo split matrix controls
Podcast producers
Route playback to monitor and recorder
Fewer routing mistakes
Live streamers
Send stream and headphones independently
Better on-air audio control
Show 2 more scenarios
Audio engineers
Test mixes on two devices
Faster device comparison
Plays the same stream through two playback targets with per-output monitoring and selection.
Teachers using classroom media
Deliver lesson audio and internal monitoring
Reduced student audio issues
Routes the same playback to front-of-room and a separate monitoring device for clarity checks.
Best for: Fits when a single audio source must be heard on two devices with independent volume and quick setup.
Voicemeeter
vertical specialistWindows mixer software that routes application audio to multiple hardware outputs.
Voicemeeter’s audio matrix routing across multiple buses enables one input mix to feed two distinct output device paths.
Voicemeeter is a Windows mixer that routes audio into multiple virtual buses so one playback source can be duplicated to separate output devices.
- +Multiple virtual input and output buses with configurable routing per channel
- +Per-channel gain and routing let one mix feed two independent outputs
- +Hardware and virtual loopback style routing supports complex capture-workflows
- +Granular control over levels reduces the need for separate mixing apps
- –Channel mapping and bus assignments require careful configuration discipline
- –Frequent sample-rate or buffer mismatches can increase audible artifacts or drift
- –Audio device selection is manual and not designed around quick profiles
- –Debugging routing failures can be slow due to limited runtime diagnostics
Creators and live operators
Route program to speakers and headphones
Independent listening mix
Desktop audio users
Deliver one source to multiple apps
Flexible delivery to apps
Show 2 more scenarios
Streamers and content creators
Create separate stream and monitor mixes
Controllable live mix
Combine microphone, system, and application audio into distinct paths for broadcast and listening.
Live audio operators
Switch between configured device setups
Faster setup changes
Change routes between hardware endpoints and virtual devices during a live session.
Best for: Fits when a Windows setup needs configurable dual audio outputs with per-channel routing control.
PipeWire
vertical specialistLinux multimedia server for audio routing, device aggregation, and low-latency processing.
A unified real-time processing graph that combines JACK-style routing with system-wide device management for multi-output duplication.
PipeWire can run as a system-level audio server that aggregates multiple capture and playback paths while supporting simultaneous multi-output playback. Its core capabilities include a modern replacement layer for legacy sound servers, plus JACK-compatible graph routing and format conversion inside a unified processing pipeline.
- +Single audio graph supports simultaneous multi-output routing
- +Format conversion and resampling happen within the same processing pipeline
- +JACK-compatible routing integrates with professional audio workflows
- +Per-application output selection is handled through the session layer
- –Dual-output behavior depends on correct session and client routing rules
- –Advanced channel mapping is harder to manage than simple mirror modes
- –Graph changes can be confusing without a clear visual or policy view
- –Certain desktop integrations require extra packages or configuration
Linux audio administrators
Run multi-output playback with routing graphs
Multi-output playback enabled
Developers using JACK workflows
Use graph routing and format conversion
Predictable routing pipeline
Show 2 more scenarios
Power users managing per-app outputs
Assign outputs per application session
Clear app-to-output mapping
Apply per-application output assignment via the system graph rather than app-only duplication.
Teams standardizing audio behavior
Centralize policies through configuration files
Consistent audio session behavior
Administer routing through service policies and configuration instead of manual desktop settings.
Best for: Fits when multi-output routing must stay consistent across apps and pro audio tooling.
Virtual Audio Cable
specialistWindows software that creates virtual audio devices to route audio signals between applications.
Channel format and cable endpoint configuration that enables left-right specific routing using standard Windows device selection.
Virtual Audio Cable is a Windows virtual audio device that pairs loopback audio with selectable channel formats for duplicating or rerouting playback. The setup centers on installing a virtual cable endpoint and then targeting it from apps that support the Windows audio device list, which supports multi-output audio workflows without additional mixing software.
- +Simple virtual device installation that shows up in normal app output pickers
- +Supports multiple cable instances for independent dual-output duplication paths
- +Channel format control helps with stereo splitting and left-right routing needs
- +Works with standard Windows audio paths like WASAPI for loopback playback
- –No built-in audio mixer means no cross-device level control per output
- –Requires careful sample-rate and buffer matching to avoid latency mismatch
- –Limited governance controls for fleets compared with enterprise routing tools
- –Per-application routing relies on each app’s device selection behavior
Windows creators
Duplicate app playback to multiple endpoints
Simultaneous duplicated playback
Streamers and recording users
Reroute one app into a virtual cable
Application-level rerouting
Show 2 more scenarios
Audio technicians
Maintain stable duplication with buffer matching
Stable duplication
Set system buffer and sample-rate compatibility so the loopback behaves consistently for the source app.
