Macrumors can you guys report on the latency of this feature? This will convince me to upgrade from the original 4k ATV.
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Apple TV 4K: How to Stream Audio From Your TV's Inputs to HomePod (eARC)
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I wonder if this is going to support all audio formats or only specific ones such as Dolby. Lots of tv manufacturers stopped supporting DTS over eARC.
I hope supporting bitstream as an input means they will support it as an output sometime too. Hopefully licensing is in place for that and it’s just a matter of coding it. Makes sense to be exclusive to this new one. Less licensing costs.
I hope supporting bitstream as an input means they will support it as an output sometime too. Hopefully licensing is in place for that and it’s just a matter of coding it. Makes sense to be exclusive to this new one. Less licensing costs.
So this is the setup...?
AppleTV (2nd Gen) plug into ARC or eARC HDMI port on TV
Nintendo Switch or other things plug into any other HDMI port on TV
What is the UI to get the sound routed to the HomePods? Does the AppleTV just do it in the background via Airplay? Do i have to switch my audio from internal speakers to HomePods in the Apple TV interface FIRST, then switch over to the Nintendo Switch and that Apple TV setting (which happens via Airplay) will keep working invisibly in the background even though my TV video is now switched over to the Nintendo Switch HDMI output for video?
Basically if it works like this where all audio from any HDMI ports gets routed to the ARC HDMI port with the new Apple TV (2nd Gen) in the background, how does it know which speakers to send it to. Usually I have to hold the top right button on the siri remote to switch audio outputs from internal speakers to my HomePods. SO do you have to do this first in Apple TV interface then it'll remember that when using other Video/audio sources from different HDMI ports? Is that right?
AppleTV (2nd Gen) plug into ARC or eARC HDMI port on TV
Nintendo Switch or other things plug into any other HDMI port on TV
What is the UI to get the sound routed to the HomePods? Does the AppleTV just do it in the background via Airplay? Do i have to switch my audio from internal speakers to HomePods in the Apple TV interface FIRST, then switch over to the Nintendo Switch and that Apple TV setting (which happens via Airplay) will keep working invisibly in the background even though my TV video is now switched over to the Nintendo Switch HDMI output for video?
Basically if it works like this where all audio from any HDMI ports gets routed to the ARC HDMI port with the new Apple TV (2nd Gen) in the background, how does it know which speakers to send it to. Usually I have to hold the top right button on the siri remote to switch audio outputs from internal speakers to my HomePods. SO do you have to do this first in Apple TV interface then it'll remember that when using other Video/audio sources from different HDMI ports? Is that right?
That wasn't happening with me. The Home Pod would just play music for some reason. I usually don't touch the top of the HP but sometimes it is like the Homepod has a mind of it's own. I think I'm supposed to use the Home App to control what is happening on the HP but what the Home app says and what the HP does sometimes tends to be different.
Nooooo.....buy the Sonos Arc.
SO much better!!! . (and a couple of the Sonos One's to use as satellites at the back)
The Arc has enough Bass that I really don't need a sub for my condo.
This is largely my experience as well, even though all my software is up to date, I’ve tried troubleshooting, etc etc
I’d really consider buying the new Apple TV 4K for this feature alone if my current Apple TV experience wasn’t so lackluster. I’m tired of giving Apple money and not getting what I paid for.
The HomePod has to be set as a Default Audio Output in the Apple TV 4K settings, such that all audio from the Apple TV goes out via AirPlay 2 to the HomePod(s).
As the linked support document shows, there's an "Audio Return Channel (Beta)" section in there now that's used to decide where to "play television audio", and if it's set to "On", everything pretty much just works.
It suggests that they’ve had this feature, and the new Apple TV 4K 2.0 ready to go since long before they decided to cancel the HomePod.
Mostly just in white, though... 😏
I've managed to find a handful of space grey ones still available at Staples here in Toronto. Don't know if that's still the case, but one in East York actually had four in stock as of last week.
I've also spoken to a few who are happy to sell off their floor models at pretty decently reduced prices too — once they open up again after the lockdown. Unlike a Mac or iPhone, a demo HomePod doesn't have a lot of folks pawing at it, so it should be in pretty good condition.
What it really suggests is that Apple's internal teams don't talk to each other 😂
Seriously, though, you're almost certainly right that this feature has been in the works for a while, regardless of whether the physical hardware was ready or not, the development cycle that goes into it is far longer than only a couple of months.
Anxiously awaiting someone to receive the box and try this and post how it works
Very anxious to hear if it works seamlessly from the other inputs
Very anxious to hear if it works seamlessly from the other inputs
Omg I thought I was going to have to wait for this
YES YES YESSSSSSSSSSSS
question i have two ipod hifi’s connected to my tv with this will I be able to have audio in addition to the homepods still to my ipod hifis?
YES YES YESSSSSSSSSSSS
question i have two ipod hifi’s connected to my tv with this will I be able to have audio in addition to the homepods still to my ipod hifis?
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Ahh ok, so I could even set the default audio output to my AirPods Max to stream the Nintendo Switch to my headphones...?
Sadly, no.
Firstly, you can't set anything to be a default audio output except for a HomePod (or two HomePods that are already set up as a stereo pair in the Home app). Every other speaker — including a HomePod mini — is just a manual AirPlay 2 or Bluetooth destination, like it's always been.
