Stereo Homepods + Apple TV4K (2. Gen): Audio dropouts TVOS 26.3

[C0re0]

Hi,

Since TVOS 26.3, I have been experiencing significant audio issues with my HomePods in connection with my Apple TV4K (2nd generation). I use both HomePods as standard audio output via eARC. The Apple TV is connected to my LG TV OLED with an HDMI cable.

The problem is that I keep experiencing short audio dropouts. Sometimes, when I change channels (possibly to a different audio track), the sound disappears completely for about 3 seconds and only then comes back. I have already reset both Homepods, restarted them, reconnected them as a stereo pair, and configured them as standard audio output. Repeated restarts (Apple TV, Homepods, router) have also been unsuccessful.

As I said, the problems exist since TVOS 26.3. Does anyone else have such problems?

Kind regards

 

[almostinsane]

I did and sold the HP's and got a soundbar.

 

[Kenny99]

Two ideas: Its their anything between (blocking) the apple TV and the HomePods? Have you reset you TV and checked for any updates?
I'm am having issues with the sound droop (going low) and then coming back up (Louder) to the set point when changing channels. LG TV and Vizio soundbar. happens whether using Apple TV or cable.

 

[macaddiict]

I can’t deal with the constant dropping audio on HomePods and Apple TV any longer. It’s been an issue for years and there are months here and there where it works and then it’s flaky. Buying a soundbar sounds good!

 

[C0re0]

Hi all,
thanks for your help! Buying a soundbar would probably be best to get rid of the troubles with the homepods.

However, I managed to solve the audio lags; but it is awkward…

I experienced the audio lags/droputs mostly when watching regular TV and/or while switching TV channels. My TV receiver (set top box) was set to „Digital Audio output“ „Bitstream“. That means the Audio signal from the TV channel was unmodified routed to my LG TV. Settings on my LG TV is „Bitstream/Passthrough“; therefore, the unmodified bitstream audio signal was passed to my Apple TV4K which normally handles the encoding/processing and routing to my Homepods. Somehow - when different source audio signals come from different TV channels, the Apple TV takes some time handling the audio signals correctly. And this caused the lags.

Now I changed the set top box digital audio output to „PCM“ instead bitstream, but leaving the setting on my LG TV on bitstream/passthrough. Meaning my Apple TV gets the PCM signal. And suddenly the audio dropouts/lags dissapeared. Sound is immediately present when switching channels/audio sources, no lags/dropouts.

This is a mysery introduced with IOS/TVOS 26.3, since I did not have these problems in previous versions with setting both bitstream (set top box and TV). Somehow Apple changed something with decoding in Apple TV…

Kind regards

 

[C0re0]

Two ideas: Its their anything between (blocking) the apple TV and the HomePods? Have you reset you TV and checked for any updates?
I'm am having issues with the sound droop (going low) and then coming back up (Louder) to the set point when changing channels. LG TV and Vizio soundbar. happens whether using Apple TV or cable.

Hi,

no, nothing between. As said, only happening since IOS 26.3…
And setting input to PCM instead bitstream solves the problem. But wondering why it worked before…since bitstream would be the correct setting—according to Apple.

Anyway, in TVOS 26.4 a new feature continuous audio connection will be introduced.
any idea if this will also apply to Apple TV paired homepods?

Best regards

 

[C0re0]

Update:

Installed TVOS 26.4 latest beta, the problem still exists with the aforementioned bitstream setting (which is recommended by Apple).
Seems that the ATV/homepods suddenly have issues with audio format negotiation from different sources.
Btw, the "Continous Audio connection" feature introduced with 26.4 is not available when Homepods are configured as standard audio from Apple TV and with eARC setting on, enabling TV sound.

To sum up, audio output via HomePods using eARC is currently completely unusable since 26.3.
Well done, Apple.

