Apple Is Testing a Four-HomePod Surround System, Code Suggests

[Brother Cavil]

Knowing Apple, the price will probably be ridiculous. And if history is anything to go by, I’m not convinced this will suddenly turn the HomePod into a serious home-theater product.

I bought the original HomePod and later a HomePod mini, so this isn’t coming from someone who has never used them. Compared with proper speakers from Denon, Sonos and other established audio brands, I found them distinctly average. They’re perfectly fine as convenient little speakers for the kitchen while you’re making dinner, but I would never choose them as the foundation of a serious home-theater system.

Yes, the integration with the iPhone, Apple TV and the rest of the Apple ecosystem is excellent. But great integration does not automatically mean great sound.

At half the price, I could understand the appeal much more. At typical Apple pricing, though, I simply don’t see the value.

I bought into HomePod once and I won’t make that mistake again. If Apple actually releases this four-speaker setup, I’ll happily listen to it with an open mind — but once you’ve been disappointed by a product line, it takes a lot to win you back.

100%. I bought an original HomePod and was pretty underwhelmed, especially when compared to my Sonos Play5 (which are more expensive, yes). My current home theater system is a Sonos Arc, two Ones for the rears, and the sub. There's no chance four HomePods come close.

I really don't understand Apple's stubbornness when it comes to home audio. It's like gaming. They just refuse to jump in. HomePod was an underwhelming "me too" device back when they launched it. Now, years later, being able to link four together with a phantom center is just...weak.

 

[tonmischa]

A HomePod have the advantage that it contains 5+1 (or 7+1 for the original) speakers. The ability to control every individual speaker in each of the four HomePods is a totally different ballgame than 4 plain speakers.

Not sure I follow your logic.
You believe the HomePod has actually 6 different speakers in it?

There are some 4 speaker systems like the Sony HT-A9M2 that sound really good and dialog is not an issue with them.

Go to an actual 5.1 Home Cinema demo room, do not sit in the middle, but on the left side. Let them switch between 5.1 and 4.0 Quadra.
The dialogue will jump from the mouths of the actors to the left speaker.
This is pure physics.

 

[lotones]

All movie and most TV content is mixed in (at least) 5.1 today.

Downmixing this to 4.0 Quadrophonic ( L, R, Ls, Rs ) creates the "phantom center" problem. Move your head just a little and you no longer hear the movie dialogue coming from the center, but from the side, outside the screen.

There is a reason 4.0 Quadrophonic never caught on in the 70s and was completely abandoned by 1980.

as someone with a shelf full of quad mixes on blu-ray audio I'm getting a kick out of this. And the "phantom center" is real, and it's spectacular. There are some quad recordings where I have to walk all the way up to my center channel to make sure it's not on.

The real reason quad died in the 70's was that there were competing formats that were incompatible with each other, and the setups were complicated and (relatively) expensive. That hasn't been an issue since the home theater boom in the early 2000's. Cheap surround systems are everywhere, and if you're willing to shop a very good one can be had at very reasonable prices.

As far as the HomePods go, Apple's DSP is usually excellent, so I'm sure they'll handle converting 5.1 to quad very well (as they do using Spatial Audio through the AirPods Pros), possibly with an option of using the TV as a center channel.

 

[mentaluproar]

honestly I never liked anything beyond stereo in the home. the center channel takes over everything and sounds are tunneled. I've never heard a home system I liked that went beyond stereo and a woofer.

 

[tonmischa]

As far as the HomePods go, Apple's DSP is usually excellent, so I'm sure they'll handle converting 5.1 to quad very well (as they do using Spatial Audio through the AirPods Pros)

I'm sure they have excellent DSP and to be honest, the Spatial Audio in the AirPod Pro's (and Max!) is phenomenal. But as I explained several times now 🙂 this is physics. You simply cannot outsmart the speed of sound.

The only conceivable way they could do this is if they tracked your movements to the inch and delayed the speakers' signal accordingly.
However, this would only work for one person. It still cannot work when there are several people in front of the TV.

possibly with an option of using the TV as a center channel.

I doubt it. Four calibrated HomePods and one unknown cheap Center Channel? With unknown EQ curve and delay time?
The Center is usually not completely isolated from Left and Right. If it is out of phase or delayed by just one frame there could be very awkward and uncontrollable phenomena.


Crazy guess:
- You have to wear the new AirPod Pro's (the one with the camera). It will play the Center (and Sub) channel directly into your ears. Transparency Mode is on.
- Left, Right, Rear Left and Rear Right are played through the HomePod Minis.
- Your movement and head orientation will be tracked by the AirPods, so the HomePods always know where you are and could delay/rotate their signal accordingly, if needed.

That would actually be cool. And would also complement a VR/AR experience.

 

[pdfu]

You believe the HomePod has actually 6 different speakers in it?

They're referring to the five tweeters and single woofer in the second-generation HomePod.

 

[abatabia]

I was “gifted” a HomePod mini a few years back and it is probably the worst experience I’ve ever had with an Apple product. Terrible connection, sound delays, haunted phantom music playing, I would never buy these based on that experience. I’ll take a high quality soundbar and call it a wrap.

Same. I went with Sonos and never looked back.

 

[lotones]

I doubt it. Four calibrated HomePods and one unknown cheap Center Channel? With unknown EQ curve and delay time?
The Center is usually not completely isolated from Left and Right. If it is out of phase or delayed by just one frame there could be very awkward and uncontrollable phenomena.

yeah, I didn't say it would be great, but using the rumored room correction would help blend the tv's audio., especially if they have a decent soundbar.

Also, anyone sitting that far off center will have timing issues in any setup with more than one speaker. Four speakers is probably better than two.

Maybe Apple should also sell HomePod Minis with a Velcro bottom for overhead channels...

 

[OGdrknight]

They need to release 5.1 HomePod solution, not a 4.0 half baked solution

 

[johnsawyercjs]

The only conceivable way they could do this is if they tracked your movements to the inch and delayed the speakers' signal accordingly.

However, this would only work for one person. It still cannot work when there are several people in front of the TV.

Crazy guess:
- You have to wear the new AirPod Pro's (the one with the camera). It will play the Center (and Sub) channel directly into your ears. Transparency Mode is on.
- Left, Right, Rear Left and Rear Right are played through the HomePod Minis.
- Your movement and head orientation will be tracked by the AirPods, so the HomePods always know where you are and could delay/rotate their signal accordingly, if needed.

That would actually be cool. And would also complement a VR/AR experience.

Rumors here on MacRumors claim that Apple will use the upcoming AirPods with cameras for improving Spatial Audio, so maybe they're also planning something like what you describe?

 

[chuckles235]

Apple really missed the boat on this one. It’ll be infuriating if they force hardware upgrades for this. Getting exhausted of renting things that should last many human generations.

 

[Unregistered 4U]

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.

With today’s tech, I doubt there would be such an issue. The current HomePods are already doing some impressive analysis of the room they’re in and the other HomePod in the room if in Stereo. I would expect the sweet spot of such a setup to be quite a bit more forgiving than it would be for 4 dumb speakers carefully pointed at a fairly small physical location.