Homepod Home Theater with the Apple TV 4K inconsistent volume and dynamics, and volume randomly lowers itself.

[B/D]

So, I have two OG set as an stereo pair with an Apple TV 4K, and i am starting to think that my Homepods are defective (i have factory reset them twice to try some troubleshooting).

You see, even on home theater mode the volume is widly inconsistent, specially concerning dialogue clarity and intelligibility, which is a deal breaker for me.

Everyone says that Homepod home theater mode biggest strength is the crystal clear dialogue, but i am not experiencing that all of the time.

So far, Amazon Prime Video and Apple streaming apps give the best results for me with the homepods.

Loud, powerful, good dynamics, good soundstage. But Netflix and Disney+ are wildly inconsistent. Some content is ok, other suffer from lower volume and dialogue is compromised/drowned by sound effects and music, like if the center channel is not properly recreated, and the mixing sounds weird.

Also, I am, for some time now, experiencing an annoying bug. I usually use my Homepods with the Apple TV at maximum volume, since I think they are not that loud anyway. But sometimes, while I am watching some content, at completely random intervals, the volume lowers itself to around 50% (I see the Apple TV volume control appear on the screen and lowering itself, without touching anything myself), and I have to reach the remote and turn it up again.

Anoyone else having the same issues?. Any suggestions?

 

[TheRedOx]

I have no suggestions but I'm definitely experiencing similar issues. I have to constantly adjust for the volume in different apps. I use the Tablo app for streaming from indoor antenna and I have to have the Homepod volume for that all the way up to hear anything - opposite for YouTube app - have to have the volume almost all the way down and it's still really loud.

 

[B/D]

I have no suggestions but I'm definitely experiencing similar issues. I have to constantly adjust for the volume in different apps. I use the Tablo app for streaming from indoor antenna and I have to have the Homepod volume for that all the way up to hear anything - opposite for YouTube app - have to have the volume almost all the way down and it's still really loud.

This is with the Homepod set as the default audio output of the Apple TV?.

 

[TheRedOx]

This is with the Homepod set as the default audio output of the Apple TV?.

Yes, two HomePods as a stereo pair.

 

[B/D]

Yes, two HomePods as a stereo pair.

Thank you very much.

Well, I least now I know that my Homepods are OK.

But Apple and/or the developers need to work on this. If I set the Apple TV audio output to stereo (from the default "auto") everything improves considerably, but then I lose the 5.1/Atmos recreation with the Homepods.

 

[McScooby]

+1, annoying as hell, reduce loud sounds doesn't help either, you'd think there would be some kind of volume limiter/normaliser going on somewhere.

 

[TheRedOx]

Thank you very much.

Well, I least now I know that my Homepods are OK.

But Apple and/or the developers need to work on this. If I set the Apple TV audio output to stereo (from the default "auto") everything improves considerably, but then I lose the 5.1/Atmos recreation with the Homepods.

I am on the side that believes dialogue is still far better with the HomePods as cinema speakers than my old Sonos PlayBase I was using prior so I am happy with them for that.