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HomePod 2 x HomePod Minis for Atmos TV setup?

-BigMac-

-BigMac-

macrumors 68020
Original poster
Apr 15, 2011
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Melbourne, Australia
Hi guys.

I couldn't find a clear answer on the following:

1) Are the HomePod Minis Atmos capable?
2) Will having a pair of Minis work with Apple Tv 4k with Atmos?

Thanks :D
 
-BigMac- said:
Hi guys.

I couldn't find a clear answer on the following:

1) Are the HomePod Minis Atmos capable?
2) Will having a pair of Minis work with Apple Tv 4k with Atmos?

Thanks :D
Click to expand...
The Minis are supposed to get the AppleTV audio default option (Home Theater mode) with OS 15 but not sure if that also means Atmos like it did for the OG HomePod.
 
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I look at it like this, no matter how good a speaker, no matter how good the software controlling it, nothing will ever replicate true height speakers/physical speakers. So to me Atmos in any single speaker is nothing more than a pale imitation of the real thing. I’m not saying it doesn’t sound better than stereo, but it cannot and will not ever be as good as the real thing.
 
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StumpyBloke said:
I look at it like this, no matter how good a speaker, no matter how good the software controlling it, nothing will ever replicate true height speakers/physical speakers. So to me Atmos in any single speaker is nothing more than a pale imitation of the real thing. I’m not saying it doesn’t sound better than stereo, but it cannot and will not ever be as good as the real thing.
Click to expand...
I agree. I have an OG HomePod running “Atmos” on my AppleTV and I don’t see (hear actually) what all the commotion is about.
 
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Itinj24 said:
I agree. I have an OG HomePod running “Atmos” on my AppleTV and I don’t see (hear actually) what all the commotion is about.
Click to expand...
Fair enough! I only ask as my phone provider is offering me 2 minis for free, using my points.. but there is no option for OG.
Now im plit.. a free mini is a free mini.. but i want it to sound gooood on the OLED tv.

How would duo minis compare to a mid range soundbar?
 
-BigMac- said:
Fair enough! I only ask as my phone provider is offering me 2 minis for free, using my points.. but there is no option for OG.
Now im plit.. a free mini is a free mini.. but i want it to sound gooood on the OLED tv.

How would duo minis compare to a mid range soundbar?
Click to expand...
I’m sure it will sound good but I wouldn’t count on gooood lol. If I were you, I’d put the soundbar there and then throw the two minis in the rear somewhere. Sure it may not be Atmos but I’m sure it would still sound pretty decent to fill the room with audio. Can’t really beat free either, unless the soundbar is free in lieu of the Minis.

The Minis will be good for other functionality as well if that suits you… make and receive calls/texts, playing music, setting reminders, calendar events, getting weather, alarms, timers, etc…
 
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I’ve got two minis paired with my OLED TV and Apple TV and the sound when they are set up as a stereopair is incredible for such small devices. Is it as good as my full Dolby Atmos surroundsound, no of course not, but for two little speakers they are incredible.
 
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even with the full HomePods you get "Atmos"

to get the full atmos experience, you need multiple speakers in multiple locations
 
waw74 said:
even with the full HomePods you get "Atmos"

to get the full atmos experience, you need multiple speakers in multiple locations
Click to expand...

Did you mean to word your first sentence like that? We’ve already said that you get “Atmos” (albeit simulated) with the full fat HomePod, or have I miss-read it?
 
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StumpyBloke said:
I’ve got two minis paired with my OLED TV and Apple TV and the sound when they are set up as a stereopair is incredible for such small devices. Is it as good as my full Dolby Atmos surroundsound, no of course not, but for two little speakers they are incredible.
Click to expand...

Did you have to jump through any hoops to make it work? I have a stereo pair of Minis working great on my network with Siri and Airplay, but my 4K AppleTV doesn't give me the option to select them as my default audio option. They're both under the same room in Home and I've done a full reset on the Minis and rebooted the AppleTV, but no dice. I'm pretty impressed with their sound when I send music their way and was thinking it'd be nice to ditch the soundbar.

My Google-fu indicates that it should 'just work' but I'm struggling unfortunately. :(
 
There is no option for me to make it default either (public TVOS 15). It’s definitely random though as to when or if it the pair will be automatically selected when I turn on the ATV.
 
StumpyBloke said:
There is no option for me to make it default either (public TVOS 15). It’s definitely random though as to when or if it the pair will be automatically selected when I turn on the ATV.
Click to expand...

Thanks! I'll keep messing with it - hard to get too p!ssy with Apple about beta software. :)
 
StumpyBloke said:
Did you mean to word your first sentence like that? We’ve already said that you get “Atmos” (albeit simulated) with the full fat HomePod, or have I miss-read it?
Click to expand...
it was meant to be ...
even with the full HomePods you only get "Atmos" as opposed to Atmos

it was meant as "even though it's branded as atmos, it's not really atmos, just some sound trickery to make it sound different, and make you think you're getting something you're not"

for true atmos you need multiple speakers in multiple locations both above and behind you. which really can't be simulated with 2 speaker locations in front of you, even though there are multiple drivers.
There's no way for it to tune the room based to where you're actually listening from. to adjust timings for all the different and random things scattered around people's viewing room that sound can bounce off of.


tl,dr: there's not much difference between stereo and atmos when you only have 2 speakers.
 
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StumpyBloke said:
There is no option for me to make it default either (public TVOS 15). It’s definitely random though as to when or if it the pair will be automatically selected when I turn on the ATV.
Click to expand...

dmr727 said:
Thanks! I'll keep messing with it - hard to get too p!ssy with Apple about beta software. :)
Click to expand...

If your minis are running AudioOS15, the option is then available in TVOS15 for default audio pairing, otherwise it isn't there. However, I do not suggest seeking out that beta. Just wait for the final release since you can't rollback a HomePod and there was a significant overheating bug with a recent beta.
 
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LarrySW said:
If your minis are running AudioOS15, the option is then available in TVOS15 for default audio pairing, otherwise it isn't there. However, I do not suggest seeking out that beta. Just wait for the final release since you can't rollback a HomePod and there was a significant overheating bug with a recent beta.
Click to expand...

Interesting, thanks! I'll hold off for now.

Incidentally my AppleTV randomly decided to play through my Minis last night. Sounded great, but have no idea why it happened or how to replicate it. :p
 
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StumpyBloke said:
Yup completely random with me too. But the minis sound great as a stereo pair!
Click to expand...
Awesome! I’ll order the 2 free minis then, and wait for 15 OS’s to come out and enjoy it in all of its glory!

i have a 2020 LG OLED 65”.. it comes with an inbuilt speaker but there is hardly any bass.

Do the minis offer a decent amount?
 
Yes, for such small units I think the bass is okay. I’ve got a 2018 77 inch OLED and whilst the speakers are okay, the bass isn’t the greatest. Don’t expect too much from them, they certainly don’t kick out as much bass as the full fat HomePod but they are good for what they are in my opinion, and a vast improvement on the television speakers.
 
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I think the bass is fine as well, given the size. I have a Sony soundbar with an external subwoofer and the Minis are definitely an improvement.
 
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