diff --git a/examples/basic.rs b/examples/basic.rs
index cba054a..d715f69 100644
--- a/examples/basic.rs
+++ b/examples/basic.rs
@@ -3,24 +3,24 @@ use std::thread;
 use std::time::Duration;
 
 fn main() {
-    let stream = rodio::OutputStream::try_default().unwrap();
+    let (_stream, stream_handle) = rodio::OutputStream::try_default().unwrap();
 
     let file = std::fs::File::open("examples/beep.wav").unwrap();
-    let beep1 = stream.play_once(BufReader::new(file)).unwrap();
+    let beep1 = stream_handle.play_once(BufReader::new(file)).unwrap();
     beep1.set_volume(0.2);
     println!("Started beep1");
 
     thread::sleep(Duration::from_millis(1500));
 
     let file = std::fs::File::open("examples/beep2.wav").unwrap();
-    let beep2 = stream.play_once(BufReader::new(file)).unwrap();
+    let beep2 = stream_handle.play_once(BufReader::new(file)).unwrap();
     beep2.set_volume(0.3);
     beep2.detach();
     println!("Started beep2");
 
     thread::sleep(Duration::from_millis(1500));
     let file = std::fs::File::open("examples/beep3.ogg").unwrap();
-    let beep3 = stream.play_once(file).unwrap();
+    let beep3 = stream_handle.play_once(file).unwrap();
     beep3.set_volume(0.2);
     println!("Started beep3");
 
diff --git a/examples/music_flac.rs b/examples/music_flac.rs
index 028eae4..216a1b1 100644
--- a/examples/music_flac.rs
+++ b/examples/music_flac.rs
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 use std::io::BufReader;
 
 fn main() {
-    let stream = rodio::OutputStream::try_default().unwrap();
-    let sink = rodio::Sink::new(&stream);
+    let (_stream, handle) = rodio::OutputStream::try_default().unwrap();
+    let sink = rodio::Sink::try_new(&handle).unwrap();
 
     let file = std::fs::File::open("examples/music.flac").unwrap();
     sink.append(rodio::Decoder::new(BufReader::new(file)).unwrap());
diff --git a/examples/music_mp3.rs b/examples/music_mp3.rs
index acbaaf3..8091043 100644
--- a/examples/music_mp3.rs
+++ b/examples/music_mp3.rs
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 use std::io::BufReader;
 
 fn main() {
-    let stream = rodio::OutputStream::try_default().unwrap();
-    let sink = rodio::Sink::new(&stream);
+    let (_stream, handle) = rodio::OutputStream::try_default().unwrap();
+    let sink = rodio::Sink::try_new(&handle).unwrap();
 
     let file = std::fs::File::open("examples/music.mp3").unwrap();
     sink.append(rodio::Decoder::new(BufReader::new(file)).unwrap());
diff --git a/examples/music_ogg.rs b/examples/music_ogg.rs
index fb8f042..0b75333 100644
--- a/examples/music_ogg.rs
+++ b/examples/music_ogg.rs
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 use std::io::BufReader;
 
 fn main() {
-    let stream = rodio::OutputStream::try_default().unwrap();
-    let sink = rodio::Sink::new(&stream);
+    let (_stream, handle) = rodio::OutputStream::try_default().unwrap();
+    let sink = rodio::Sink::try_new(&handle).unwrap();
 
     let file = std::fs::File::open("examples/music.ogg").unwrap();
     sink.append(rodio::Decoder::new(BufReader::new(file)).unwrap());
diff --git a/examples/music_wav.rs b/examples/music_wav.rs
index ae7a2f3..2dda1bf 100644
--- a/examples/music_wav.rs
+++ b/examples/music_wav.rs
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 use std::io::BufReader;
 
 fn main() {
-    let stream = rodio::OutputStream::try_default().unwrap();
-    let sink = rodio::Sink::new(&stream);
+    let (_stream, handle) = rodio::OutputStream::try_default().unwrap();
+    let sink = rodio::Sink::try_new(&handle).unwrap();
 
     let file = std::fs::File::open("examples/music.wav").unwrap();
     sink.append(rodio::Decoder::new(BufReader::new(file)).unwrap());
diff --git a/examples/reverb.rs b/examples/reverb.rs
index dc9d8ae..0174551 100644
--- a/examples/reverb.rs
+++ b/examples/reverb.rs
@@ -3,8 +3,8 @@ use std::io::BufReader;
 use std::time::Duration;
 
