you CAN set multiple targets using airplay 2
so you can do....
TV + stereo pair of homepods
or
TV + mono HomePod + mono HomePod.
BUT..
while you can do it, doesn't mean you should
** every time you start playback (start new, start from paused, or jump forward/back) it will hang for a second or 2 as things sync up compared to just using the TV speakers.
** your TV speakers won't be in sync with the HomePods. and will be have an echo effect.
** if you do just airplay speakers, those will be in sync with each other, but still just slightly off from the TV - I noticed because I was looking, not sure it's enough to annoy me.
** Some apps don't work as well with airplay as others, so deepening
Just tested since I seem to have some extra free time
to test this I used....
LG TV
Sonos Beam sound bar. - used as the TV speakers.
Homepod
and a pair of Sonos one speakers - used as my second airplay
an aTV using the TV speakers in the bedroom - used as another airplay test device.
-- from my tests, Airplay2 happens the same way on all devices (HomePods, aTV as target, and sonos)
----
it would be a bit more expensive, but you get a better result...
you could get a sonos beam sound bar, and then a pair of speakers.
the beam connects to the TV via HDMI (your TV needs and HDMI-ARC port, normally #2, "ARC" should be printed next to the port)
once the audio is in the beam, any speaker in your sonos system can play it in sync
you can then set up the pair of speakers in one of 3 ways.
-2 mono speakers
-a stereo pair
-A surround pair that's grouped with the beam for surround sound.
You do loose Siri, but gain google or Alexa,
You gain access to a lot of other streaming services besides apple, Like Spotify, Tidal or Deezer among many others.
Alexa can control Apple Music on sonos, I don't think google can, but I'm not sure.
All the new sonos speakers are airplay compatible.
At least for me, with the sonos app, it's much easier to control music playback. as it always plays on a speaker, and then you group other speakers with. On HomePod, you have to either airplay from the phone, or make sure you select the HomePod before you play something.
sonos app is available for computers as well as phones and tablets, so you can control the music from your phone, and easily change it from your laptop.
the beam is $400, the other speakers are $179 or $199 each depending on if you get the microphone (for google/Alexa) or not.
the mic is probably unnecessary, since there's one in the beam.
