HomePod + Apple TV Passthrough for Dolby Atmos

[c84216]

Question for all who have tried this:

I have an LG C1 and its connected to its base. The problem is that the C1 sits far too low for a traditional, quality soundbar to sit under it. I have the C1 on top of a large Ikea Kallax shelf which is perfect for our viewing angle but I can't stick a soundbar in it. I have a tiny Samsung soundbar I've been using and its better than the TV speakers but it doesn't support eARC passthrough and I steadfastly refuse to use the built in webOS apps (LG is one of the worst with hoovering up data). It also doesn't interface well with the LG tv.

I also have an XBox and PS5 connected that would benefit from spatial audio.

One solution I've been exploring is a dual paired HomePod since they, from what I understand, support eARC passthrough from the Apple TV and could thus output spatial audio from my Apple TV and video game consoles.

Has anyone tried this? What are your thoughts vis a vis something like a Sonos Arc or other excellent sound bar. Does it provide the adequate pseudo-surround a good soundbar will?

Thanks for your thoughts.

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

Mount a great soundbar to the wall ABOVE the low-sitting televion? Above or below is just as good for soundbars. Or move the Kallax elsewhere and mount both TV and soundbar to wall.

You might also opt to buy yourself a booster/riser for the TV mount to raise it a few inches to fit a soundbar in front of the screen without blocking the bottom of that picture. A dirt-cheap option would be to hit Home Depot or similar and buy some tile/brick/etc or similar to get the extra height you seek, and soundbar in front of it would hide it.

There's dedicated risers of many types/colors/heights for such purposes like this one...

That C1 probably has VESA mount, so you could also just replace the default stand with an off-the-shelf alternative that will let you choose the height you desire like this one...

HPs are thoroughly locked down and stereo-only at best. Soundbars or even better- dedicated speakers attached to a Receiver- will work with everything, without having to depend on AppleTV passthrough.

Arc is often rated best or near best in all soundbar head-to-heads. To build out a fuller surround sound setup if desired, you can add speakers that actually surround you- wireless or wired- and these will do a much better job than faux surround sound with HPs or any other speakers-out-in-front-only options. There is not even ONE rumor that Apple has any interest at all at making them any more than stereo.

Apple fans are going to argue for Apple speakers. So you will get a bunch of posts talking up how great HPs sound. And they do!!! But, 2 of them are stereo only- not surround. While they are spun as ATMOS in marketing, it's only audio trickery trying to fake the actual ATMOS effect of speakers placed around you and overhead too. To rationalize them for home theater, you have to adopt a "good enough" mindset vs. just getting yourself true surround sound and/or true ATMOS.

Arc works just as well with Apple Music (service and many others) and Airplay 2. The HP "smarts" are already built into your AppleTV, iDevices and Mac. And Arc will easily accommodate adding a dedicated Sub if you want more bass, dedicated Rear speakers (like the new 300s) if you want real surround sound (your ears would definitely notice), etc. Sonos already has all that surround sound technology worked out, functional and available now. Sonos is also much less "walled garden," so it is a far more flexible option too.

Best possible option would be a great Receiver and dedicated speakers placed all around you. A good Sonos setup comes in below that somewhere (but if soundbar is absolutely desired, Arc is a top-rated one). HPs would fall well down the list- certainly far superior to TV speakers but hindered by stereo only, walled garden and relatively fast vintaging (for example, gen 2 can't even stereo link with gen 1).

 

[AL2TEACH]

Sonos Arc or other excellent sound bar.

Price point?