Secondly, although you can still manually switch to these from the Control Centre or the Default Audio Output menu under "Other Wireless Speakers" they don't support ARC at all. If you're using a different audio source, any audio that comes into the Apple TV over ARC basically goes nowhere at all.
Basically, when a HomePod or pair of HomePods are set to be your default audio output, these replace the normal speaker completely. The AirPlay icon in Control Centre will appear in an "off" state, and you won't be able to switch back to your TV or any other directly HDMI-connected speakers (except by changing the default audio output back, of course).
Lastly, the AirPods Max still don't work in Dolby Atmos or surround mode, which is disappointing, and a bit odd, considering how well they work with iOS. The Apple TV notes in the Default Audio Output section that "Other Wireless Speakers" will only play in stereo. Surround sound is limited to the original HomePod.
Got the new 4K TV this morning and set up everything correctly. Decided to go with TENET 4K disc.
It worked effortlessly. It was immediate. Played in DTS-MA HD, which is Nolan’s preferred audio format.
Tried Batman v Superman 4K which is an Atmos disc and it played it in Dolby TruHD, because my television only has ARC not eARC.
Apple has really outdone themselves with this for this home theater enthusiast.
It worked effortlessly. It was immediate. Played in DTS-MA HD, which is Nolan’s preferred audio format.
Tried Batman v Superman 4K which is an Atmos disc and it played it in Dolby TruHD, because my television only has ARC not eARC.
Apple has really outdone themselves with this for this home theater enthusiast.
Not an audio techie and thus a bit confused here.
I sold my HomePod because I could not get the TV sound to it through the Apple TV. Does this new feature allows it?
Again I do not want a device connected to the TV to play - though that would be nice - I want the sound from the TV (I watch over-the-air channels) to the HomePod… minis preferably now since that’s what I replaced my HomePod with.
I sold my HomePod because I could not get the TV sound to it through the Apple TV. Does this new feature allows it?
Again I do not want a device connected to the TV to play - though that would be nice - I want the sound from the TV (I watch over-the-air channels) to the HomePod… minis preferably now since that’s what I replaced my HomePod with.
Just got my ATV. Hooked it up to the eARC port of my LG OLED and 2HPs as stereo pair. (My PS5 and Switch is connected to other HDMI ports in the TV)
Played Demon Souls (PS5) and MHRise (Switch) and the audio on HomePod is awesome. No latency observed at all!
I have a sonos beam as well, this setup blows it out of the water compared to the sonos. The low frequency response from the HP works really well!!
Played Demon Souls (PS5) and MHRise (Switch) and the audio on HomePod is awesome. No latency observed at all!
I have a sonos beam as well, this setup blows it out of the water compared to the sonos. The low frequency response from the HP works really well!!
Yes, this new feature will allow ALL sound (Cable box, blu-ray player, etc.) from your TV to be played on the OG Homepod.
But, sorry, not available for the Homepod mini. Only the, now discontinued, OG Homepod.
Sorry... steering this back to my specific use case (no headphone, no homepod mini's)
If I simply want to play by Satellite TV that's connected to the TV via HDMI, once you setup the Apple TV + eArc Audio (and let's say you never want to switch back to the internal TV speakers) does it just simply work great?
I mean logically speaking, Homepods > Internal TV speakers, if it works... that would be amazing!
How does volume control work? Can you use the TV remote to adjust the volume (then the HDMI signal controls the ATV) or do you need to use the ATV remote to adjust the volume?
"If I simply want to play by Satellite TV that's connected to the TV via HDMI, once you setup the Apple TV + eArc Audio (and let's say you never want to switch back to the internal TV speakers) does it just simply work great?"
It works flawlessly!!
Volume control from the TV remote controls the HPs. (Was using my LGC10 remote)
I don't even know what to say, I'm completely in awe! I'm I've had the dual HomePod setup for 2 years, and to be crippled to only use them for Apple TV app content just made no sense. This is truly an amazing feature and I'm shocked that # 1 this wasn't mentioned during the product release and # 2 that they discontinued the speakers that this works with. One can only imagine/dream that this is a precursor to an Apple soundbar that hopefully is in the near term cycle plan
I tried and tried to use two HomePods as my TV speaker set up, and when it worked it was nice, but I would have to manually pair them to the AppleTV almost every time I turned on the tv, and then they'd drop out at random times. After a few months I finally gave up and bought a soundbar and subwoofer and I am so much happier. Definitely chalking up the HomePods as regrettable sunk costs. Thank god I got them at a steep discount.
I'm guessing this was before tvOS 14 came out last fall?
You're definitely right that it's sad they didn't work as well as they should have originally, but tvOS 14.2 changed the game when it allowed the HomePod to be used as a default audio output, basically replacing the normal HDMI audio path entirely.
In fact, I found that tvOS 14 made a big difference even on my original 2015 Apple TV HD. I'd definitely still have to switch to the HomePods every time I turned on my Apple TV (Default Audio Output is only supported on the Apple TV 4K — both the 2017 and 2021 models), but once I did that, it worked flawlessly.
ARC support is really just the last missing piece of the puzzle. However, I was ready to ditch my AV receiver even without that feature — I paired up my HomePods and ripped all the wires out a few weeks ago — so I'm absolutely thrilled that I now have the eARC option too.