This trick obtained my Xbox and Blu-rays to play g...

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

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

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

Apple TV 4K
. It is not all the time probably 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 enjoying Dolby Atmos materials is a factor to behold.

Some individuals do not understand, although, that you could funnel audio from extra sources than simply your Apple TV. The truth is, absolutely anything related to your TV ought to work, together with cable bins, sport consoles, and Blu-ray gamers. The catch is that you simply want a selected {hardware} and software program setup for every part to work correctly — and as soon as you have obtained it going, it’s possible you’ll end up caught within the Apple ecosystem except you are keen to shell out much more money for a substitute. I am going to clarify every part you should know.

What {hardware} do you should get began?

Excellent news and unhealthy information on this one

Apple

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

HDMI
, somewhat than devoted audio cables.

eARC
is an up to date normal based mostly on HDMI 2.1, the profit being a lot increased bandwidth — at its finest providing uncompressed, 192kHz, 24-bit sound. So, whereas each ARC and eARC help widespread 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 may 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 no methodology to attach HomePods on to a TV. As a substitute, they should be arrange within the

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

Be sure you 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 ought to be some model marking on the cable you are utilizing. If not, you have solely obtained two choices: testing a cable to see what it is able to, or shopping for a substitute you realize is suitable.

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

Dolby Atmos
playback. After all, you may additionally must verify if a specific app, video, or track is encoded for Atmos.

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

All of the steps you should 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 Residence app. That may lengthen issues needlessly, since Apple offers fundamental setup info within the Apple TV and HomePod bins. I’ll point out when every setup must occur, although, because you could be unboxing every part for the primary time.

Comply with the steps under. If you happen to’ve already obtained 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 > 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 acceptable cable. Bear in mind, you want not less than HDMI 1.4 for ARC, and HDMI 2.1 for eARC.
3. If you should, end organising your Apple TV, together with assigning it to a room in Apple Residence. If you have not already arrange Apple Residence, 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 all sides of your TV for those who’ve obtained a stereo pair. Within the Residence app, make sure you assign your speaker(s) to the identical room as your Apple TV.
7. Nonetheless in Residence, go to … > Residence 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 have 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. Make sure that all of the secondary peripherals you need to use HomePod output (consoles, Blu-ray gamers, and so on.) are related to your TV.
11. Again in your Apple TV’s Settings > Video and Audio > Audio Output menu, choose Play Tv Audio below Audio Return Channel.

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Extra notes

Troubleshooting, and the downsides of utilizing HomePods

If you happen to’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 may additionally must double-check the model in your HDMI cable, and whether or not it is plugged into the correct port. Most TVs have a number of HDMI ports, however just one geared up for ARC or eARC.

The foremost draw back of utilizing HomePods as a do-it-all audio supply is, after all, that your Apple TV has to stay completely related. If you happen to pull it out of the loop, a HomePod will lose its reference to the TV. That is a serious discouragement to leaving the Apple ecosystem, so that you may need to select a standard soundbar as an alternative for those who’re not an Apple die-hard.

As a result of the connection between a HomePod and an Apple TV shouldn’t be solely wi-fi, however linked to Apple Residence, there’s additionally the potential for issues from wi-fi interference or unhealthy settings within the Residence 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 to see one another.

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