I tried this setup and it sounds great, the movie and audio were perfectly synchronized (it was IronMan on iTunes, which I know well and use for comparison). I have not tried issuing Siri commands in that setup. The bass was there but the image separation wasn't really there, I am impatient to test with 2 HomePods, and then test again 'later this year' when a software update brings the feature of using 2 HomePods as a stereo pair.
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HomePod Using homepod as a soundbar
- Thread starter Jamie0003
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I tried this setup and it sounds great, the movie and audio were perfectly synchronized (it was IronMan on iTunes, which I know well and use for comparison). I have not tried issuing Siri commands in that setup. The bass was there but the image separation wasn't really there, I am impatient to test with 2 HomePods, and then test again 'later this year' when a software update brings the feature of using 2 HomePods as a stereo pair.
I’d stop tinkering and if that is the priority simply go for Sonos.
Me, I chased my cables inside the walls, I hid the run back to the amp between the grip rods and carpet underlay. Totally hidden, nothing visible. Took no more than a day.
Really? Because you can’t do this using Siri on an iPhone. That’s great news! Do you need to be airplaying to the Apple TV to do this?
Yeah hopefully more advanced controls will come in future
Haven't tested it without airplaying to the HomePod from the Apple TV. I'll try to do that when I get home.
Shame. Hopefully in the next release it'll come. I can't see any other reason why Apple would all of a sudden add the Apple TV to the Home app in iOS 11.3 if they weren't going to be enabling more features for home automation/siri use...
For those who have the ATV and HomePod, do you now regularly use the HP as the speakers for stuff you watch on ATV?
I’m planning on using my new ATV 4K for Netflix.
Does AirPlay mirroring from my MacBook work with the HP too?
I’m planning on using my new ATV 4K for Netflix.
Does AirPlay mirroring from my MacBook work with the HP too?
In 11.3 Beta 3 the Apple TV is removed again in the Home.app... Guess we'll see where this is all going...
My HomePod is too far away from my tv to use it, it's too obvious the sound is coming from somewhere else, so I don't use it. Am planning to get a 2nd HomePod when AirPlay 2 is released and I will test it it with the ATV, without a doubt.
My HomePod is too far away from my tv to use it, it's too obvious the sound is coming from somewhere else, so I don't use it. Am planning to get a 2nd HomePod when AirPlay 2 is released and I will test it it with the ATV, without a doubt.
I'm using my Homepod as a "soundbar" in my bedroom. It works fine with an Apple TV and everything's in sync. Apple is a pain in the ass with lack of bluetooth support so I had to go out and get an Apple TV.
Because the bass performance is so good it actually rivals a sound bar with a separate sub. I have a Samsung H-751 that has a separate 8 inch sub. It's low frequency extension is 40hz in my room. From measurements on Sound and Vision for another Samsung sound bar with a similar sub that sounds about right.
I also measured the homepod's low frequency extension to 40hz in my room. I couldn't quite believe it but it's on par with a separate sound bar sub.
80% of the sound in any movie is delivered via the center speaker (Sound Reproduction: Loudspeakers and Rooms book Ch 8 pg 122) and that'll be even higher for TV. Since the homepod is a point source it really does work well as a sound bar for a bedroom like situation. I was shocked at some of the demo clips I was playing, like the IMAX never compromise clip (on YouTube). It sounded great.
I wouldn't recommend it for anything but a bedroom/mobile use type situation though. Although 80% of the sound is from a center speaker when important things happen on screen you generally need at least stereo to expand the sound.
A good sound bar does that. A good sound bar will also let you play at much higher volumes. In a bedroom or a hotel that's not important - but at home in your living room you want something with more volume. The homepod can get loud, but in doing so it's only increasing the mid-range and the treble volume. It'll sound louder but the bass won't increase proportionally.
I'm constantly amazed by this little thing. I'm a home theater nerd and have multiple SVS subwoofers that play to 115db at 8hz - it's never going to replace that but for a bedroom sound bar and a speaker for Air b n B's it's perfect. There's no other speaker out there I can take on my carry on that gives me this performance!
Because the bass performance is so good it actually rivals a sound bar with a separate sub. I have a Samsung H-751 that has a separate 8 inch sub. It's low frequency extension is 40hz in my room. From measurements on Sound and Vision for another Samsung sound bar with a similar sub that sounds about right.
I also measured the homepod's low frequency extension to 40hz in my room. I couldn't quite believe it but it's on par with a separate sound bar sub.
80% of the sound in any movie is delivered via the center speaker (Sound Reproduction: Loudspeakers and Rooms book Ch 8 pg 122) and that'll be even higher for TV. Since the homepod is a point source it really does work well as a sound bar for a bedroom like situation. I was shocked at some of the demo clips I was playing, like the IMAX never compromise clip (on YouTube). It sounded great.
I wouldn't recommend it for anything but a bedroom/mobile use type situation though. Although 80% of the sound is from a center speaker when important things happen on screen you generally need at least stereo to expand the sound.
A good sound bar does that. A good sound bar will also let you play at much higher volumes. In a bedroom or a hotel that's not important - but at home in your living room you want something with more volume. The homepod can get loud, but in doing so it's only increasing the mid-range and the treble volume. It'll sound louder but the bass won't increase proportionally.
I'm constantly amazed by this little thing. I'm a home theater nerd and have multiple SVS subwoofers that play to 115db at 8hz - it's never going to replace that but for a bedroom sound bar and a speaker for Air b n B's it's perfect. There's no other speaker out there I can take on my carry on that gives me this performance!
