diff --git a/src/AudioThread.cpp b/src/AudioThread.cpp
index 7107a1c80..e8f6dcf1d 100644
--- a/src/AudioThread.cpp
+++ b/src/AudioThread.cpp
@@ -316,9 +316,7 @@ void AudioThread::run()
                         scale(dst, dst, nb_samples, volume_i, vol);
                     }
                 }
-                ao->waitForNextBuffer();
-                ao->receiveData(decodedChunk, pkt.pts);
-                ao->play();
+                ao->play(decodedChunk, pkt.pts);
                 d.clock->updateValue(ao->timestamp());
                 emit frameDelivered();
             } else {
diff --git a/src/QtAV/AudioOutput.h b/src/QtAV/AudioOutput.h
index ed8879ca4..6859907ab 100644
--- a/src/QtAV/AudioOutput.h
+++ b/src/QtAV/AudioOutput.h
@@ -33,9 +33,7 @@
  * ao->open();
  * while (has_data) {
  *     data = read_data(ao->bufferSize());
- *     ao->waitForNextBuffer();
- *     ao->receiveData(data, pts);
- *     ao->play();
+ *     ao->play(data, pts);
  * }
  * ao->close();
  * See QtAV/tests/ao/main.cpp for detail
@@ -78,7 +76,7 @@ class Q_AV_EXPORT AudioOutput : public QObject, public AVOutput
     Q_DECLARE_FLAGS(BufferControls, BufferControl)
     /*!
      * \brief The Feature enum
-     * features (set when playing) supported by the audio playback api.
+     * features (set when playing) supported by the audio playback api
      */
     enum Feature {
         SetVolume = 1,
@@ -94,8 +92,15 @@ class Q_AV_EXPORT AudioOutput : public QObject, public AVOutput
     virtual ~AudioOutput();
     virtual bool open() = 0;
     virtual bool close() = 0;
-    // store and fill data to audio buffers
-    bool receiveData(const QByteArray &data, qreal pts = 0.0);
+    /*!
+     * \brief play
+     * Play out the given audio data. It may block current thread until the data can be written to audio device
+     * for async playback backend, or until the data is completely played for blocking playback backend.
+     * \param data Audio data to play
+     * \param pts Timestamp for this data. Useful if need A/V sync. Ignore it if only play audio
+     * \return true if play successfully
+     */
+    bool play(const QByteArray& data, qreal pts = 0.0);
     /*!
      * \brief setAudioFormat
      * Remain the old value if not supported
@@ -177,14 +182,18 @@ class Q_AV_EXPORT AudioOutput : public QObject, public AVOutput
     Feature features() const;
     void setFeature(Feature value, bool on = true);
     bool hasFeatures(Feature value) const;
+    qreal timestamp() const;
+    // Internal use since QtAV 1.5
+    virtual bool play() = 0; //MUST
     /*!
      * \brief waitForNextBuffer
      * wait until you can feed more data
+     * Internal use since QtAV 1.5
      */
     virtual void waitForNextBuffer();
+    // Internal use since QtAV 1.5. store and fill data to audio buffers
+    QTAV_DEPRECATED bool receiveData(const QByteArray &data, qreal pts = 0.0);
     // timestamp of current playing data
-    qreal timestamp() const;
-    virtual bool play() = 0; //MUST
 signals:
     void volumeChanged(qreal);
     void muteChanged(bool);
diff --git a/src/output/audio/AudioOutput.cpp b/src/output/audio/AudioOutput.cpp
index 2012b3ef4..cebf2b79d 100644
--- a/src/output/audio/AudioOutput.cpp
+++ b/src/output/audio/AudioOutput.cpp
@@ -42,6 +42,13 @@ AudioOutput::~AudioOutput()
 {
 }
 
+bool AudioOutput::play(const QByteArray &data, qreal pts)
+{
+    waitForNextBuffer();
+    receiveData(data, pts);
+    return play();
+}
+
 bool AudioOutput::receiveData(const QByteArray &data, qreal pts)
 {
     DPTR_D(AudioOutput);
@@ -65,6 +72,8 @@ void AudioOutput::setAudioFormat(const AudioFormat& format)
     if (!isSupported(format)) {
         return;
     }
+    if (d.format == format)
+        return;
     d.format = format;
 }
 
diff --git a/tests/ao/main.cpp b/tests/ao/main.cpp
index 935413617..1f073e030 100644
--- a/tests/ao/main.cpp
+++ b/tests/ao/main.cpp
@@ -87,9 +87,7 @@ int main(int argc, char** argv)
             left = (left+1) % kTableSize;
             right = (right+3)% kTableSize;
         }
-        ao->waitForNextBuffer();
-        ao->receiveData(data);
-        ao->play();
+        ao->play(data);
     }
     ao->close();
     return 0;