 fn main() {
-    let stream = rodio::OutputStream::try_default().unwrap();
-    let sink = rodio::Sink::new(&stream);
+    let (_stream, handle) = rodio::OutputStream::try_default().unwrap();
+    let sink = rodio::Sink::try_new(&handle).unwrap();
 
     let file = std::fs::File::open("examples/music.ogg").unwrap();
     let source = rodio::Decoder::new(BufReader::new(file)).unwrap();
diff --git a/examples/spatial.rs b/examples/spatial.rs
index 2b12e60..fdf200d 100644
--- a/examples/spatial.rs
+++ b/examples/spatial.rs
@@ -3,13 +3,13 @@ use std::thread;
 use std::time::Duration;
 
 fn main() {
-    let stream = rodio::OutputStream::try_default().unwrap();
-    let sink = rodio::SpatialSink::new(
-        &stream,
+    let (_stream, handle) = rodio::OutputStream::try_default().unwrap();
+    let sink = rodio::SpatialSink::try_new(
+        &handle,
         [-10.0, 0.0, 0.0],
         [1.0, 0.0, 0.0],
         [-1.0, 0.0, 0.0],
-    );
+    ).unwrap();
 
     let file = std::fs::File::open("examples/music.ogg").unwrap();
     let source = rodio::Decoder::new(BufReader::new(file)).unwrap();
diff --git a/src/lib.rs b/src/lib.rs
index 9d6e1ef..0f35986 100644
--- a/src/lib.rs
+++ b/src/lib.rs
@@ -20,11 +20,11 @@
 //! use std::io::BufReader;
 //! use rodio::Source;
 //!
-//! let stream = rodio::OutputStream::try_default().unwrap();
+//! let (stream, stream_handle) = rodio::OutputStream::try_default().unwrap();
 //!
 //! let file = File::open("sound.ogg").unwrap();
 //! let source = rodio::Decoder::new(BufReader::new(file)).unwrap();
-//! stream.play_raw(source.convert_samples());
+//! stream_handle.play_raw(source.convert_samples());
 //! ```
 //!
 //! ## Sink
@@ -38,8 +38,8 @@
 //! ```no_run
 //! use rodio::Sink;
 //!
-//! let stream = rodio::OutputStream::try_default().unwrap();
-//! let sink = rodio::Sink::new(&stream);
+//! let (stream, stream_handle) = rodio::OutputStream::try_default().unwrap();
+//! let sink = rodio::Sink::try_new(&stream_handle).unwrap();
 //!
 //! // Add a dummy source of the sake of the example.
 //! let source = rodio::source::SineWave::new(440);
diff --git a/src/sink.rs b/src/sink.rs
index 2ec1ef2..9e142b2 100644
--- a/src/sink.rs
+++ b/src/sink.rs
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-use crate::stream::OutputStream;
+use crate::stream::{OutputStreamHandle, PlayError};
 use std::sync::atomic::Ordering;
 use std::sync::atomic::{AtomicBool, AtomicUsize};
 use std::sync::mpsc::Receiver;
@@ -32,12 +32,12 @@ struct Controls {
 }
 
 impl Sink {
-    /// Builds a new `Sink`, beginning playback on a Device.
+    /// Builds a new `Sink`, beginning playback on a stream.
     #[inline]
-    pub fn new(stream: &OutputStream) -> Sink {
+    pub fn try_new(stream: &OutputStreamHandle) -> Result<Sink, PlayError> {
         let (sink, queue_rx) = Sink::new_idle();
-        stream.play_raw(queue_rx);
-        sink
+        stream.play_raw(queue_rx)?;
+        Ok(sink)
     }
 
