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Apple TV 4K: Play Game Console or Cable Box Audio on HomePod

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The Apple TV 4K (second- and third-generation) is capable of relaying audio from a compatible TV to a HomePod – even when you're not using your Apple TV. This allows you to stream audio from a TV-connected game console or other set-top box straight to Apple's smart speakers. Keep reading to learn more and how to set it up.

PS5-AppleTV-and-HomePod-Feature.jpg

The second- and third-generation Apple TV 4K supports two additional connection standards, called ARC and eARC. ARC (Audio Return Channel) is a feature of HDMI 1.4 that enables audio from a device to be sent to a compatible TV and relayed through its HDMI port to a separate audio receiver, speaker, or sound bar. Meanwhile, eARC (enhanced ARC) adds support for the passthrough of higher bandwidth audio like Dolby Atmos, as well as 5.1 and 7.1 surround sound.

On Apple TV 4K, ARC and eARC support effectively allows a HomePod or HomePod mini (or stereo-paired Homepods in a Home Theater Audio setup) to play audio from other TV-connected devices like a cable box, PS5, or Xbox Series X. The following steps show you how to get it set up.

Set Up ARC or eARC on Apple TV 4K

Make sure that your TV supports ARC or eARC. You can check if it does by seeing if there's an ARC label next to the HDMI port that your Apple TV is connected to. Alternatively, check your TV manual or try contacting the TV manufacturer.
  1. On your Apple TV, launch the Settings app.
  2. Select Video and Audio ➝ Audio Output.
    Under "Default Audio Output," make sure the HomePod(s) in the same room as your TV are selected.
  3. Under "Audio Return Channel," select Play Television Audio. You'll know ARC or eARC is enabled when it says On (ARC) or On (eARC).
tvos-16-apple-tv-settings-video-audio-default-audio-output-homepod-selected.jpg


If ARC or eARC doesn't work for you after following the above steps: assuming your TV supports the standard, check whether you need to turn on ARC, eARC, or HDMI-CEC in your TV's settings.

Article Link: Apple TV 4K: Play Game Console or Cable Box Audio on HomePod
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/how-to/apple-tv-4k-play-game-console-audio-homepod/
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craigc_ said:
I’ve been using this exact setup with two stereo-paired HomePods and my PS5 for over three years and it’s worked great. Audio latency, if any, is not noticeable imo.
Click to expand...
The latency is much lower than, say, AirPlay. However I tried this for live music playback/recording with a midi keyboard plugged into my Mac (through HDMI-TV-eARC-ATV-HP) hoping it would be fast enough, but the latency was a little too high. I would guess on the 100-200ms level perhaps, but I didn’t actually measure it (I’m sure this might vary based on the midi controller, Mac, TV, DAW, and other factors of course.)

Agreed it works well enough for gaming though! I did test out a game or two on the Mac while I had that set up.
 
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I'm shocked the first comments are claiming the latency is not noticeable.

It drives me crazy.

It reminds me when DVDs first came to market and the audio and video were out of sync juust enough to make the lips not line up.
 
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Used this setup and latency is great. The only issue is when eArc suddenly just doesn’t work or only one HomePod is outputting sound. Have to restart the Apple TV to fix the issue. Very annoying and happens enough to complain about it.
 
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I just use my built in speakers as they are very good. I have a Sony OLED where the entire screen is the speaker. But if I was able to find a couple of Apples Home Pods cheap enough and could mount them this would be an option. But I guess a sound bar is just as good too? But you need that bass to really if you boost the sound stage.
Amazon have offered this for a while though with their Echo Studio and Fire TV, not sure if they can play sound from other sources like this though?
 
x-evil-x said:
Ill stick with my receivers and wired speakers.
Click to expand...

I never understood the appeal of using HomePods in this manner vs a receiver and an actual 5.1+ setup.

No one in my family are cinephiles, so we have cheap eARC soundbar and wireless sub. More than enough.
 
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I use this setup, and it works great for streaming video. However, I get awful distortions in sound effects (such as the navigation click, or the Disney+ startup sound). Whilst I can ignore the distortions for sound effects, everything played through eARC is also distorted, which makes Nintendo Switch games sound terrible. They’re playable, but it reduces the enjoyment.

Once in a blue moon, it will work okay. I’m guessing it is a WiFi problem, but very difficult to diagnose!
 
the audio configuration on the tv and console are important, I use this without problems with a LG oled, in a older TV it worked too but I had other problems with HDMI-CEC
 
Good to know about this. Have never used it like this and have only used my soundbar for the TV.
 
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Pezimak said:
I just use my built in speakers as they are very good. I have a Sony OLED where the entire screen is the speaker. But if I was able to find a couple of Apples Home Pods cheap enough and could mount them this would be an option. But I guess a sound bar is just as good too? But you need that bass to really if you boost the sound stage.
Amazon have offered this for a while though with their Echo Studio and Fire TV, not sure if they can play sound from other sources like this though?
Click to expand...
Stick to sony built in speakers aka aqustic surface, most of soundbars wont give u noticable better sound
 
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I tried this roughly 2.5 years ago. The latency when playing halo was noticeable. And my tv is a gaming tv. I’ll try again soon for fun.
 
Pezimak said:
I just use my built in speakers as they are very good. I have a Sony OLED where the entire screen is the speaker. But if I was able to find a couple of Apples Home Pods cheap enough and could mount them this would be an option. But I guess a sound bar is just as good too? But you need that bass to really if you boost the sound stage.
Amazon have offered this for a while though with their Echo Studio and Fire TV, not sure if they can play sound from other sources like this though?
Click to expand...
Depends on Sound Bar, if you want to compete with two large HomePods, you need Sonos ARC and maybe force cancelling woofer.
 
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I love playing GTA V on my PS4 with the OG HomePods in a stereo pair. Had to sell our home theater system because kids (floorstanding speakers are a target) and I don't really miss it - the HomePods have just enough bass for action games. It's nice.
 
greenbreadmmm said:
I'm shocked the first comments are claiming the latency is not noticeable.

It drives me crazy.

It reminds me when DVDs first came to market and the audio and video were out of sync juust enough to make the lips not line up.
Click to expand...
There is no latency in stereo. Anything other than stereo and it's borderline unusuable. Or was. Most recent update may address this.
 
This has worked great for me for the past year. I have an LG C2 65" TV, Apple TV and PS5. Occasionally gets confused, but mostly works great.
 
I dumped HomePods on my good TV because the lag with this setup was horrendous. Got a $200 soundbar and use the built in smartTV now.
 
I use my HomePod’s like this every now and again. I wish we could just use all the speakers at once and make it like a surround sound buy using a blu-ray player or something similar. I know I can while I USE the Apple TV, but they don’t have 3D movies or a 3D blu-ray player. Unless I can use the optical output and use a receiver, which I have (in storage though) and maybe I can use the audio all the time that way as audio is always going through the optical output. Maybe?
 
greenbreadmmm said:
I'm shocked the first comments are claiming the latency is not noticeable.

It drives me crazy.

It reminds me when DVDs first came to market and the audio and video were out of sync juust enough to make the lips not line up.
Click to expand...
hmmm something must be going on with your setup. i've been using it for years and not once have the lips not lined up with the audio on anything.
 
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