How to Use Two HomePods With a Mac for Stereo Audio Output

[MacRumors]

If your Mac is running macOS Big Sur 11.3 or later, you can use a HomePod stereo pair as your Mac's system audio output. This article explains how to set up two HomePod speakers as a stereo pair and then connect them to your Mac.

Dedicated stereo speakers are always going to provide a better listening experience than relying on your Mac's built-in speakers for audio, so it makes sense that some people will be interested in using two HomePods as a stereo pair to create a wider soundstage for richer, more enveloping sound.

In previous versions of macOS, such a setup had a glaring limitation: HomePods set up as a stereo pair could only be used in the Music app and other apps that support AirPlay. In other words, it was only possible to select separate HomePod speakers from the menu bar on a Mac, which meant using stereo-paired ‌HomePod‌ speakers as your Mac's audio output device was a non-starter.

Fortunately, Apple fixed this omission in macOS Big Sur 11.3, and it's now possible to use a HomePod stereo pair as you default audio output on a Mac. Note that system sounds will remain playing only on your Mac's built-in speakers.

Stereo-paired HomePods can already be set as an audio output option on iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV, so the update brings the same functionality to the Mac. Note that stereo pairing is available with two HomePods or two ‌HomePod‌ minis, but the ‌HomePod‌ and HomePod mini can't be paired together.

You can join two ‌HomePod‌ speakers as a stereo pair when you initially set up ‌HomePod‌, or you can later join two speakers that you’ve already set up using the Home app. Keep reading to learn how it's done.

How to Create a HomePod or HomePod Mini Stereo Pair

1. Launch the Home app on your iPhone or iPad.
2. Make sure both HomePod speakers are in the same room.
3. Touch and hold one of the HomePods.
4. Swipe up and tap the cog icon in the bottom-right corner of the screen.
5. Tap Create Stereo Pair....
   
   
   
   Select the other HomePod that you want to use.
   In the last screen, tap a HomePod to identify it via a tone, and swap the and right channels if needed.
   
   

Once you've paired the two HomePod speakers, you'll see a single pane in the Home app representing the stereo pair.

How to Select a HomePod Stereo Pair As Your Mac's Audio Output

This is the easy part. Once you've set up your stereo pair in the Home app, you should be able to select them as your Mac's default audio output, just like any other speaker.

There are two ways to do this. You can click the sound icon in the menu bar and select your paired HomePods from there.

Alternatively, launch System Preferences, click the Sound pane, and select your HomePods in the AirPlay section of the devices list.

It's worth bearing in mind that when two ‌HomePod‌ speakers are joined, only one responds to Siri requests, plays alarms, and acts as a speakerphone.

Tip: If you own an Apple TV 4K and two HomePod speakers, you can create a theater experience with Dolby Atmos or surround sound right in your home.

Article Link: How to Use Two HomePods With a Mac for Stereo Audio Output

 

[haytherecharlie]

Using Bluetooth devices as default audio output on Mac is going to become more and more important, especially with the audio jack sticking out the side of the new iMac - I hope they keep improving this process, I have issues connecting my AirPods to my Mac more often than I’d like to admit.

 

[kk200]

Now the question is: Mac mini + homepod + 2x monitors or iMac

 

[Reason077]

Do the Homepods work for Mac sound input, too? Lack of a mic on my LG Ultrafine display is a problem. And the sound quality when using my Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones for voice calls is beyond awful!

 

[ersan191]

“Note that system sounds will remain playing only on your Mac's built-in speakers.”

So what all qualifies as a system sound? Does this work with games at all?

 

[sirozha]

And what about a 2-3 second lag between the video and audio on FaceTime or Zoom calls? Why is there no mention of this “feature,” which renders a stereo pair of HomePods useless as computer speakers? Yes, this is still happening with macOS 11.3 and the HomePod Minis running 14.5.

