This trick received my Xbox and Blu-rays to play good with my HomePods

Top-of-the-line makes use of of Apple’s HomePod is not as a traditional

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 a substitute, 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 all the time essentially the most cost-effective residence theater possibility, however it’s good to get rid of litter, 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, which you can funnel audio from extra sources than simply your Apple TV. In reality, absolutely anything linked to your TV ought to work, together with cable bins, sport consoles, and Blu-ray gamers. The catch is that you simply want a particular {hardware} and software program setup for every little thing to work correctly — and as soon as you’ve got received it going, it’s possible you’ll end up caught within the Apple ecosystem until you are prepared to shell out much more money for a alternative. I will clarify every little thing you might want to know.

What {hardware} do you might want to get began?

Excellent news and dangerous information on this one

Apple

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

HDMI
, fairly than devoted audio cables.

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

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

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

You should definitely 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 must be some model marking on the cable you are utilizing. If not, you’ve got solely received two choices: testing a cable to see what it is able to, or shopping for a alternative you already know is appropriate.

You should utilize both one or two HomePods, however should you plan to make use of a pair, they must be the identical mannequin and technology — you’ll be able to’t hyperlink a full-size HomePod and a HomePod mini, for instance, or a first-gen and a second-gen. I would strongly suggest shopping for a pair — it is the one strategy to allow stereo and

Dolby Atmos
playback. In fact, you will additionally have to verify if a selected app, video, or music is encoded for Atmos.

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The best way to get sport consoles and Blu-rays to play via your HomePods

All of the steps you might want to know

Apple

So that you’re conscious, I am not going to run via the complete setup processes for Apple TVs, HomePods, or the Apple House app. That will lengthen issues needlessly, since Apple offers fundamental setup data within the Apple TV and HomePod bins. I’ll point out when every setup must occur, although, because you may be unboxing every little thing for the primary time.

Comply with the steps under. In case you’ve already received one or two HomePods linked to your Apple TV, skip forward to step 10.

1. Replace your iPhone or iPad to the newest software program through Settings > Basic > 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 not less than HDMI 1.4 for ARC, and HDMI 2.1 for eARC.
3. If you might want to, end organising your Apple TV, together with assigning it to a room in Apple House. If you have not already arrange Apple House, use the app in your iPhone or iPad first.
4. Replace your Apple TV to the newest 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 should you’ve received a stereo pair. Within the House app, make sure you assign your speaker(s) to the identical room as your Apple TV.
7. Nonetheless in House, go to … > House Settings > Software program Replace to ensure your HomePod software program is present. Be affected person.
8. When your HomePods are prepared, flip the Apple TV again on.
9. Try to be mechanically prompted to make use of your HomePod(s) for TV audio. If not, use Settings > Video and Audio > Audio Output choices as an alternative.
10. Be certain that all of the secondary peripherals you wish to use HomePod output (consoles, Blu-ray gamers, and many others.) 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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Extra notes

Troubleshooting, and the downsides of utilizing HomePods

In case you’re nonetheless having hassle, verify 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 outfitted for ARC or eARC.

The main 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 case 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 would possibly wish to select a traditional soundbar as an alternative should you’re not an Apple die-hard.

As a result of the connection between a HomePod and an Apple TV just isn’t solely wi-fi, however linked to Apple House, there’s additionally the potential for issues from wi-fi interference or dangerous settings within the House app. To repeat, your Apple TV and HomePod(s) should be assigned to the identical room in the identical residence — if not, they will not be capable of see one another.

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