How To Stereo Pair HomePod to Mac Workaround

Contents of this video:

0:00 - Intro/Context

10:50 - Workaround

Apple, we should not have to do this workaround. It's not a big ask. It's ben three years. iOS devices and Apple TV don't have this problem. Please complete the circle.

[jthutt]

This works perfect for me. Thank you. No dropouts at all, and honestly it’s only a semi-pain. The fact that this is an issue is a joke being that the large homepods have been out forever, but I digress. Big Sur 11.3 is coming.

[krazywabbit]

2/4/21: It appears there may be something in the works. Per MacRumors: With the macOS Big Sur 11.3 beta, a HomePod stereo pair is displayed as a single option in the sound output list rather than displaying each ‌HomePod‌ as separate as before. Selecting a pair of HomePods as an audio option plays audio in stereo mode by default.

[krazywabbit]

2/4/21 10:20 PM PT - GREAT macOS Big Sur Beta 11.3 has done it! My M1 MacBook Air recognizes and plays through the HomePods as a stereo pair!!! I will do an updated video soon. FINALLY!! (I had to uninstall and reinstall a lot of things but I've rebooted several times and it's working!)

[RoManNbg]

well you can do this workaround with apple music if you have it, because its using air play too right?
and where do I get this app? (MIDI keyboard)

[MarshallBeyer]

Thank you for this. I thought I was doing something wrong when I originally could not use them as a pair with my MacBook Pro. I like the idea of setting something up in Automator do do some of the work for you. Is that hard to set up? I do not hav much experience in using Automator.

[bill]

Why oh why doesn't Apple do a better job with HomePods/HomePod Minis? I've got 2 HomePod Minis on the way for use with my M1 MacMini (arriving at different times). BTW I have the same stereo love background, but have totally downsized to headphones from major stereo components from over the years. While I don't think anything will be as good as my former high end stuff I want desktop speakers from "Tim Apple world";) I was hoping two HomePod Minis would simply work with my MacMin M1. I'll give your helpful workaround a try when they arrive. So if you use Safari to set up, could I use Tidal music app. and just use Safari for non-audio/video while Tidal is playing. Many thanks!!! You are my hero!

[AngeAlexiel]

i''be tried everything with an HomePod mini pair on a Mac mini M2 pro and when I launch music or TV app and airplay and then launch the utility no airplay is displaying. I can connect to an airplay at the bottom but this terminate the connexion with the  app . I'm on Ventura of course, so I'm not sure this works anymore, but there is no delay in safari on YouTube at all . just watching videos with VLC or INA for me ( others non  programs basically ). so weird  didn't fixed this.

[liang]

Hi, just wondering if your HomePods get disconnected (through Apple TV) after playing Youtube video for 3 to 4 mins?