 

[Ct applefan]

I came home to no volume at all on 26.3. Wtf. I have rebooted the Apple TV and TV multiple time. Nothing. Any suggestions

 

[B/D]

Update:

Installed TVOS 26.4 latest beta, the problem still exists with the aforementioned bitstream setting (which is recommended by Apple).
Seems that the ATV/homepods suddenly have issues with audio format negotiation from different sources.
Btw, the "Continous Audio connection" feature introduced with 26.4 is not available when Homepods are configured as standard audio from Apple TV and with eARC setting on, enabling TV sound.

To sum up, audio output via HomePods using eARC is currently completely unusable since 26.3.
Well done, Apple.

How about tvOS 26.4 RC? Anything fixed? Is continuous audio available now? Thank you.

 

[schmidt65]

Hi,

no, nothing between. As said, only happening since IOS 26.3…
And setting input to PCM instead bitstream solves the problem. But wondering why it worked before…since bitstream would be the correct setting—according to Apple.

Anyway, in TVOS 26.4 a new feature continuous audio connection will be introduced.
any idea if this will also apply to Apple TV paired homepods?

Best regards

Hi - does this workaround still work on 26.4? I was really hoping the continuous audio fix in 26.4 would solve this (especially as HomePods are Apple made!) but seems like no luck.

I’ve got the same issue. LG OLED TV (2025 C5), Sky puck & Xbox Series X with earc turned on, all through to an Apple TV 4K (latest gen) with 2 HomePods (original) set as to audio. Sounds comes through fine to the HomePods from all sources, but everytime Sky goes to an advert or we change channel, the audio drops for at least 5 seconds. So frustrating

 

[C0re0]

Hi - does this workaround still work on 26.4? I was really hoping the continuous audio fix in 26.4 would solve this (especially as HomePods are Apple made!) but seems like no luck.

I’ve got the same issue. LG OLED TV (2025 C5), Sky puck & Xbox Series X with earc turned on, all through to an Apple TV 4K (latest gen) with 2 HomePods (original) set as to audio. Sounds comes through fine to the HomePods from all sources, but everytime Sky goes to an advert or we change channel, the audio drops for at least 5 seconds. So frustrating

Hi,

At least one more who has the same problems...confirming that it must be an issue introduced with IOS/TVOS 26.3, e.g. problems with audio format negotiation.

I tested the 26.4 beta version and there the continous audio fix (i.e. Continous Audio Connection option) was NOT availalable when audio is routed via the apple TV to connected Homepods as standard audio output. Obviously this option is only meant to be for connected soundbars - such as Sonos etc. But, I did not test the TVOS 26.4 RC.

Honestly, I gave up my setup stereo homepods using as home theter - too many problems, too much connection issues...I bought an Sennheiser Ambeo Plus soundbar - no dropouts at all, the sound is there right away, no lags. And the continuous audio connection option is available.

Now I'm using my HomePods for what they were actually designed for: as music speakers—and they're great!

 

[dwrufus53]

I’ve read through this thread, and have the exact same setup, save the television brand. I have four televisions (3 Samsung, 1 Sony) with various vintages of AppleTV 4K (gen 1, 2 and 3) and using HomePods for audio. Two of the setups use stereo pairs of HomePods mini, one uses a single HomePod mini and the other uses a 0G fullsize HomePod.

I have not experienced the issue described above with these setups - no audio problems, no audio lag, no audio dropouts, no having to delete/reset anything to make it work. I had one instance where I had to repair the stereo pair of HomePods mini following a software update very early on in the history. I’ve been running these setups for several years in one instance, and well over a year in all of them.

I keep everything updated with the current versions of their respective OSes, and in one setup, I routinely run the beta version of the respective OSes.

I am trying to understand what is going on to cause the problems, why some of you are experiencing them and why I am not.

One other thing that I am not understanding is that you are using eARC. I am not clear on how it factors into this setup, as there's no need or purpose to "return" audio to the television - as the audio is sent to the HomePods via BT connection, and there's no need to route the audio back to the television.

 

[C0re0]

I’ve read through this thread, and have the exact same setup, save the television brand. I have four televisions (3 Samsung, 1 Sony) with various vintages of AppleTV 4K (gen 1, 2 and 3) and using HomePods for audio. Two of the setups use stereo pairs of HomePods mini, one uses a single HomePod mini and the other uses a 0G fullsize HomePod.

