Lossless Audio and Dolby Atmos Support Come to HomePod With 15.1 Software Update

[applekieran]

It is a bit disappointing spatial audio is not coming to the HomePod mini considering it's the latest product for HomePod. Are their plans to add this?

 

[B/D]

It is a bit disappointing spatial audio is not coming to the HomePod mini considering it's the latest product for HomePod. Are their plans to add this?

No. Its a hardware and audio tech limitation.

 

[jimmysalg]

This update killed one of my OG HomePods. Now it just makes a pop when it comes on and then nothing, fully dead. This is insane that it happened right after the update. I was actually watching a show on the stereo pair, the update came on, it restarted after the update and pop and now done.

Why isn't this popping/killing issue not front page news?

 

[pm67]

Can you do a test for me? (if not too much inconvenient). Can you play a lossless track -not Atmos, because the difference is evident- then disable lossless in the home app settings, play the same track and then re-enable lossless when you´re done?.

Just to know if you can tell the difference between lossy and lossless on your Homepods. Thanks in advance.

PS: I also have an stereo pair of OG Homepods, and a Mini in the kitchen. I have updated them all to 15.1 but wouldn´t be able to test the sound until tomorrow.

Happily. You’re correct: Dolby is a different thing, marvellous in its way, but some won’t like it, and the effect is a bit varied. i love it on certain things. But for my music, jazz and classical, yes, lossless is just superb on my stereo pair of ”old” HomePods. Bliss. So many musical details on what I thought were all too familiar albums that I’d not heard before.

 

[jimmysalg]

Happily. You’re correct: Dolby is a different thing, marvellous in its way, but some won’t like it, and the effect is a bit varied. i love it on certain things. But for my music, jazz and classical, yes, lossless is just superb on my stereo pair of ”old” HomePods. Bliss. So many musical details on what I thought were all too familiar albums that I’d not heard before.

Thanks for the info. I didn't know if I wanted to turn on the lossless since it would use up more data and we stream music most of the day LOL

 

[B/D]

I am afraid that will have to turn off lossless. My wifi is rock solid and fast, yet I´m having cut outs and buffering issues with the homepods.

 

[rikscha]

No way??? one of my OG HomePods started doing it last month. I thought it was a software issue!!!??? All my OG HomePods are out of warranty. I can't believe is such short time they would crap out.

I was furious. I lived with it for 18 months and I have two HPs. I had to escalate it and as alwyas they pretend as if they had never heard of it before.

They also can’t fix it. The HP is glued together. So in future if this happens, you cant do anything about it as you would have to cut open the unit to get inside.

My second one is still working so hopefully will be fine

 

[rikscha]

No way??? one of my OG HomePods started doing it last month. I thought it was a software issue!!!??? All my OG HomePods are out of warranty. I can't believe is such short time they would crap out.

I was furious. I lived with it for 18 months and I have two HPs. I had to escalate it and as alwyas they pretend as if they had never heard of it before.

They also can’t fix it. The HP is glued together. So in future if this happens, you cant do anything about it as you would have to cut open the unit to get inside.

My second one is still working so hopefully will be fine

 

[NPG]

Yes, you can remote control the Homepods from an IOS device or a Mac.

On IOS, pull up the control center and go to the airplay menu. There scroll down and select "control other tv and speakers". Select the homepod there. Thats it. If you go to the music app and play something it will start on the Homepod and you can then turn off the IOS device, the music will keep playing.

Thanks B/D

Tried that then the HomePod stream connection dropped..I wonder if its because they are on a mixed network 802.11 b/g

Have you heard anything about which individual bands the HomePods operate best on .. 802.11 a,b,g,n or ac ?

 

[B/D]

Thanks B/D

Tried that then the HomePod stream connection dropped..I wonder if its because they are on a mixed network 802.11 b/g

Have you heard anything about which individual bands the HomePods operate best on .. 802.11 a,b,g,n or ac ?

Disable lossless on the home app settings if you have enabled it. I have a very strong Wi-Fi AC network and had to disable lossless because it was stopping and buffering like crazy.


The recommended network for the homepod is n or AC. B/G is not enough.

 

[ErikGrim]

For this to work, do you have enable Atmos on the Home app settings or that´s just for Apple Music content and not neccesary with the apple tv?

I didn't enable anything. Atmos was already enabled by default in the Home app settings (unlike Lossless). It was only after I tested the whole gamut of different ways Atmos will play from your phone to a network of mixed devices (OG homepods, minis, regular airplay devices like a Monterey Mac) that I noticed that the Apple TV was playing sound on all devices after - something that was an either/or when you've connected OG Homepods as default (aka Home Theater Mode) prior to 15.1.