This trick bought my Xbox and Blu-rays to pla...

Among the finest makes use of of Apple’s HomePod is not as a standard

smart speaker
, like an Amazon Echo, which you are normally meant to set on tables, cabinets, and counters for music and

smart home
management. As an alternative, a rising variety of folks — judging from anecdotes — are selecting to make use of HomePods as wi-fi audio system for his or her

Apple TV 4K
. It isn’t at all times probably the most cost-effective dwelling theater possibility, however it’s good to remove muddle, and even a pair of HomePod minis can sound surprisingly good. A pair of full-size HomePods taking part in Dolby Atmos materials is a factor to behold.

Some folks do not realize, although, you can funnel audio from extra sources than simply your Apple TV. The truth is, absolutely anything linked to your TV ought to work, together with cable packing containers, sport consoles, and Blu-ray gamers. The catch is that you simply want a selected {hardware} and software program setup for every thing to work correctly — and as soon as you have bought it going, you might end up caught within the Apple ecosystem except you are keen to shell out much more money for a alternative. I am going to clarify every thing you want to know.

What {hardware} do you want to get began?

Excellent news and unhealthy information on this one

Apple

Earlier than the rest, you will want a TV with an ARC or eARC port. ARC stands for Audio Return Channel, and the quick rationalization is that it permits audio system and different audio gear to ship their content material by way of

HDMI
, quite than devoted audio cables.

eARC
is an up to date customary based mostly on HDMI 2.1, the profit being a lot greater bandwidth — at its finest providing uncompressed, 192kHz, 24-bit sound. So, whereas each ARC and eARC help frequent codecs like Dolby Atmos, you will not get probably the most out of your TV with out eARC. Test the labels in your TV’s HDMI ports to see what you are geared up for.

Unavoidably, you will additionally want a second- (2021) or third-generation (2022) Apple TV 4K. The primary-gen mannequin merely is not suitable with Apple’s pass-through tech, and there is not any technique to attach HomePods on to a TV. As an alternative, they must be arrange within the

Apple Home
app, then chosen as audio output on the Apple TV.

Make sure to use the right HDMI cable, too. You will want an HDMI 1.4 cable or higher for ARC, and HDMI 2.1 or later for eARC. There needs to be some model marking on the cable you are utilizing. If not, you have solely bought two choices: testing a cable to see what it is able to, or shopping for a alternative you realize is suitable.

You need to use both one or two HomePods, however for those who plan to make use of a pair, they must be the identical mannequin and technology — you possibly can’t hyperlink a full-size HomePod and a HomePod mini, for instance, or a first-gen and a second-gen. I would strongly advocate shopping for a pair — it is the one method to allow stereo and

Dolby Atmos
playback. After all, you will additionally have to examine if a specific app, video, or track is encoded for Atmos.

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get sport consoles and Blu-rays to play by means of your HomePods

All of the steps you want to know

Apple

So that you’re conscious, I am not going to run by means of the total setup processes for Apple TVs, HomePods, or the Apple Dwelling app. That will lengthen issues needlessly, since Apple offers fundamental setup info within the Apple TV and HomePod packing containers. I’ll point out when every setup must occur, although, because you is perhaps unboxing every thing for the primary time.

Observe the steps under. In the event you’ve already bought one or two HomePods linked to your Apple TV, skip forward to step 10.

1. Replace your iPhone or iPad to the most recent software program by way of Settings > Common > Software program Replace.
2. Join your Apple TV 4K (second- or third-generation) to your TV’s ARC or eARC HDMI port utilizing an applicable cable. Keep in mind, you want no less than HDMI 1.4 for ARC, and HDMI 2.1 for eARC.
3. If you want to, end organising your Apple TV, together with assigning it to a room in Apple Dwelling. If you have not already arrange Apple Dwelling, use the app in your iPhone or iPad first.
4. Replace your Apple TV to the most recent model of tvOS by going to Settings > System > Software program Updates and clicking Replace Software program.
5. Flip off your Apple TV utilizing the Siri Distant.
6. Set up the HomePod(s) you are going to use, placing one on either side of your TV for those who’ve bought a stereo pair. Within the Dwelling app, you should definitely assign your speaker(s) to the identical room as your Apple TV.
7. Nonetheless in Dwelling, go to … > Dwelling Settings > Software program Replace to verify your HomePod software program is present. Be affected person.
8. When your HomePods are prepared, flip the Apple TV again on.
9. You ought to be routinely prompted to make use of your HomePod(s) for TV audio. If not, use Settings > Video and Audio > Audio Output choices as a substitute.
10. Be certain all of the secondary peripherals you wish to use HomePod output (consoles, Blu-ray gamers, and so on.) are linked to your TV.
11. Again in your Apple TV’s Settings > Video and Audio > Audio Output menu, choose Play Tv Audio beneath Audio Return Channel.

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Further notes

Troubleshooting, and the downsides of utilizing HomePods

In the event you’re nonetheless having hassle, examine that ARC, eARC, and/or HDMI-CEC are enabled in your TV’s native settings menu (not the one in your Apple TV). You might also have to double-check the model in your HDMI cable, and whether or not it is plugged into the right port. Most TVs have a number of HDMI ports, however just one geared up for ARC or eARC.

The key draw back of utilizing HomePods as a do-it-all audio supply is, in fact, that your Apple TV has to stay completely linked. In the event you pull it out of the loop, a HomePod will lose its reference to the TV. That is a significant discouragement to leaving the Apple ecosystem, so that you may wish to select a standard soundbar as a substitute for those who’re not an Apple die-hard.

As a result of the connection between a HomePod and an Apple TV will not be solely wi-fi, however linked to Apple Dwelling, there’s additionally the potential for issues from wi-fi interference or unhealthy settings within the Dwelling app. To repeat, your Apple TV and HomePod(s) must be assigned to the identical room in the identical dwelling — if not, they will not have the ability to see one another.

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