I have not experienced the issue described above with these setups - no audio problems, no audio lag, no audio dropouts, no having to delete/reset anything to make it work. I had one instance where I had to repair the stereo pair of HomePods mini following a software update very early on in the history. I’ve been running these setups for several years in one instance, and well over a year in all of them.

I keep everything updated with the current versions of their respective OSes, and in one setup, I routinely run the beta version of the respective OSes.

I am trying to understand what is going on to cause the problems, why some of you are experiencing them and why I am not.

One other thing that I am not understanding is that you are using eARC. I am not clear on how it factors into this setup, as there's no need or purpose to "return" audio to the television - as the audio is sent to the HomePods via BT connection, and there's no need to route the audio back to the television.

Hi,

Yes, eARC ist not required, ARC is also sufficient. But for high quality (lossless) audio you will need eARC.
What are your settings regarding difgital audio output on your TVs?

One Note: Audio is send from the ATV to the Homepods NOT via BT - it is airplay (Wifi).

 

[cynics]

This won't apply to everyone but something to note if you are using the AppleTV's Match Content - Dynamic Range and/or Frame rate that requires HDMI to renegotiate its handshake. You'll momentarily lose picture and audio, this issue is compounded if you are using eARC/ARC because there are two HDMI cables in the audio stream. You can quickly test this by turning off dynamic range and frame rate to see if it has any effect.

My setup is fairly simple but I did have some issues due to my receivers compatibility. AppleTV 4k audio return via ARC to a 5.1 receiver.

AppleTV - Audio Format - LPCM, Audio Mode - Auto, Wireless Audio Sync - Calibrated.

Samsung TV - HDMI-eARC mode - OFF, Digital Output - Passthrough, Dolby Atmos - OFF, Delay - 0

It was important that I had eARC and Dolby Atmos set to OFF because my receiver does not support either of these features. I would have expected it to fall back for compatibility but instead I would get things like occasional 2 channels only on a surround sound source or slight garbled audio. Once I excepted the fact my older receiver is old and changed settings to not exceed its compatibility it has sounded great.

 

[dwrufus53]

Hi,

Yes, eARC ist not required, ARC is also sufficient. But for high quality (lossless) audio you will need eARC.
What are your settings regarding difgital audio output on your TVs?

One Note: Audio is send from the ATV to the Homepods NOT via BT - it is airplay (Wifi).

Sorry, I missed this. The settings are mixed across the Samsung TVs. Some are PCM and some are Bitstream.

 

[MistrSynistr]

I noticed this too when watching 4k blu ray discs, I had to change my 4k player to PCM audio output and it fixed it. It has to be something with an update as it never happened before on bitstream.

 

[C0re0]

Sorry, I missed this. The settings are mixed across the Samsung TVs. Some are PCM and some are Bitstream.

Normally, everything shoud be put on "bitstream" to ensure that the ATV handles/processes the input signal.

On the TV: Digital Audio input --> "Bitstream" and Digital Audio out: "Passthrough"
If the TV´s Digital Audio output is set to "PCM", Stereo is passed to the ATV...

 

[C0re0]

I noticed this too when watching 4k blu ray discs, I had to change my 4k player to PCM audio output and it fixed it. It has to be something with an update as it never happened before on bitstream.

That is exactly what I also observed: "PCM" setting completely resolved the issue; however, it should not be set to PCM...

 

[LazyMonkIE]

I had no idea this thread existed and created a similar thread a while back. I have the exact same problem. Latest appleTV, 2 stereo HomePod Pro 2, LG TV 65c series. I get the same problem since 26.3 but it happens with TV from the aerial, sky stream puck, digital TV. Still not resolved with 26.5. The only difference. for me is that my audio will drop out sometimes while I'm watching a channel/show and I lose about 10 seconds of audio. Insanely frustrating.

Just found the other thread where I posted about it: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/apple-releases-homepod-software-26-4.2479849/