use your Apple HomePod for a Dolby Atmos TV speaker setup

Apple’s HomePod good audio system’ biggest power are their wonderful sound high quality – a lot in order that they will also be an excellent speaker for TV and film viewing, not simply listening to music.

An added bonus is {that a} firmware replace final yr additionally brings Dolby Atmos to the Apple TV / HomePod social gathering, as effectively.

When the HomePod Mini went dwell, Apple additionally introduced ‘Dwelling Theater with Apple 4K’; whereby the unique HomePod can be utilized to type an immersive encompass sound expertise, with digital 2.1, 5.1, 7.1 and Dolby Atmos all obtainable.

You solely get that encompass sound motion whenever you’re watching reveals and films out of your Apple TV 4K, thoughts; you may’t simply plug your HomePod straight into your TV and get Atmos motion on every thing.

However, with Apple TV now supporting just about all the foremost streaming companies – Netflix, Prime, HBO, Disney+, Hulu and extra – it’s a fairly compelling providing

The brand new characteristic is just attainable on the unique HomePod because it boasts an array of seven beamforming tweeters; the Mini simply has two.

Nevertheless, that does not imply Mini homeowners miss out utterly. So long as you personal a third-generation Apple TV or later, you may pair any HomePod – full measurement or Mini – by way of AirPlay and use it as your TV speaker.

Acquired a few HomePods? Fortunate you, you may pair them up for some stereo magic on each the Atmos and non-Atmos setups.

Here is how one can do it…

pair HomePod together with your Apple TV

To get the HomePod and Apple TV arrange, first guarantee they’re each on the identical Wi-Fi community. It’s because we’re going to be connecting them over Apple’s wi-fi protocol, AirPlay.

Additionally guarantee that the Apple TV’s AirPlay is on, by heading to Settings and tapping on AirPlay. Right here you’ll have the ability to allow it (if it’s not already) and set community entry guidelines.

Remember to set the HomePod into the identical room, throughout the Apple Dwelling app, because the Apple TV that you will be utilizing it with and, if you wish to use a pair of HomePods, you will must have already created a HomePod stereo pair within the Dwelling app earlier than shifting onto the following steps…

Now we wish to get the HomePod linked.

If it is the unique HomePod and you have finished all of the above, you will see a popup seem in your Apple TV’s show asking if you wish to “Use HomePod as TV Audio system?”

Choose Use as TV Audio system to activate house cinema audio.

If you do not get the automated popup, otherwise you’re utilizing Minis then you definately’ll should manually configure your Apple good audio system for TV use:

1. On the Apple TV, go to Settings after which Video and Audio.
2. Scroll down to seek out Audio Output.
3. In Audio Output, it is best to see a listing of all of the AirPlay audio system on the community. The HomePod will seem right here. Choose it and it ought to join in a second or two.

Now, as a result of AirPlay 2 flies past Apple’s personal partitions, you’ll pair different audio system to the Apple TV right here past the HomePod. Right here’s a listing of the very best AirPlay 2 audio system.

There’s a quicker means…

For those who already know that AirPlay is lively in your Apple TV, you may also carry up the audio menu by merely holding down the play/pause button when trying on the house display.

You received’t have the ability to entry different audio settings, nevertheless it’s a fast option to pair or unpair a speaker.

Apple TV HomePod setup: Concerns

All that stated, there are some issues to contemplate first. Did you already splash your youngsters’ faculty funds on an costly TV Hello-Fi system?

In that case, keep it up. The HomePod is a good speaker, nevertheless it wasn’t designed for TV use. Even with that Atmos-boost, it is not ever going to rival a devoted TV speaker with Dolby Atmos, such because the Sonos Arc.

However in the event you’re presently watching your TV with the audio system that come inbuilt, likelihood is the HomePod or the HomePod Mini goes to do a greater job.

Which may be notably true in the event you’re residing in a smaller home or condominium with much less area for an even bigger sound system. For those who occur to maintain your HomePod near your TV – and personal an Apple TV, in fact – we advocate getting them paired up.

New choices with the latest Apple TV 4K

The most recent-gen 2021 Apple TV 4K field can truly stream your entire TV’s audio to a HomePod, even whenever you’re not utilizing your Apple TV.

“With HDMI ARC or eARC turned on, your Apple TV 4K (2nd technology) can obtain high-quality audio from a supported TV after which play that audio by means of your HomePod audio system,” reads the official Apple help information.

Here is how…

• Arrange your HomePod speaker(s) because the default speaker for Apple TV.
• Go to Settings > Video and Audio > Default Audio Output.
• Be sure HomePod is chosen.
• Below Audio Return Channel (Beta), select Play Tv Audio.
• Test that ARC or eARC is turned on.

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