Some Delay Is Normal
Internet radio is not normally real-time. Audio is encoded, transmitted across the Internet, buffered by the listener, and then played. A delay between the DJ and listener is therefore expected.
Buffering Adds to the Delay
Players often buffer several seconds of audio so a brief network interruption does not immediately stop playback. Different players and devices may therefore have different delays.
Delay Is Different From Dropping Audio
A steady delay is not the same thing as buffering or repeated disconnects. If playback remains smooth but is behind the live broadcast, that can be normal. If audio repeatedly stops or skips, investigate the connection instead.
When to Investigate Further
If the delay suddenly becomes much larger than usual, or listeners report long pauses, buffering, or repeated reconnections, check the encoder and network path.
Need More Help?
For connection problems, see Understanding Connection Refused and Connection Timeout and Why Are My Listeners Hearing Buffering or Dropouts?.