     /// Builds a new `Sink`.
diff --git a/src/spatial_sink.rs b/src/spatial_sink.rs
index 271e0cb..d9ff4c3 100644
--- a/src/spatial_sink.rs
+++ b/src/spatial_sink.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 use crate::source::Spatial;
-use crate::stream::OutputStream;
+use crate::stream::{OutputStreamHandle, PlayError};
 use crate::Sample;
 use crate::Sink;
 use crate::Source;
@@ -21,21 +21,20 @@ struct SoundPositions {
 
 impl SpatialSink {
     /// Builds a new `SpatialSink`.
-    #[inline]
-    pub fn new(
-        stream: &OutputStream,
+    pub fn try_new(
+        stream: &OutputStreamHandle,
         emitter_position: [f32; 3],
         left_ear: [f32; 3],
         right_ear: [f32; 3],
-    ) -> SpatialSink {
-        SpatialSink {
-            sink: Sink::new(stream),
+    ) -> Result<SpatialSink, PlayError> {
+        Ok(SpatialSink {
+            sink: Sink::try_new(stream)?,
             positions: Arc::new(Mutex::new(SoundPositions {
                 emitter_position,
                 left_ear,
                 right_ear,
             })),
-        }
+        })
     }
 
     /// Sets the position of the sound emitter in 3 dimensional space.
diff --git a/src/stream.rs b/src/stream.rs
index 4f43cfb..cf1b7c0 100644
--- a/src/stream.rs
+++ b/src/stream.rs
@@ -6,55 +6,79 @@ use cpal::{
     traits::{DeviceTrait, HostTrait, StreamTrait},
     Sample,
 };
-use std::convert::TryFrom;
 use std::io::{Read, Seek};
-use std::sync::Arc;
+use std::sync::{Arc, Weak};
 use std::{error, fmt};
 
+/// Immovable `cpal::Stream` container.
+/// If this is dropped playback will end & attached `OutputStreamHandle`s will no longer work.
 pub struct OutputStream {
     mixer: Arc<DynamicMixerController<f32>>,
     _stream: cpal::Stream,
 }
 
-impl TryFrom<&'_ cpal::Device> for OutputStream {
-    type Error = StreamError;
-
-    fn try_from(device: &cpal::Device) -> Result<Self, Self::Error> {
-        let (mixer, _stream) = device.new_output_stream();
-        _stream.play()?;
-        Ok(Self { mixer, _stream })
-    }
+/// More flexible handle to a `OutputStream` that provides playback.
+#[derive(Clone)]
+pub struct OutputStreamHandle {
+    mixer: Weak<DynamicMixerController<f32>>,
 }
 
 impl OutputStream {
-    pub fn try_default() -> Result<Self, StreamError> {
+    pub fn try_from_device(
+        device: &cpal::Device,
+    ) -> Result<(Self, OutputStreamHandle), StreamError> {
+        let (mixer, _stream) = device.new_output_stream();
+        _stream.play()?;
+        let out = Self { mixer, _stream };
+        let handle = OutputStreamHandle {
+            mixer: Arc::downgrade(&out.mixer),
+        };
+        Ok((out, handle))
+    }
+
+    pub fn try_default() -> Result<(Self, OutputStreamHandle), StreamError> {
         let device = cpal::default_host()
             .default_output_device()
             .ok_or(StreamError::NoDevice)?;
-        Self::try_from(&device)
+        Self::try_from_device(&device)
     }
+}
 
+impl OutputStreamHandle {
     /// Plays a source with a device until it ends.
-    pub fn play_raw<S>(&self, source: S)
+    pub fn play_raw<S>(&self, source: S) -> Result<(), PlayError>
     where
         S: Source<Item = f32> + Send + 'static,
     {
-        self.mixer.add(source);
+        let mixer = self.mixer.upgrade().ok_or(PlayError::NoDevice)?;
+        mixer.add(source);
+        Ok(())
     }
 
     /// Plays a sound once. Returns a `Sink` that can be used to control the sound.
-    #[inline]
-    pub fn play_once<R>(&self, input: R) -> Result<Sink, decoder::DecoderError>
+    pub fn play_once<R>(&self, input: R) -> Result<Sink, PlayError>
     where
         R: Read + Seek + Send + 'static,
     {
         let input = decoder::Decoder::new(input)?;
-        let sink = Sink::new(&self);
+        let sink = Sink::try_new(self)?;
         sink.append(input);
         Ok(sink)
     }
 }
 
+#[derive(Debug)]
+pub enum PlayError {
+    DecoderError(decoder::DecoderError),
+    NoDevice,
+}
+
+impl From<decoder::DecoderError> for PlayError {
+    fn from(err: decoder::DecoderError) -> Self {
+        Self::DecoderError(err)
+    }
+}
+
 #[derive(Debug)]
 pub enum StreamError {
     PlayStreamError(cpal::PlayStreamError),