diff --git a/plugins/voice.py b/plugins/voice.py
index cbec897..21041a0 100644
--- a/plugins/voice.py
+++ b/plugins/voice.py
@@ -565,27 +565,13 @@ async def cmd_audition(bot, message):
          f"{_deep},{_bass},{_echo_chamber}"),
     ]
 
-    # Find merlin (the listener bot) -- plays the audition samples
-    merlin = None
-    for peer in getattr(bot.registry, "_bots", {}).values():
-        if getattr(peer, "_receive_sound", False):
-            merlin = peer
-            break
-
     await bot.reply(message, f"Auditioning {len(samples)} voice samples...")
     loop = asyncio.get_running_loop()
     from pathlib import Path
 
-    # Pre-generate derp's default voice (same phrase, no FX)
-    derp_wav = await loop.run_in_executor(
-        None, lambda: _fetch_tts_voice(piper_url, phrase),
-    )
-
     for i, (label, voice, sid, fx) in enumerate(samples, 1):
-        announcer = merlin or bot
-        await announcer.send("0", f"[{i}/{len(samples)}] {label}")
+        await bot.send("0", f"[{i}/{len(samples)}] {label}")
         await asyncio.sleep(1)
-        # Generate the audition sample (merlin's candidate voice)
         sample_wav = await loop.run_in_executor(
             None, lambda v=voice, s=sid, f=fx: _fetch_tts_voice(
                 piper_url, phrase, voice=v, speaker_id=s,
@@ -596,30 +582,14 @@ async def cmd_audition(bot, message):
             await bot.send("0", "  (failed)")
             continue
         try:
-            # Both bots speak simultaneously:
-            # merlin plays the audition sample, derp plays its default voice
-            merlin_done = asyncio.Event()
-            derp_done = asyncio.Event()
-            if merlin:
-                merlin_task = asyncio.create_task(
-                    merlin.stream_audio(sample_wav, volume=1.0,
-                                        on_done=merlin_done))
-                derp_task = asyncio.create_task(
-                    bot.stream_audio(derp_wav, volume=1.0,
-                                     on_done=derp_done))
-                await asyncio.gather(merlin_task, derp_task)
-            else:
-                await bot.stream_audio(sample_wav, volume=1.0,
-                                       on_done=merlin_done)
-                await merlin_done.wait()
+            done = asyncio.Event()
+            await bot.stream_audio(sample_wav, volume=1.0, on_done=done)
+            await done.wait()
         finally:
             Path(sample_wav).unlink(missing_ok=True)
         await asyncio.sleep(2)
 
-    if derp_wav:
-        Path(derp_wav).unlink(missing_ok=True)
-    announcer = merlin or bot
-    await announcer.send("0", "Audition complete.")
+    await bot.send("0", "Audition complete.")
 
 
 # -- Plugin lifecycle --------------------------------------------------------