 

[SatchNZ]

It mustn’t be much of a view out of that window…

 

[dinosrk]

What a hassle!
If you enjoy Music then get yourself some good Bookshelf Speakers and an AMP to drive it! (Additionally you don't have to deal with compressed Audio via AirPlay)
Even with you watch Youtube and skip the timeline, you will always have the 2-3 seconds sync delay!

Cable is Cable!

 

[TechRemarker]

In theory this is great and long needed but in reality not practical. Assuming you have a laptop every time you unplug your laptop say from your docking station it goes to sleep you have to reconnect manually to the homepods since will default back to built in speakers. But the big issue is the delay in controls such as pausing a song or fast forward etc, all have a delayed reaction vs wired speakers other than mute which happens instant.

 

[ersan191]

And what about a 2-3 second lag between the video and audio on FaceTime or Zoom calls? Why is there no mention of this “feature,” which renders a stereo pair of HomePods useless as computer speakers? Yes, this is still happening with macOS 11.3 and the HomePod Minis running 14.5.

That’s what I figured, this doesn’t really do anything new other than not making you pick the output inside the TV/iTunes/other Airplay apps each time you want to use them.

 

[Kylo83]

I wouldn't bother its not working well laggy and delays its deff not right thats why apple didn't even mention it in the notes

 

[arvinsim]

Wired bookshelf speakers is the way to go for great audio quality. Also, no point in buying a product that is discontinued.

 

[icymountain]

While I am enthusiastic about the sound quality of my Homepod mini (I really did not expect this out of a $100, smallish speaker), there are many small issues that makes them almost impractical.
First, there is the 2 or 3 seconds lag that makes them useless for any real-time task (video conferencing, video, and probably gaming). As a consequence, I move back and forth between computer output (for meetings) to Homepod mini (for music while working).
Second, the connection also takes about 5 to 10 seconds and often just does not work so I have to try again. And recently, while playing the connection just stopped and would not come back until I reboot the laptop.

This is a very promising device when considering sound quality, form factor, and price point. But a lot of work remains to be done to make it really practical.

 

[B4rbelith]

Obviously, as is well documented, there is still the 2-3 second delay with real-time audio that’s inherent in Airplay 2.
However, this is still very useful if you want to stream video through Safari as it factors in the delay, so it does sync up. I’ve tried it with Youtube and Amazon Prime and they both work fine.
IINA and VLC still have the delay though, so not sure if those apps can be updated to rectify that.
Overall, until Apple does something to remove latency with Airplay, it is what it is.

 

[Benjamin Nabulsi]

A very welcomed feature, makes me wonder why home theater isn’t enabled for HomePod mini.

also, with all the mics inside homepods, can’t help but to wonder how awesome it would be if they enable input and output through HomePods (echo free)

 

[sirozha]

Once I tested a pair of HomePod Minis running 14.5 with macOS 11.3 and confirmed that the 2-3 second lag with audio is still present, I ordered a pair of Pebble V3 speakers by Creative for $40. The speakers have Bluetooth 5.0, USB-C, and analog Aux inputs. The reviews are great. I will test them with Bluetooth to see if there’s a lag in audio. If there is, I will use USB-C or Aux cable.

I’m returning my HomePod Minis and I’m done with HomePods. From now on, it’s wired or Bluetooth speakers for me to be used as computer speakers, and it’s Sonos for high-quality music. Apple has screwed up another one of their promising product lines. It’s no wonder Sonos was completely unphased by Apple when the HomePod was first released. They knew that Apple would screw up the HomePod and were not threatened by the HomePod at all.

 

[Stephen.R]

“Note that system sounds will remain playing only on your Mac's built-in speakers.”

So what all qualifies as a system sound? Does this work with games at all?

Alert/Feedback sounds.

So the blip when you change volume. The alert sound when something requires your attention. The mail sent/received sounds, etc.

 

[sirozha]

Alert/Feedback sounds.

So the blip when you change volume. The alert sound when something requires your attention. The mail sent/received sounds, etc.

