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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.
I have zero lag on mine. Just saying. QuickTime and Safari works flawlessly. Maybe it is another application not working well?
 
It seems like they still do not support AirPlay 2 on macOS, because there is abstolutely zero lag when playing from iOS or when using Apple branded apps on macOS (TV, Music etc.)

Can anyone confirm?
It’s works great on my Mac. No lag at all. I seriously believe that either people are having a problem with third party software or they are creating a false narrative
 
Yeah it still doesn’t have airplay 2 as main output even on macos 12 it’s shocking apple hasn’t done this
What are you talking about. My HomePods and HomePods mini work fine. 1). Your wifi crowded or experiencing interference? 2) Third party software written poorly?

I’d look at your wifi first, too many devices? Band interference. When people are using wifi to support video calls, other devices get stutter. Overall my experience is superb, that says to me, what is not working in your setup?
 
I have zero lag on mine. Just saying. QuickTime and Safari works flawlessly. Maybe it is another application not working well?
I am very curious. What OS version and Safari version are you using ?
Did you try youtube for instance ? I would be very happy if it is possible to fix this!
 
What are you talking about. My HomePods and HomePods mini work fine. 1). Your wifi crowded or experiencing interference? 2) Third party software written poorly?

I’d look at your wifi first, too many devices? Band interference. When people are using wifi to support video calls, other devices get stutter. Overall my experience is superb, that says to me, what is not working in your setup?
What I meant it uses airplay 1 as main output so there is a delay using it and you also can’t use multiple outputs like homepods and other speakers at same time
 
Still fails to work. Skips and plays silently every minute or two when listening to Youtube.
 
I use amazon echo dot without any lags but with my Mac mini m1 and HomePod mini there is always a lag and I frequently gets sound cuts when I airplay using Spotify.
 
Well I thought the latest HomePod mini Home app. update would fix the M1 MacMini lag with my stereo HomePodMini set up. At first it seemed it did, but I was wrong. As reported I have to re-boot my computer and quickly choose the HomePodMini's with Safari for videos. Otherwise the actors lips won't synch with the sound.

I love the rich sound of these things for music, and of course the Siri thing. But issues with video via Safari (Hulu/HBOMAX/AppleTV+) is really a deal breaker! I should just install my old Bowers & Wilkins MM1 computer speakers and be done with it.

If anyone has a solution please speak out. Many thanks!!!
 
It’s works great on my Mac. No lag at all. I seriously believe that either people are having a problem with third party software or they are creating a false narrative
Maybe you don't understand the issue, but are fast to make your own conclusions about other people making false narrative. The issue lies with system wide settings. When you select HomePod as your sound output like this:

Screenshot 2021-12-09 at 15.14.54.png


Go ahead, try it. And then play anything, you can even play video in QuickTime and sound will lag behind video when skipping ahead or when you pause it sound will continue for another 2 seconds or so.

But when you select HomePod directly inside for example Music app, the aforementioned lag is not there.

Screenshot 2021-12-09 at 15.20.15.png


What are you talking about. My HomePods and HomePods mini work fine. 1). Your wifi crowded or experiencing interference? 2) Third party software written poorly?

I’d look at your wifi first, too many devices? Band interference. When people are using wifi to support video calls, other devices get stutter. Overall my experience is superb, that says to me, what is not working in your setup?
I have Mac Mini M1. And no, wi-fi is not really an issue as it works with my iPhone without any issues (i.e. sending sound from Safari to my HomePod works without any lag whatsoever).

It's a longstanding macOS issue. And it's a known fact that macOS uses AirPlay 1 for system wide sound output but was said to move to AirPlay 2 (lag free) in Monterey (or was it Big Sur even?), but hasn't done so as it's still broken in macOS 12.0.1.
 
Besides, unless I'm missing something, Control Center on macOS doesn't let you join multiple devices, another telltale sign that this isn't AirPlay 2.

move to AirPlay 2 (lag free)

To be pedantic, AirPlay 2 isn't lag-free. AirPlay 1 had a constant lag of exactly 2 seconds. AirPlay 2 instead negotiates the minimum viable lag between all connected devices (which is typically way below 2s), then uses that.
 
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works for me, been working for a long time. Update your OS?

I have read that FaceTime and Zoom kind suck using it, maybe they should hire better programmers?
 
Man. What works for you?
Well, select the stereo pair as the output options. works everywhere. Select stereo pair from Apple Music. works great (although why use airplay, when you can just control the stereo pair and play direct, but it does work). I am running Ventura developer Beta, don't remember when it started working, but some time ago
 
Maybe you don't understand the issue, but are fast to make your own conclusions about other people making false narrative. The issue lies with system wide settings. When you select HomePod as your sound output like this:

View attachment 1925513

Go ahead, try it. And then play anything, you can even play video in QuickTime and sound will lag behind video when skipping ahead or when you pause it sound will continue for another 2 seconds or so.

But when you select HomePod directly inside for example Music app, the aforementioned lag is not there.

View attachment 1925515


I have Mac Mini M1. And no, wi-fi is not really an issue as it works with my iPhone without any issues (i.e. sending sound from Safari to my HomePod works without any lag whatsoever).

It's a longstanding macOS issue. And it's a known fact that macOS uses AirPlay 1 for system wide sound output but was said to move to AirPlay 2 (lag free) in Monterey (or was it Big Sur even?), but hasn't done so as it's still broken in macOS 12.0.1.
"
Maybe you don't understand the issue, but are fast to make your own conclusions about other people making false narrative. The issue lies with system wide settings. When you select HomePod as your sound output like this:"

No I do understand, thanks for condescension though.
1674003899729.png

I select stereo pair in system settings. Maybe your problem is your settings are only showing 1 mini, not a stereo pair.
 
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works for me, been working for a long time. Update your OS?

I have read that FaceTime and Zoom kind suck using it, maybe they should hire better programmers?
I'm at the latest OS for everything. If the "Stereo Pair" doesn't work properly for everything that outputs audio (Zoom, FT, System sounds, etc) not just a small subset of streaming apps where a "delay" doesn't matter - then it's not really "fixed" and they aren't truly 100% usable as Mac speakers. A sad state after all these years.
 
Is there still a lag in audio with this setup or can these be used as computer speakers with no issues now?
 
Still an issue. Just received my HomePod (2nd Generation) yesterday and was surprised about this lag, which occurs only when the macOS system output is set to the HomePod.
If the content itself (eg. Youtube player in Safari) is set to airplay to the HomePod - it works without a lag.
In general, that works for me, however i'm annoyed by the fact that i can't control the volume from my keyboard - currently trying to figure out some workaround. So far I've found an open source app called Volume Control, but it does not work for Safari. Essentially i would like to bind the system volume to the HomePod volume (eg. via automation, scripting, program or whatever) so when i change the macOS volume or mute/unmute it - it would adjust the HomePod volume respectively.
 
Might worth reporting here. I finally got HomePod minis work as my Mac speaker without of any lag in any applications!!!

I happen to use a TV with eARC support (LG C2 42) as my main monitor for my Mac, and I'm having an Apple TV 4k sit on my desk for over a year.

Since apple releases the eARC support for Apple TV, I'm able to add my HomePods as the default speakers and passing all audio from my TV through ATV.

This works smoothly without any noticeable lag, movies, YouTube, zoom, etc. Everything works!

Give it a go if you have similar setup. :cool:
 
My beloved Bose companion 5 set up from 2009 have just broken and I'm gutted! Does anyone still recommend the home pods as a computer speaker option? its annoying it doesn't play any computer sounds through them although a minor issue I suppose.
 
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