HomePod home theatre stereo?

[wayneholbrook]

I read recently that when the HomePod is shipped this version doesn’t talk to the other Homepods in your home and doesn’t play stereo theater mode throughout the home. That would come in future updates.

I find that really hard to believe that Apple would ship this product without that functionality.

Can anyone say if that is true or false please?

 

[Roar7]

I read recently that when the HomePod is shipped this version doesn’t talk to the other Homepods in your home and doesn’t play stereo theater mode throughout the home. That would come in future updates.

I find that really hard to believe that Apple would ship this product without that functionality.

Can anyone say if that is true or false please?

True, as can be seen on apple.com

 

[MistrSynistr]

You can't use this as a speaker for Apple TV?

 

[subjonas]

You’re post isn’t what I thought it was going to be based on the title.

Yes, HomePod will not have stereo or multi room functions until an update is issued, according to the Apple website.

I thought your post was asking if two (or more) HomePods—after the eventual update happens—could be used as stereo home theater speakers with your Apple TV. That’s something I’d be interested to know.

 

[robgendreau]

I dunno if HomePods use regular ol' Airplay but if so, then Rogue Amoeba's Airfoil should stream to a house full of them. But that's kinda different than home theater, which is one room with different speakers doing different say 5.1 audio. Unclear what the OP wants.

 

[Salty34]

You’re post isn’t what I thought it was going to be based on the title.

Yes, HomePod will not have stereo or multi room functions until an update is issued, according to the Apple website.

I thought your post was asking if two (or more) HomePods—after the eventual update happens—could be used as stereo home theater speakers with your Apple TV. That’s something I’d be interested to know.

You'd think you will be able to. If my AirPods can connect to my Apple TV, I'd home my HomePod can.

Might have to wait for AirPlay 2 update to have Siri integration to Apple TV. (I.e "Hey Siri play this")

 

[subjonas]

You'd think you will be able to. If my AirPods can connect to my Apple TV, I'd home my HomePod can.

The slight difference being the Apple TV probably recognizes the AirPods as one device, whereas the HomePods I guess are two devices, yet they need separate stereo channels? I don’t know. It’s confusing.

 

[AustinIllini]

The slight difference being the Apple TV probably recognizes the AirPods as one device, whereas the HomePods I guess are two devices, yet they need separate stereo channels? I don’t know. It’s confusing.

That's because it's not supported.

If you have both of these questions, buy a soundbar instead of HomePod
"Can I set up a stereo pair?"
"Can I use the stereo pair on a TV?"

 

[Salty34]

That's because it's not supported.

If you have both of these questions, buy a soundbar instead of HomePod
"Can I set up a stereo pair?"
"Can I use the stereo pair on a TV?"

I do have a sound bar, but I’m just interested in If it will work. I already have my end all be all, but I/we just are speculating.

I’m just saying that here isn’t any reason why the Apple TV shouldn’t connect. One, for sure, at launch. Two, with stereo via airplay 2.

 

[subjonas]

That's because it's not supported.

If you have both of these questions, buy a soundbar instead of HomePod
"Can I set up a stereo pair?"
"Can I use the stereo pair on a TV?"

The other reason it’s different from AirPods is that, I believe, AirPods connect over Bluetooth, not airplay.
From what I read, Apple TV can also output audio to airplay speakers, but up until now it could only connect to one speaker at a time, and I’m not sure if that works for movie audio as well or only for music. With airplay 2 I understand that it will be able output to multiple speakers, but again I’m not sure if that includes movie audio, and the bigger question I’d say is whether or not it can do multiple speakers with separate stereo channels. Probably not, I would guess right now with my feeble understanding.

I’m actually leaning toward neither HomePod nor sound bar, but a stereo receiver and speakers (hooked up to my Apple TV), which I could then control with the remote or another Apple device. But I haven’t done much research yet so I don’t have thorough knowledge of my options. I will have to hear the sound quality of the HomePod for myself before making a decision. I doubt the sound quality of two homepods can compete with a receiver+speaker system I can get for around the same price (or perhaps I’d want something better for more money), but if it somehow does, I’ll have to re-evaluate, taking into account the extra Siri functionality, which I would find useful. Siri would make it easier to start listening right away, rather than having to first find my nearest Apple device (and possibly having to turn on the receiver?). And I would welcome being able to talk and listen to Siri normally instead of yelling and straining to hear when my phone is across the room. Siri also works better for me than other assistants because of the Apple ecosystem integration, for things like adding to my reminders and lists.
Anyway, we’ll see soon enough.