And that is because Apple can’t eliminate the 2-3 second delay in the HomePods. Apple shouldn’t have allowed for the HomePod to be selected as a sound output system-wide because of the 2-3 second lag. HomePod should have been available as a sound output only in the apps that can compensate for the 2-3 second lag by delaying video to sync up with delayed audio. All other apps should not have been given access to the HomePod and instead should output to the built-in or wired (or maybe Bluetooth) speakers that don’t have this terrible lag in the output of the audio. This especially pertains to real-time communication platforms like FaceTime, Zoom, etc.

 

[Chefclean]

I just returned four HomePod Minis to Apple due to the absolute horrific performance on connectivity and “Smartness” They just do not work paired together.

 

[sirozha]

HomePod is dead now that we know that the HomePod Minis made to look like computer speakers can’t be used as computer speakers for real-time audio. As a semi-premium speaker, the HomePod (full size) was recently killed by Apple. As a miniature and much inferior version, the HomePod Mini has just died due to the 2-3 second lag that renders it useless with any real-time applications.

The HomePod Mini can’t be used as a true computer speaker. What is the point of this device exactly at the miniature size and pretty unimpressive sound quality? Sonos speakers beat the HomePod Mini in sound quality and are Airplay 2 capable. Apple killed the full size HomePod that had any chance to compete with Sonos on quality and utility. Is the only redeeming quality of the HomePod Mini the Siri capability? Is this the reason that Apple thinks the HomePod Mini has any traction?

The strange thing is that when a single HomePod Mini is used as a speakerphone for the iPhone calls, there is no delay in the audio. Maybe the speakerphone feature uses the hidden Bluetooth capability in the HomePod Mini? If Apple can make the speakerphone on the HomePod Mini work without a noticeable lag in audio output, why can’t computer audio be lag-free? Basically, the HomePod Mini is an abandoned, unfinished product.

 

[IamTimCook]

And what about a 2-3 second lag between the video and audio on FaceTime or Zoom calls? Why is there no mention of this “feature,” which renders a stereo pair of HomePods useless as computer speakers? Yes, this is still happening with macOS 11.3 and the HomePod Minis running 14.5.

Thanks for this confirmation. I was just about to ask that question.
Not sure why this would be prompted for Macs when probably half (assuming) of audio content consumed on a Mac is from a video source.
Switching audio back to the display every time I play a video or have a video feed isn’t very “Apple”.
And is it still lagging with Apple TV? I mean, Apple TV is a video centric device.

 

[mark-in-mk]

Horrible. The experience with You Tube and the stutter every 2-3 seconds is awful. I'll check again in a few updates time.

 

[sirozha]

Thanks for this confirmation. I was just about to ask that question.
Not sure why this would be prompted for Macs when probably half (assuming) of audio content consumed on a Mac is from a video source.
Switching audio back to the display every time I play a video or have a video feed isn’t very “Apple”.
And is it still lagging with Apple TV? I mean, Apple TV is a video centric device.

I haven’t tried them with the Apple TV. They are not big enough to be TV speakers. But certain macOS apps can compensate for the audio delay by delaying the video to sync up with the audio. I’m sure that’s what Apple TV does to mask the 2-3 second delay with the audio via the HomePod.

The issue is with real-time and interactive applications, where delaying video to sync up with lagging audio is not a feasible solution. So, the HomePod can’t be used with FaceTime, Zoom, etc. I mean, it can be used with these applications if you don’t mind a 2-3 second lag in the audio. This also makes echo cancelation useless, as the echo-cancelation algorithm doesn’t cancel the audio that is delayed by 2-3 seconds, so the other party hears their own words looped back to them 3 seconds after they uttered them. It’s a complete disaster. Whoever created it would have been fired by Steve Jobs for releasing it as a finished product.

 

[ksec]

Why is it such a hassle? As if Apple doesn't want you to have HomePod mini for Stereo speaker.

 

[getheo]

From the iphone (youtube or safari), the stereo homepods work without lag. From the macbook, there is lag. Maybe it is not hardware limitation and they can fix it.