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HomePod vs movies

M

MacLewis

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Nov 5, 2010
7
0
Hey guys,

So I've purchased a HomePod last week ( sill didn't open the box lol ) and I am wondering if I can watch movies from the normal tv ( no iTunes ). And also, I have a samsung surround sound bar connected to my tv, can I use both at the same time? HomePod and surround sound bar or do I have to choose one or another ?? I am hope to be able to use both :(.

Also, I have a Apple TV 4th generation ( not 4k ). Can I watch movies from kodi using both HomePod and surround sound bar ?

Thank you,

Lou
 
MacLewis said:
Hey guys,

So I've purchased a HomePod last week ( sill didn't open the box lol ) and I am wondering if I can watch movies from the normal tv ( no iTunes ). And also, I have a samsung surround sound bar connected to my tv, can I use both at the same time? HomePod and surround sound bar or do I have to choose one or another ?? I am hope to be able to use both :(.

Also, I have a Apple TV 4th generation ( not 4k ). Can I watch movies from kodi using both HomePod and surround sound bar ?

Thank you,

Lou
Click to expand...
Thank you....wow...not even one reply !!! Anyway, I got it to work both at the same time with Apple TV, however the sound is slightly off one from another...any suggestions to fix this ?

Thank you
( hope to get a reply)
 
MacLewis said:
So I've purchased a HomePod last week ( sill didn't open the box lol ) and I am wondering if I can watch movies from the normal tv ( no iTunes ).
Click to expand...

Probably not:

https://www.lifewire.com/connect-apple-homepod-to-tv-4160381

With Airplay support coming to new TV's I am not sure whether this becomes a possibility. Everything I've seen shows the new models to be Airplay players/receivers, not senders.

MacLewis said:
And also, I have a samsung surround sound bar connected to my tv, can I use both at the same time? HomePod and surround sound bar or do I have to choose one or another ?? I am hope to be able to use both :(.

As above no. Just the sound bar, assuming your TV supports it.

Also, I have a Apple TV 4th generation ( not 4k ). Can I watch movies from kodi using both HomePod and surround sound bar ?
Click to expand...

Apple TV 4K has built in support for HomePod. If sound bar is seen as a bluetooth device then the Apple TV should be able to connect to it as well. Support for 2 audio outs may be coming:

https://9to5mac.com/2019/05/26/repo...ic-to-two-bluetooth-devices-at-the-same-time/

Not sure what Kodi is. Website isn't informative.
 
MacLewis said:
Thank you....wow...not even one reply !!! Anyway, I got it to work both at the same time with Apple TV, however the sound is slightly off one from another...any suggestions to fix this ?

Thank you
( hope to get a reply)
Click to expand...

That’s the issue with pairing Bluetooth speakers with a TV, delay (lip sync). There is a reason the few really good wireless speakers are so damn expensive.
 
MacLewis said:
Hey guys,

So I've purchased a HomePod last week ( sill didn't open the box lol ) and I am wondering if I can watch movies from the normal tv ( no iTunes ). And also, I have a samsung surround sound bar connected to my tv, can I use both at the same time? HomePod and surround sound bar or do I have to choose one or another ?? I am hope to be able to use both :(.

Also, I have a Apple TV 4th generation ( not 4k ). Can I watch movies from kodi using both HomePod and surround sound bar ?

Thank you,

Lou
Click to expand...

Yes you can use multiple receivers/speakers at once. The caveat is the need to support AirPlay 2 and for certain sources you might not be able to AirPlay to a device that can receive video (currently being another AppleTV).

If the app dev for the streaming service you want to play used Apples player you can just swipe down and select another source in the video. It will look like this.

IMG_6397.JPG

Kitchen for me is a stereo pair of HomePods and the AppleTV 4k is connected to a surround sound system via HDMI ARC through the TV. As you can see they are both selected and both are working.

If the app dev made their own player you may need to go into audio settings and select the outputs there.

IMG_6396.JPG

Again as you can see AppleTV and Kitchen (HomePods) are selected.

I know there are some good uses for wanting to do what you are looking for however I would try to keep in mind the HomePod is specifically made for music and most surround sound systems are specifically designed for movies. Neither of which compromise too much especially the HomePod. Sources such as music and movies are mastered to heard a certain way and for a single device to be the best at one of those requires it compromise at the other. It might not be something that is noticeable to you but it is there.

The reason I mention that is because if there is something in the future that requires Apple to make the movie listening experience worst to make the music listening experience better they will take it.
 