Edit- actually I already have a sound bar but it doesn’t give me the quality and stereo separation I want.

[doublepost=1517015741][/doublepost]

I do have a sound bar, but I’m just interested in If it will work. I already have my end all be all, but I/we just are speculating.

I’m just saying that here isn’t any reason why the Apple TV shouldn’t connect. One, for sure, at launch. Two, with stereo via airplay 2.

Yeah I would be very surprised if at least one didn’t connect, and at least for music.

 

[WhiteHawk]

The other reason it’s different from AirPods is that, I believe, AirPods connect over Bluetooth, not airplay.

[doublepost=1517015741][/doublepost]

Just throwing it out there but HomePod has Bluetooth 5.0, so as long as Apple haven’t locked it down it should pair with most Bluetooth audio devices.

 

[vipergts2207]

I’m actually leaning toward neither HomePod nor sound bar, but a stereo receiver and speakers (hooked up to my Apple TV), which I could then control with the remote or another Apple device. But I haven’t done much research yet so I don’t have thorough knowledge of my options. I will have to hear the sound quality of the HomePod for myself before making a decision. I doubt the sound quality of two homepods can compete with a receiver+speaker system I can get for around the same price (or perhaps I’d want something better for more money), but if it somehow does, I’ll have to re-evaluate, taking into account the extra Siri functionality, which I would find useful. Siri would make it easier to start listening right away, rather than having to first find my nearest Apple device (and possibly having to turn on the receiver?). And I would welcome being able to talk and listen to Siri normally instead of yelling and straining to hear when my phone is across the room. Siri also works better for me than other assistants because of the Apple ecosystem integration, for things like adding to my reminders and lists.
Anyway, we’ll see soon enough.

Edit- actually I already have a sound bar but it doesn’t give me the quality and stereo separation I want.

Receiver plus speakers is the way to go if the goal is outputting TV audio through the speakers. Outputting TV audio through a HomePod is a bit of a round peg in a square hole scenario. There’s a reason the ATV is AirPlay compatible and has Apple Music and home sharing. You can also expand the audio system as far as you want, from basic stereo all the way to 7.2.4.

 

[subjonas]

Just throwing it out there but HomePod has Bluetooth 5.0, so as long as Apple haven’t locked it down it should pair with most Bluetooth audio devices.

I suppose that could be true, ATV could connect with HomePod via Bluetooth. But I’m looking for as high fidelity as possible.

Receiver plus speakers is the way to go if the goal is outputting TV audio through the speakers. Outputting TV audio through a HomePod is a bit of a round peg in a square hole scenario. There’s a reason the ATV is AirPlay compatible and has Apple Music and home sharing. You can also expand the audio system as far as you want, from basic stereo all the way to 7.2.4.

Yeah I’m a little doubtful HomePod is designed to play ATV audio. I’ll wait to see for sure though. Personally that’s the only way I’d consider getting a pair of homepods. Otherwise I’ll definitely go the receiver+speakers route, at least for my living room. I’d consider getting a single HomePod for another room (for music).
Not a big fan of surround sound though. I prefer simple stereo for both music and movies.

 

[AustinIllini]

I suppose that could be true, ATV could connect with HomePod via Bluetooth. But I’m looking for as high fidelity as possible.

Yeah I’m a little doubtful HomePod is designed to play ATV audio. I’ll wait to see for sure though. Personally that’s the only way I’d consider getting a pair of homepods. Otherwise I’ll definitely go the receiver+speakers route, at least for my living room. I’d consider getting a single HomePod for another room (for music).
Not a big fan of surround sound though. I prefer simple stereo for both music and movies.

