BlankStar
macrumors 6502a
I'm surprised to read comments like yours. I've had an OG pair in stereo as default audio on a ATV 4K (Gen 1) since it became available to link them and never had any issues.
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Apple Is Testing a Four-HomePod Surround System, Code Suggests
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vegetassj4
macrumors 68020
Apple has solved the quadraphonic dialogue issue: just line all four speakers up in a row facing the listener:
TV: 1 2 3 4 ——-> 🤦🏽♂️
Can’t innovate anymore my 🫏
TV: 1 2 3 4 ——-> 🤦🏽♂️
Can’t innovate anymore my 🫏
Physics and biology did not. Please see my reply above your post.
I wasn't alive when that was a thing, but I would have probably never worn that crap.
Graphate
macrumors 6502
Sure, if you read the article…
But sincerely, to solve the quad speaker issue referred to by the poster, Fr, L, R, Rear solves the gap in center issue, right?
maxfromdenmark
macrumors 6502a
Agree to disagree. World got better technology and codecs since then. Apple doesn't need to invent a wheel as Dolby Atmos already exists.
Or you could buy Sonos and be done with it. I have Sonos Arc (got on sale for $600), two Play 1s (rear) and a mini sub.
And, man, you should hear what Dolby Atmos songs from Apple Music sound like on that setup.
And, man, you should hear what Dolby Atmos songs from Apple Music sound like on that setup.
Sertrand Berlet
macrumors newbie
If Apple really wants to make a success out of the HomePod they should open the system up a bit. Add Spotify Connect support and all of a sudden the HomePod is a much more attractive option for a truck load of people. I get the Apple Music push, but in large parts of the world Spotify is reigning supreme.
Yep, a Left, Center, Right, Rear setup would solve it! And (as a movie re-recording mixer) I would highly prefer that setup.
Please see my post here:
Possible that it can happen one day but I don't expect Apple to release it in the near future. Will definitely be costly to have such a surround system set up.
TonyC28
macrumors 68040
I’m sill a sucker for such seemingly smart technology (such as the 2007 craze for pairing GPU’s, e.g. AMD Crossfire and Nvidia SLI), only to be disappointed by the results. I ‘enjoy’ such things privately now, because I learned I won’t impress anybody else 😆 And I learned to enjoy my sky high expectations of the future without actually spending too much.
Can’t they use the microphones in the HomePods to solve any sync issues? And that the tv speakers sound differently is not a problem per se if it’s purely for dialogues (I hope).
I love my HomePods, but just added the Amazon Fire 5.1 system for my home theatre. It's perfect and for $400 way under what this set-up would cost. Like others have posted, the value proposition just isn't there for me with products like the Fire system that are a fraction of the cost, and more than adequate.
JosepPont
macrumors regular
Apple is unable to make a stereo pair to work properly and we all have to believe that Apple will be able to make four speakers work together?? hahahaha 🤣🤣🤣
I have 9 HomePods, 4 stereo pairs and 1 stand alone. They have always paired and worked fine, but they can be finicky when one half a pair connects to a different node in a mesh WiFi network. I usually restart one of them and it corrects itself.
I also operate 2 stereo pairs as a set of 4 in a single space and that creates a great stereo image mid sound field. This new option for 4 channel will be great, but if it is restricted to latest generation it could be a problem as 7 of mine are OG and I am not buying newer models to get the effect.
I disagree. A lot of living room setups are fairly small and have the two front speakers right next to the TV, which will create a pretty solid “phantom” center. I don’t use a center channel with my current PL II setup and I’ve never felt like something was lacking. Dialogue sounds like it’s coming from the screen.
If Apple drops the Homepod 3 with a four speaker setup capability. My bank account is going to impload!
Apple appears to be working on some major new HomePod home theater features, including a four-speaker surround sound system and a new "Party Mode," according to code found in audioOS 27 beta 8, and shared on the MacRumors forums by member pdfu.
References in the software for the second-generation HomePod suggest the ability to tune for a setup with front-left, front-right, rear-left, and rear-right HomePods. The four-speaker surround configuration references automatic room calibration, speaker-position mapping, timing adjustments, bass management, EQ, dialogue enhancement, and different processing modes for movies and music.
For stereo content, the code suggests the ability to either spatialize sound across all four speakers or limit traditional stereo playback to the two front speakers.
The files also reference a new tuning system called "Forklift" that combines two second-generation HomePods with two speakers that use an unidentified AID12007 hardware family. We haven't seen this identifier before – it doesn't correspond to any existing HomePod models – suggesting it refers to a future HomePod mini, third-generation HomePod, or some other unreleased audio device.
In addition, Apple appears to be working on a new "Party Mode" feature for stereo-paired HomePods. The feature applies a more diffuse sound field that's designed to spread sound more evenly across the room for a more immersive listening experience, rather than optimizing playback for a single listening position.
The Home app and Apple TV do not currently provide a way to configure four HomePods as a surround system. Indeed, none of these features have been referenced before. All we can say at this point is that they indicate that Apple is testing them, but whether Apple ultimately releases them remains to be seen.
A new HomePod mini, a new Apple TV, and an all-new Apple smart home hub are all coming soon, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, so it's possible that these features could be part of Apple's broader HomePod refresh. Watch this space.
Article Link: Apple Is Testing a Four-HomePod Surround System, Code Suggests
JeffPerrin
macrumors 6502a
Quadraphonic did not fail because of an issue with "phantom center." It failed because the industry could not agree on a standard format, leading towards consumer confusion. (Not to mention the high costs associated with setting up a quad system at the time.)
For me the sync between to HomePods for stereo never really worked. A four HomePod setup sounds like a nightmare.
JeffPerrin
macrumors 6502a
Agreed. Add to that most living rooms cannot accommodate a full-size center speaker ; it is often sub-par spec'ed (small, limited range) and placed in a sub-optimal location (on the floor or inside a wooden media cabinet).
djbullard87
macrumors newbie
I will do this in a heartbeat. My 2x 2nd gen’s have been fantastic with my tv and I test soundbars a lot and the center is always really good with the HomePods. I will happily pay more money to have this setup for the convenience and clarity. The HomePods create fantastic sound and the quality is far better than a lot of the competition.
Veoronox
macrumors member
Oehh! if this is real that would be amazing, but also expensive, to set up. I wondered something like this some time ago on Reddit because I was thinking about making a surround sound system with two in front and two on the back. But I do also understand what some people mean with the "phantom center" issue.
I have 2 stereo pairs that I run as a set of 4. And it sounds very good with a soundfield towards the center of the room, but you can obviously adjust it to taste. Because our living room and breakfast room/kitchen are open plan, I can then use only one stereo pair for the breakfast room/kitchen. Works nicely. I do not use my HomePods for TV surround sound. I have a dedicated media room with is own speakers (wired), processor, power amp and subs.