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Apple Releases 14.2 Software for HomePod With New Siri, Intercom and Home Theater Features
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Exact same problems here (also on 5GHz). 150mb/s up/down speed (my max internet speeds) on Apple TV with homepods not connected. As soon as I connect them via home theater mode, that drops to between 30-50mb/s, i also get the crackling/popping noises. So so frustrating. Have submitted feedback to apple and tried tweeting but no response. Found any solutions?
Apparently, 5.1, 7.1 and Atmos sound works with a couple of Homepods and an Apple TV HD (!!!!). The only thing that is exclusive to the 4K model is making them the default audio output. (his TV set isn´t Atmos compatible).
"Netflix changes that based on the set up we have. For example, this Haunting of Hill House has 4k Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos, in this picture, only Dolby Atmos is shown but the picture quality is HD since the Apple TV is not the 4k one (but the Apple TV non 4k is capable of Dolby Atmos)."
"Checked Netflix today on my living room TV paired with Homepod as an airplay speaker. Turned out that the Dolby Atmos appears in Netflix for the supported movies and series. Is it just a Netflix bug or it’s really working with ATV non 4k one?"
"I always have Atmos sign on my Home Theater room setup since the setup is 5.2.4. But for the living room, it has never displayed Atmos before until yesterday when I decided to pair my ATV none 4k as an airplay speaker for my TV.
From what I have read and understood so far, the dolby atmos should only work with ATV 4K with Home Theater Mode. That's why it's quite confusing to me. I can't tell much whether the sound output is really Atmos since it's only a single HomePod but it does sound pretty nice with wide stage though."
"Netflix changes that based on the set up we have. For example, this Haunting of Hill House has 4k Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos, in this picture, only Dolby Atmos is shown but the picture quality is HD since the Apple TV is not the 4k one (but the Apple TV non 4k is capable of Dolby Atmos)."
"Checked Netflix today on my living room TV paired with Homepod as an airplay speaker. Turned out that the Dolby Atmos appears in Netflix for the supported movies and series. Is it just a Netflix bug or it’s really working with ATV non 4k one?"
"I always have Atmos sign on my Home Theater room setup since the setup is 5.2.4. But for the living room, it has never displayed Atmos before until yesterday when I decided to pair my ATV none 4k as an airplay speaker for my TV.
From what I have read and understood so far, the dolby atmos should only work with ATV 4K with Home Theater Mode. That's why it's quite confusing to me. I can't tell much whether the sound output is really Atmos since it's only a single HomePod but it does sound pretty nice with wide stage though."
Unfortunately not as the router is in a different room (and i live in a rented apartment so can’t go putting in trunking etc around the apartment to get a cable through to the lounge). The apartment is relatively small and there is no wireless issues until the moment the homepods are linked to the Apple TV. I suppose I have to hope Apple makes a fix to the issues (seeing as multiple people seem to have the issue) In a future update!
Omg you are right
I tried to switch off audio auto and disconnected HomePod as default audio output for Apple TV and the Netflix Dolby atmos icon is gone
when I reconnect HomePod as default audio output then the Dolby atmos icon is back
I tried to switch off audio auto and disconnected HomePod as default audio output for Apple TV and the Netflix Dolby atmos icon is gone
when I reconnect HomePod as default audio output then the Dolby atmos icon is back
Fixed this with the help of Apple support!. Finally! It turns out that Homepod (s) ARE particularly finicky when it comes to wifi. A strong, fast and reliable connection is absolutely necessary for the speaker to work correctly.
With the release of ios 14.2, this has become even more important because a new, directly, ad hoc connection is now possible between an Apple TV 4K and the Homepods has been developed, that allows to route ALL apple tv audio to the homepods, bypassing airplay 2 limitations (ie 2.0 audio channels max, ZERO latency with games and live content), and allow the Homepods to virtualize 5.1, 7.1, and Dolby Atmos (BTW, I was WRONG. If you choose the HP from the ATV control center you are using a regular airplay link, which only support stereo).
Even though regular stereo sound has been very much improved as well in 14.2, the only way to truly get surround sound is to choose the Homepod (s) as the default speakers, which is NOT airplay, but this new ad hoc, improved protocol between an Apple TV 4K and Homepod (s).
This new protocol is much more taxing on the internet conection than regular Airplay, because it transport so much data in real time. To avoid speed and buffering issues, if you are going to use wifi, you must use a strong, fast 5GHZ AC connection, both in the Apple TV AND in your linked Homepod (s) (this last part was my problem). If you cant achieve that, you must hardwire your ATV. Wifi N wont work even if the speed is enough.