I just created a related thread to keep track of audio sync problems:
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/homepod-audio-sync-when-using-airplay.2117108/
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/homepod-audio-sync-when-using-airplay.2117108/
I am finding the sound to be significantly quieter when attached to my TV, to the point that it isn’t worth it for me. Anyone else see this?
The sound is limited to 80% when using it with Apple TV, for some reason.
I've been using mine with my apple Tv and PJ and it's working brilliantly for me. The PJ has to be brought out and set up each time I want to use it, so a permanent surround sound isn't really something I want. Really happy with what the HP is giving me, having previously used a Bose speaker for the same purpose. Just waiting for AirPlay 2 now so I can use at least two of my three homepods
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Was this really necessary? Isn't the general rule of thumb that it will work with iTunes content/Apple Hardware as it has a built in 2 second delay?
I wonder if I have some setting switched or need to adjust my set up, because my HomePod seemed a lot lower than 80%. I typically listen to music around 65% and it seems plenty loud, but I had trouble hearing the words on the TV even when it was up all the way. I will explore it a bit more since it sounds that might have been an anommolous experience.
Here's my take. I have a KEF 5.1 surround egg style speaker system.
Great, however after re-decorating I decided to see how I'd do with just the HomePod as a sound-bar. I actually didn't mind it apart from the distinct lack in volume. It does a great job and as my media is all via Apple TV it works for me.
One thing to keep in mind though. If you are accessing an app thats not using the Apple media player (like a iptv app for example) you'll experience a delay in the audio due to airplay. I very rarely use iptv so it wasn't a big deal personally.
The question is, why did I resort to setting up my KEF 5.1 again? Simply, God of War came out on the PlayStation. It was then that I remembered what I'd been missing. True surround! My HomePod in the living room has now been demoted to smart home commands and a relay for phone calls with the odd bit of Apple Music and podcast playback. Still useful but maybe not worth the money in hindsight (I have 2). I'll hold off from buying more...
Great, however after re-decorating I decided to see how I'd do with just the HomePod as a sound-bar. I actually didn't mind it apart from the distinct lack in volume. It does a great job and as my media is all via Apple TV it works for me.
One thing to keep in mind though. If you are accessing an app thats not using the Apple media player (like a iptv app for example) you'll experience a delay in the audio due to airplay. I very rarely use iptv so it wasn't a big deal personally.
The question is, why did I resort to setting up my KEF 5.1 again? Simply, God of War came out on the PlayStation. It was then that I remembered what I'd been missing. True surround! My HomePod in the living room has now been demoted to smart home commands and a relay for phone calls with the odd bit of Apple Music and podcast playback. Still useful but maybe not worth the money in hindsight (I have 2). I'll hold off from buying more...
Yeah, it is definitely not a replacement for a dedicated sound system. I am getting ready to go back to school for my doctorate, so I don’t want to invest in anything too bulky and don’t want to spend too much more money since I am going to cut my working time so much (so probably not worth the money for me either...). Once I finish up school I definitely want to invest in something dedicated for TV.
I want to get an Sony AF8 OLED, that has great sound on its own.
But I want to hook up 2 HomePods as well by using an Apple tv(when stereo is enabled).
But when I connect my Apple TV straight to the Sony OLED by hdmi, I can only choose to output sound through hdmi to the tv or I can choose to use AirPlay for the HomePod. Not both at the same time.
Is there a workaround for something like that?
But I want to hook up 2 HomePods as well by using an Apple tv(when stereo is enabled).
But when I connect my Apple TV straight to the Sony OLED by hdmi, I can only choose to output sound through hdmi to the tv or I can choose to use AirPlay for the HomePod. Not both at the same time.
Is there a workaround for something like that?
If you’re trying to output audio from the TV and HomePods at the same time, then this is a case where less is more.
I have a 5.1 setup and I am watching the Bourne ultimatum and although it sounds great for the sound effects, the dialog isn't that great. I am now using HomePods in a stereo pair configuration, the same movie, the dialog is very clear and the sound effects are just as good. I barely notice the difference. It sounds great! So I am convinced that the HomePod pairs make for a great sound system for watching movies. I already knew it was great for music. I am now planning to get rid of my 5.1 system. The bass on the pair of home pods are pretty good compared to a separate sub. I am using it with AppleTV (not the 4K) and I have set the Audio to be the AppleTV and HomePod. I don't have a problem with it. When I turn off the TV, I just tell Hey Siri, stop!
You have to do it from an iPhone or iPad. In the iOS Control center, you can choose to have the sound simultaneously go to both the TV and the HomePod(s).
Bottom line. Only your ears can answer your question.
I guess home cinema can mean different things to different people. Personally a HomePod or two or three, cannot complete with a decent home theater system. At least not with one that has room correction like Audyssey and a processor, amp, and sub. Even then it still comes down to personal preference.
I disagree about the sub comments. I've done some tests with deep bass. Bruno Mars' "Just the Way you are" has a low repeating bass note that goes down to 50 Hz. I have some theater organ music which shakes the pictures off my neighbors walls if I crank it up on my 5.1 system. The HomePod stereo pair does a very decent job on all of the deep bass tracks I've played on it, given that its price is a fraction of what I paid for my main speakers. Right now I'm listening to some theater organ music on the HomePods because I don't want to fire up my entire 5.1 system (apple TV, receiver, TV, Oppo DAC, speakers) and I'm just doing background listening. It's just so much easier to use.
But there are a lot of other issues using HomePods as home theater speakers, as mentioned above.