This is just my opinion, but the HomePod shouldn't be used as a TV speaker because it was never designed for that. It's a music speaker and digital assistant. Sure, you can use it for TV audio out, but it's not the right tool; the right tool will work better. Between the delay and the questionable support for DTS and such, I wouldn't use HomePod for serious TV/Movies.
 
oneMadRssn said:
This is just my opinion, but the HomePod shouldn't be used as a TV speaker because it was never designed for that. It's a music speaker and digital assistant. Sure, you can use it for TV audio out, but it's not the right tool; the right tool will work better. Between the delay and the questionable support for DTS and such, I wouldn't use HomePod for serious TV/Movies.
Click to expand...

You are wrong. I have two HomePods positioned at the back of my living room in stereo pair and it creates fantastic surround type sound throughout the room. So good in fact, everyone who comes over to watch TV/Movies comments on how amazing it sounds.
 
MistrSynistr said:
You are wrong. I have two HomePods positioned at the back of my living room in stereo pair and it creates fantastic surround type sound throughout the room. So good in fact, everyone who comes over to watch TV/Movies comments on how amazing it sounds.
Click to expand...

I'm sure it's way better than built-in tv speakers, but it isn't actually decoding Dolby audio. It's merely playing back stereo sound. It's better than built-in TV speakers, but will never sound as good as proper receiver capable of decoding Dolby and speakers.
 
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oneMadRssn said:
I'm sure it's way better than built-in tv speakers, but it isn't actually decoding Dolby audio.
Click to expand...
This will be interesting topic for discussion.
Actually, tvOS is decoding dolby audio to PCM 5.1 or 7.1 as appropriate. There is no way around it (except to force DD5.1 output).
Whether it is able to send anything besides PCM2.0 (FL & FR), remains to be investigated.
 
priitv8 said:
This will be interesting topic for discussion.
Actually, tvOS is decoding dolby audio to PCM 5.1 or 7.1 as appropriate. There is no way around it (except to force DD5.1 output).
Whether it is able to send anything besides PCM2.0 (FL & FR), remains to be investigated.
Click to expand...

I can't say for certain about AirPlay2, but I know AirPlay1 sent pure stereo, mixed, L and R. Nothing I have read about AirPlay2 suggests this changed. Until I read something that says AirPlay2 can sent PCM5.1 or better, I can only assume it sending stereo only.
 
oneMadRssn said:
Until I read something that says AirPlay2 can sent PCM5.1 or better, I can only assume it sending stereo only.
Click to expand...
True. So far there are no reports about AP2 supporting more than 2 pods either. It needs to allow more than 2 pods in a playback cluster first, then there will be hope for multichannel output.
 
priitv8 said:
It needs to allow more than 2 pods in a playback cluster first, then there will be hope for multichannel output.
Click to expand...
My dream - 7.1 from HomePods/AppleTV with ARC in from the TV to the Apple TV so using the TV as the source switcher. I'd then sell my Denon A/V amp, my KEF eggs, my B&W floor-standers and about 75 metres of speaker cable.

I can but dream. :)
 
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cjbryce said:
My dream - 7.1 from HomePods/AppleTV with ARC in from the TV to the Apple TV so using the TV as the source switcher. I'd then sell my Denon A/V amp, my KEF eggs, my B&W floor-standers and about 75 metres of speaker cable.

I can but dream. :)
Click to expand...

If you're ok with not Apple-branded hardware, you can almost do exactly that with Sonos today. Just 5.1 instead of 7.1. Sonos Beam for the front/center speakers, which has HDMI ARC in, and HDMI CEC. Then a pair of Sonos Play:1 or Sonos One speakers function as the surround. Throw in a Sonos Sub for the .1 channel if you want. You get AirPlay2 functionality, and it supports Dolby Digital and PCM sources. All wireless but for the power plugs and single HDMI cable.
 
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priitv8 said:
Shall there be a special SubPod for the 0.1 channel??
Click to expand...
There shall
[doublepost=1560420537][/doublepost]
oneMadRssn said:
If you're ok with not Apple-branded hardware, you can almost do exactly that with Sonos today. Just 5.1 instead of 7.1. Sonos Beam for the front/center speakers, which has HDMI ARC in, and HDMI CEC. Then a pair of Sonos Play:1 or Sonos One speakers function as the surround. Throw in a Sonos Sub for the .1 channel if you want. You get AirPlay2 functionality, and it supports Dolby Digital and PCM sources. All wireless but for the power plugs and single HDMI cable.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I’ve looked at Sonos and considered going down that road. I may yet take the plunge.
 
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