Apple TV HD with Homepod Mini

[SloppolS]

Hi,

I have the "old" Apple TV HD (A1625). I'm planning to add two Homepod minis as a Stereo pair with 3D Audio and Dolby Atmos Support (in ios15.1) to the Apple TV.
I'm not sure if this is even possible and I'm not sure if there where any downsides to use an Apple TV HD instead of the 4k Version.
The Apple.com documentation only shows the Apple TV 4k.

Does anyone have experience with this setup?

Thanks for helping

 

[-Gonzo-]

I don’t think the ATVHD does Atmos

 

[SloppolS]

Thanks for reply.

Ok, but spatial Audio and Dolby Digital Plus is working with Apple TV HD and Homepod mini?

 

[-Gonzo-]

Spatial audio requires Atmos and neither the ATVHD or Homepod minis are compatible.
If you’re wanting that sort of support with an ATV & Homepods then you’ll need an ATV4K and x2 original Homepods.

 

[SloppolS]

Thanks,

ios15.1 brings Atmos support to the homepod mini.
So I need everything new. ??

HomePod 15.1 Beta Adds Lossless Audio and Dolby Atmos Support

Alongside the iOS 15.1 beta, Apple has also introduced a HomePod 15.1 beta that brings Lossless and Dolby Atmos Spatial Audio support to the HomePod...

www.macrumors.com

 

[-Gonzo-]

You’d definitely need an ATV4K, can’t comment on 15.1 but currently the minis are not supported.

Set up home theater audio with HomePod or HomePod mini and Apple TV 4K - Apple Support

Use a HomePod, HomePod mini, or a stereo pair with your Apple TV 4K to create a theater experience with Dolby Atmos or surround sound right in your home.

support.apple.com

 

[B/D]

The Minis do not support Atmos at all. Never have, never will. You need OG Homepods plus an Apple TV 4K to achieve what you want.

Release notes of audioOS 15.1 RC (final public version will be out next monday), indicates that Spatial Audio/Atmos is only for the original homepod, not the Mini.

 

[SloppolS]

Hi,
related to this article, Homepod mini supports Spatial Audio only when streaming from an Apple TV 4K.
Can anyone confirm this?

HomePod now supports Lossless and Dolby Atmos, here's a workaround for HomePod mini - 9to5Mac

Apple released HomePod 15.1 Software with the long-awaited Lossless and Dolby Atmos support. But if you want to listen to Spatial Audio with the HomePod mini, there's a tweak.

9to5mac.com

 

[w5jck]

First, the HomePod mini is a SINGLE speaker. They have one speaker and some clever gizmos positioned around this one speaker to simulate different audio types and to direct the sound out in multiple directions. Nevertheless, they are a SINGLE speaker. If you pair two of them together you basically have a 2.1 stereo system. Dolby Atmos requires at least 5.1 stereo system, preferably a 7.1. With two speakers you get at best a simulated attempt to sound somewhat like Dolby Atmos. It will sound like two small speakers can be expected to sound, meh. All the rhetoric and total BS that Apples uses to describe them will never change that. Instead of spending $200 on a pair of HomePod minis, use that money to buy a good pair of wireless headphones or wireless earbuds that are capable of producing Dolby Atmos sound and use them with your ATV HD, assuming it works on that, or ATV 4K (it definitely works on my 2017 model). I pair my Amazon Echo Buds 2nd gen (approximately $100) to my ATV 4K 2017 and the deliver Spatial audio via Apple Music. I haven’t tested them with a movie that has Dolby Atmos yet, so I don’t know if tvOS 15.1 has allowed that feature yet. If you don’t want to go the headphone or earbud route, save up and buy a Dolby Atmos soundbar which start out around $500.