HomePod as Apple TV 4K speakers - worth the trouble?

The HomePod and HomePod mini can be great speakers for listening to music or podcasts, but with Apple's latest tvOS update, you can also make them your TV speakers. Is it worth it? Or is the whole process just too complicated and too much hassle? If you are thinking of getting HomePods to use as TV speakers, watch this video first!

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This video and all of Eric Welander's channel is a production of E. Welander, LLC

[Jonathantuba]

I have recently set up yo use the HomePod with Apple TV. The only problem was ensuring the HomePod are on latest software iOS 14.2 for them to be speakers with the TV. Once set up has worked perfectly. I can get to all my content through Apple TV including live channels and even stream from my iPhone (which can also be used as remote). The sound is incredible (better than I get from two floor standing speakers) and I love the set up!

[seanferdinands]

Great video covering a good range of points to consider! Just to add my experience, my pair of Home Pod Minis sound significantly better than most single sound bars on the market at a medium price range. In Australia, that’s $300 vs. $500+ for a ‘decent’ sound bar.

[doozledumbler]

This so convenient. I wish Apple would go the whole way now, start making soundbars for example, and give full 5.1 or more capability.

[wooddm]

I’ve been testing 2 HomePods vs. Sonos Beam all week mostly for the simplicity of no wires, the desire to shift my smart home setup to HomeKit, a whole home audio solution, and the promise of Dolby Atmos without worrying about the TV pass through capabilities. I’d agree the sound quality is better for 2 HomePods vs. the Beam, but mostly for music, though the volume is not nearly as loud. Maybe I’m just used to the Beam, but the HomePods didn’t seem that much better than it for streaming content, even Atmos content. They just seemed like the sound was a little less right in front of you, but the Beam seemed like it was meant for watching TV. To get similar volume levels using the DB measure on my Apple Watch I’d say the Beam was at 40% and the HomePods were at 70% of max volume. It’s also a little odd not having the center channel be in the center under the TV, though with some programming it’s simulated well to sound like it, but not with all content. I do also have a pair of One SLs for surround sound with the Beam but have never set them up, as I am trying to have as little gear as possible (hence the HomePod test). The One SLs just seem a little big for surround speakers.

At the end of the day I think I’m going to return the Beam and One SL pair and the HomePods and go for the Sonos Arc. While we are heavy AppleTV users we are still stuck on Xfinity for cable (streaming TV services are just as expensive as cable now and the user experience still isn’t there, plus streaming TV then makes you go over Xfinity internet data caps) and going backwards from a Beam to just the TV speakers alone for live sports and other TV watching would not be worth it. With the Arc we can get Atmos through the sound bar (seems like my 2018 LG OLED will support the pass through because from what I’ve found online the streaming services like Apple TV, Disney + and Netflix send Atmos over Dolby Digital+ which is supported by ARC and does not require eARC like a 4K Blu-Ray player does), have a system we can add on later with a sub or One SLs if we decide we want more sound and more gear, and get good quality sound for all input sources. HomeKit control will just have to stay via iPhone and Airplay 2 on Sonos is a great solution to whole home audio.

[duanehamman]

If you run the HDMI from Apple TV to an ARC HDMI, anything plugged into the TV (say an Xbox One) will send audio to the HomePod Minis. I’m running this setup right now, and it sounds great.

[myHomeKithome]

I’m convinced. I’ve gotta get one of those $200 OG HomePods to get that home theater Atmos going.

[meowmeow]

I found that 3 homepods sound best. 1 in the front and 2 on the side of you. Set the volume of the front to be higher then the sides....it sounds good in a small room with the size of these speakers.

[mpetrides]

The big advantage of using a stereo pair of OG HomePods for Dolby 5.1/7.1/Atmos audio from the Apple TV 4K in my great room is that I don’t have to string wires across the fireplace hearth or from the area around the fireplace to speakers located behind the couch that faces the fireplace and the TV. I have a 5.1 receiver and speakers that I *could* use to improve the sound from the TV next to the fireplace but I refuse to put up with the wires. TV OS 14.2 and HomePod software 14.2 solved that problem for me. Just use the OG HomePod stereo pair I already had on the mantle. Sweet!

[STRaphelCatholicChurch]

Always valuable info- thank you for understanding MOST (not all) people don’t want to spend copious amt of time playing with tech when talking about “home automation” Especially the comment about working all day w/ tech and at the end of the day .... Thanks

[michaelthompson]

Completely agree! I’ve never tried HomePod’s with the tv, and I mainly watch content on the Apple TV. It’s just for the odd time I can’t watch content on the Apple TV, but yeah I think soundbar, subwoofer and rear speakers can’t be beaten

[DW-phxg]

Always well done Eric, thank you. I have also noticed HomePod on sale lately. For me, I hope it means that HomePod 2nd Gen., is coming in 2021. I also have 2 HP/Mini, and 1 more on the way. Great addition to HomeKit.

[cosmictyger]

I want to add a mini stereo pair to the Homepod stereo pair.

[michaelh]

Been watching a few of your videos recently and this intro finally did it for me. I finally figured out who you sound like…


Owen Wilson!

[Ryanm]

Dude hit the nail on the head! Well done

[mejlgaardbliddal]

the fact that I can get Atmos sound without having to invest in a new TV is the biggest plus for me as my TV lack the necessary ports to get Atmos out of a soundbar connected directly to it. Yes it is that old and it has neither arc nor e-arc support.and the room ithey will be in is not that big in the first place.

[nicward]

THANK YOU for actually saying how to do this stuff! 🙏🏾

[rjhohne]

Great video. Just got my first HomePod and probably will get more, but for music..

[chrisbmx]

Great video and really glad you compared to Sonos and talked about ease of daily use.

[justinpage]

my home pod minis were working as speakers and now there not and I dont know what happened to them

[Necropheliac]

My problem with the HomePod as a speaker is that it only works with appletv so if I use my fire cube or my PlayStation then I have to have another speaker anyway. If there was a way I could route other device audio through my HomePod I would buy another one and make them my home entertainment speakers. But since I need another sound bar anyway, it doesn’t make a whole lot of sense.