To make sure everything is set up properly, create a separate SSID on your router for the 5GHZ band, and connect your Apple TV to it. Now connect to it the Iphone/Ipad that you used to set up the Homepod (s). Factory reset them and pair them back (if you´re using a stereo pair), with that IOS device connected to the 5GHZ band. This way, your Homepod (s), will use the 5GHZ band to connect to the internet going forward.
Thats it. Set them as the default speakers of the ATV again and run a speed test on the ATV. Your speed should be good.
now.
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So that’s why I never had the issue. My tv and HomePods were always on 5Ghz. I’m still glad I hardwired my tv. It has lightened my WiFi load considerably. And it’s not dropping the speed like what used to sometimes happen.
Also, I’m glad to know that Atmos really is a Home Theater feature. I couldn’t replicate your results when you said we could do it from Control Center. But I just assumed something was going wrong on my end.
Yes. I guess that because regular stereo has much more dynamic and directionality than before 14.2, I though that I was getting sorround sound when selecting the Homepod (s) from the control center, which it wasn´t the case.
Sorry for spread (unintended), misinformation. It wasn´t my intention.
In sum, and according to Apple support , this is what you get when you select the (standard) HomePods as the default audio output of an ATV4K instead of choosing them from the Apple TV control center (which is regular airplay).
A). Zero latency in all content, including live streams and video games.
B). No more sync / lip sync issues, no matter the app or if its does not support airplay 2.
C) Support for 5.1, 7.1 and Dolby Atmos tracks, and louder maximum volume.
D). Greater stability and reliability in general when using Homepods with an ATV.
I´m very intrigued to know what the protocol is. If its not regular Airplay 2, what it is?. An improved version?. And why an Apple TV 4K is required for all this?. The Homepods themselves have an A8 chip, like the ATV HD.
No problem. We are all just trying to figure it out. And I’m truth if just gave some basic info we wouldn’t have to do all this.
It’s definitely stable. I don’t get little errors in the sound anymore. I don’t have go back 10 sec to fix sync issues. No more having to disconnect and reconnect. That alone is worth everything. Hell I don’t care if I never got Atmos. Hell I’d sacrifice Atmos and 5.1 for stability even if it’s just stereo sound. Thankfully we don’t have to make the sacrifice.
I think whatever it is it has to be based on AirPlay. Hell maybe it’s like AirPlay 3 or 2.5.
This must be an specific app issue (despite of what apple says), like Disney+ not sending Atmos to the Homepods.
Make sure that both the Homepods (you can check it in the Home app, in the homepod audio settings menu taping on the wifi address card), and your apple tv are connected to a 5GHZ AC strong and reliable wifi connection. Or better yet, hardwire your Apple TV and connect your Homepods to the 5GHZ band of your router.
I had the ATV connected to the 5GHZ band of my router, but my Homepods were connected to the 2,4GHZ band instead and I was having all sorts of buffering, sound cutting off and lip sync issues. All solved now. This new connection is VERY taxing on the internet connection. Is not regular Airplay.
Actually the internet bandwidth isn’t as serious like you said ... mostly just 10-40 KB for the HomePod
as you can see they consumes even less than my Apple Watch
anyone with a normal WiFi router like AmpliFi alien WiFi 6 could easily handle these
I can’t wait for the next Apple TV with WiFi 6 tho
as you can see they consumes even less than my Apple Watch
anyone with a normal WiFi router like AmpliFi alien WiFi 6 could easily handle these
I can’t wait for the next Apple TV with WiFi 6 tho
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I don´t know, I was just posting what Apple support told me to troubleshoot the issue (when you have them set as the default speakers of the ATV and are watching a movie, otherwise the bandwidth use is much lower).
Thank you for this.
Just had an idea... ¿have you tried to run Wireless Audio Sync on the Apple TV?. If you have an Iphone, it's worth a shot.
No they didn´t say anything else. I hope that 14.3 update will solve this infuriating issue for everybody, no matter their network setup.
Hey
I found your reddit post
I have now connected a wifi extender next to the atv, only to get ethernet, and it works perfectly...
Yes, the issue only happens with wifi, which tells me it has to be a bug...
Just get a normal WiFi router like AmpliFi alien
Any normal WiFi router should let you do that