Windows teams using WASAPI
Target the virtual cable via WASAPI routing
Reliable virtual device output
Rely on Windows audio APIs to carry playback into the virtual endpoint for dual-audio workflows.
Best for: Fits when dual-output duplication is needed on a single Windows host without a software mixer.
Conclusion
After evaluating 10 dual audio output software, EarTrumpet stands out as our overall top pick — it scored highest across our combined criteria of features, ease of use, and value, which is why it sits at #1 in the rankings above.
Use the comparison table and detailed reviews above to validate the fit against your own requirements before committing to a tool.
Frequently Asked Questions About Dual Audio Output Software
Which tool is best for duplicating system audio to another device while preserving predictable latency?
How does SteelSeries Sonar handle per-application routing compared with EarTrumpet?
When does NVIDIA Broadcast outperform dual-device routing tools that focus on matrix control?
What breaks if macOS users rely on a simple virtual cable approach instead of BlackHole or Audio Hijack?
Which tool gives the most control over routing at the audio-matrix level for Windows?
How does PipeWire administration differ from single-app routing inside Audio Hijack?
Where does Virtual Audio Cable fall short when stereo channel splitting is required for left-right routing?
What tradeoff appears in Voicemeeter when sample-rate and buffer settings are inconsistent across devices?
How should admin controls and auditability be approached for multi-output environments using PipeWire or other tools?
Tools reviewed
Primary sources checked during evaluation.
Referenced in the comparison table and product reviews above.
How to Choose the Right Dual Audio Output Software
We look for differences in how reliably a tool supports dual audio output and how much control it gives over where sound goes. The biggest separators are the routing model and output control depth in real workflows.
Routing options for two outputs
Why it matters
Routing options for two outputs matter because dual audio output software usually fails at edge cases like app changes, device hot-swaps, or mixed sources. If the tool only supports one direction, you lose control when you test real playback.
How to check
Start two audio sources (for example, a media player plus a voice call preview) and set one to each output. Then switch the source while playback continues and confirm the destination stays correct.
Per-application output assignment
Why it matters
Per-application output assignment matters because normal setups mix browsers, meetings, and background audio. Without it, you end up manually re-routing every time a window or app changes.
How to check
Assign one app to Output A and another app to Output B, then open a new tab or launch a new player and watch whether routing follows the assignment. Also test a running app after you change its output selection.
Latency stability during dual play
Why it matters
Latency stability during dual play matters because users notice echo, drift, or “one device ahead” behavior when two outputs run together. Even small timing shifts can ruin synchronized listening.
How to check
Play a short click track or metronome file to both outputs and record with a second device or phone app. Ask the demo team to repeat after toggling an output destination once.
Independent volume and mute controls
Why it matters
Independent volume and mute controls matter because you rarely want the same loudness on both destinations. Good control lets you balance without reconfiguring routing or restarting playback.
How to check
Route the same source to both outputs, then change only Output A volume and verify Output B stays constant. Test mute/unmute on each output while audio is playing.
Device hot-swap and reconnect handling
Why it matters
Device management matters because users unplug headsets, dock laptops, or switch monitor speakers mid-session. Dual audio output software should recover routing without manual rebuilds.
How to check
While audio is playing, switch the physical output devices (for example, change from speakers to a headset). Confirm the app keeps its assignments and that both outputs still receive sound.
Automation and API for routing rules
Why it matters
Automation and API for routing rules matter when you manage many workstations or repeat setups across users and sessions. With a documented API surface, we can automate configuration instead of clicking every time.
How to check
Ask for a sample automation flow: create a routing rule, apply it, and verify it persists after restart. Check whether the tool can export/import configuration or manage assignments via an API.
Red flags
- Routing changes break when you switch apps mid-play
- Output balance requires restarting playback or reloading rules
- Dual output timing drifts noticeably after a device reconnect
Fit by situation
- If you need two destinations for different apps at the same time, prioritize per-application output assignment.
- If you run meetings while switching headsets on and off, prioritize device hot-swap and reconnect handling.
- If you want repeatable setups across machines, prioritize automation and API for routing rules.
Funding and competing interests
This study was co-funded by several of the vendors assessed in it. No single vendor funded it. Funders could propose the market studied.
They had no role in selecting vendors, setting or weighting criteria, analysing data or drawing conclusions, and they received the same factual-accuracy check as every other vendor assessed.
Market definition, inclusion rules and criteria weights were fixed by an editor before research began and did not change afterwards. Editorial process →
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