Right, if you were to do Apple TV audio, you would want to do 2 and hopefully the stereo will work (sounds like a bit of a low quality sound nightmare). The other problem, of course, is if you want a regular 3.1/5.1 system in one room and HomePod in another room, you get no interaction between the devices because HomePod locks down their own ecosystem.

You're better off getting a Sonos Playbar for your TV (price of 2 HomePods and probably sounds better) and then a Sonos speaker for another room. Then you get stereo sound for one room and multi-room functionality.

 

[vipergts2207]

Right, if you were to do Apple TV audio, you would want to do 2 and hopefully the stereo will work (sounds like a bit of a low quality sound nightmare). The other problem, of course, is if you want a regular 3.1/5.1 system in one room and HomePod in another room, you get no interaction between the devices because HomePod locks down their own ecosystem.

You're better off getting a Sonos Playbar for your TV (price of 2 HomePods and probably sounds better) and then a Sonos speaker for another room. Then you get stereo sound for one room and multi-room functionality.

Depends what you mean by 'interaction'. If you use an ATV to input the audio into the audio system, it will support AP2, along with the HomePod. And $700 for a sound bar is a rip off.

 

[AustinIllini]

Depends what you mean by 'interaction'. If you use an ATV to input the audio into the audio system, it will support AP2, along with the HomePod. And $700 for a sound bar is a rip off.

Then why the heck are people contemplating putting 2 HomePods in front of their TV? A $150 soundbar is a better option.

 

[vipergts2207]

Then why the heck are people contemplating putting 2 HomePods in front of their TV? A $150 soundbar is a better option.

Good question.

 

[WhiteHawk]

Good question.

Indeed, a smart speaker isn’t a living room device, a living room is where you have an amp and a selection of higher end speakers for music and movies. It’s the last place apart from a bathroom where one of these will be generally.

 

[AustinIllini]

Indeed, a smart speaker isn’t a living room device, a living room is where you have an amp and a selection of higher end speakers for music and movies. It’s the last place apart from a bathroom where one of these will be generally.

It doesn't even have to be that complicated. The only thing you really need in a living room audio system is a center channel. The two HomePods in a stereo pair cannot legitimately replicate a center channel.

 

[robjulo]

Not necessarily true at all. See Sonos’ 5.1 setup for example.

Indeed, a smart speaker isn’t a living room device, a living room is where you have an amp and a selection of higher end speakers for music and movies. It’s the last place apart from a bathroom where one of these will be generally.

 

[vipergts2207]

Not necessarily true at all. See Sonos’ 5.1 setup for example.

For $1700, you can easily do much better.

 

[AustinIllini]

For $1700, you can easily do much better.

I'm not sure you can wirelessly with multi-room support with the same quality.

 

[robjulo]

Feel free to send me a link of a 5.1 system that sounds great, is multiroom, wireless, has built in Alexa (and Google Home soon), AirPlay 2, is compatable with dozens of music services and can access all the music on my Mac.

For $1700, you can easily do much better.

 

[lewisd25]

I would like to see Dolby Atmos support when multiple HomePods are linked together, but knowing Apple, it won’t happen for at least a generation or two.

 

[subjonas]

Right, if you were to do Apple TV audio, you would want to do 2 and hopefully the stereo will work (sounds like a bit of a low quality sound nightmare). The other problem, of course, is if you want a regular 3.1/5.1 system in one room and HomePod in another room, you get no interaction between the devices because HomePod locks down their own ecosystem.

You're better off getting a Sonos Playbar for your TV (price of 2 HomePods and probably sounds better) and then a Sonos speaker for another room. Then you get stereo sound for one room and multi-room functionality.

If ATV only connects to HomePod via Bluetooth that’s a no-go for me. It would have to be over airplay with stereo channels, and it would have to sound great, for me to consider.

I don’t really see myself needing to airplay from ATV to multiple rooms, so that isn’t a concern to me either way.

I have a (non-smart) sound bar now, but I want more stereo separation which is why I’m planning on stereo speakers.

The two HomePods in a stereo pair cannot legitimately replicate a center channel.

Why is that? And do you mean two stereo HomePods or two stereo speakers in general?