Feature request: HomePod should have a true surround mode
HomePod, Apple’s sensible speaker, has some nice options in the case of pairing a number of audio system collectively. Due to AirPlay 2, customers can play the identical audio on completely different HomePods round the home and even use a stereo pair as normal Apple TV audio system. Nonetheless, there’s one factor that I nonetheless miss concerning the HomePod, and that’s a real encompass mode.
HomePod as TV audio system
Even earlier than the HomePod mini, customers had the choice to arrange two HomePods as a stereo pair in order that sound comes out in left and proper channels for a extra immersive expertise. And now with the sixth-generation Apple TV, you may set a pair of HomePods as your tv’s default speaker through the eARC connection.
I at present have two TVs at dwelling, and every of them has an Apple TV related. For the reason that built-in TV audio system should not precisely nice, I purchased two pairs of HomePod minis in order that I can use them not just for a greater music expertise, but in addition to observe films and exhibits with higher audio high quality.
And actually, I actually take pleasure in utilizing HomePods as TV audio system. They’re louder and have extra bass than what I get utilizing simply the TV sound. However though they assist Dolby Atmos, HomePod nonetheless doesn’t actually assist true encompass.
Proper now, you may solely arrange a single pair of HomePods because the default speaker for an Apple TV. With AirPlay 2, there’s the choice to pick out different HomePods to play the identical audio concurrently on all of them – however it should simply replicate the sound in each pairs as a substitute of creating it encompass.
To not point out that deciding on a number of HomePods within the AirPlay menu is at all times a large number. There must be a better means to do that.
True encompass mode for HomePod
For the reason that HomePod helps Dolby Atmos, which is a expertise that allows three-dimensional sound, a real encompass mode would take the expertise of utilizing HomePods as TV audio system to the following degree.
Think about if you happen to might place 4 HomePods in your lounge, every serving as an impartial audio channel. Or even when there was an choice to arrange a 5.1 encompass system utilizing a bigger HomePod as a subwoofer (with rumors of a brand new HomePod within the works, that will be killer).
In fact, there are many surround system options available on the market, however personally I like utilizing HomePods due to the combination with AirPlay, HomeKit, and all my Apple gadgets. If there’s one characteristic I want for tvOS 16 and HomePod Software program 16, that’s a real encompass mode for the HomePod.
What do you consider utilizing HomePods as your TV audio system? Are there any options that you simply at present miss? Let me know within the feedback beneath.
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