ATV 4k + Homepod + wireless audio sync impossible?

[Thinkscape]

Config:

• Apple TV 4K
• Stereo pair of HomePod 2
• Laser projector connected via HDMI

The problem:

• When playing video from AppleTV+, Youtube, etc. the audio is 100ms ahead of video
• Projector (and many TVs) have processing lag, so they lag behind audio.
• Using 3rd party app like Plex or Infuse, manually setting audio delay to 100ms fixes it.
• Most apps don't have that option.
• There is no audio delay setting in TVOS that I can find.

What I tried and didn't work:

• Wireless Audio Sync - this only works for TV audio (i.e TV speakers). When I have HomePods set as audio output and run the audio sync function, it doesn't play any sounds via HomePod and fails with an error message.
• Temporarily switch to TV audio (tiny projector speakers), run Wireless Audio Sync, switch back to homepod - doesn't fix it.
• Disabling "Match Frame Rate" and "Match Colour" to reduce latency.
• Contacting Apple and asking for help

Any suggestions?

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

Add a receiver and quality but “dumb” speakers:

• HDMI from AppleTV to Receiver.
• HDMI Video from Receiver to projector.
• Wired Audio from Receiver to speakers.

Set any audio delay in Receiver. They are made for fine controls of such stuff and will work with pretty much everything. Plug all kinds of things into that flexible Receiver and enjoy the best speakers in your home.

Move HPs to other rooms to be used as originally intended.

A gigantic bonus in going with this option is that you can start with stereo speakers- just like you are trying to do with those HPs- but then add on the rest to build out a full 5.1 or 7.1 surround sound setup. There's not even ONE rumor about Apple striving for anything more than stereo pairing of HPs.

Another bonus: since dumb speakers are NOT married to iDevice-originated "smarts", they won't go vintage and then obsolete and have to be tossed. Instead, good "dumb" speakers may be your speakers for up to the rest of your life. HPs will have to be replaced over and over again because- inevitably- the "smarts" will age out and Apple will quit supporting them. In other words, HPs are like iMac- a pretty good value up front but terrible at the end, when any one part goes means tossing the whole thing.

 

[priitv8]

You can use your iPhone to sync audio and video

Calibrate video and audio on Apple TV

Calibrate the video and audio playback on your Apple TV to resolve any colour or syncing issues.

support.apple.com

 

[Thinkscape]

You can use your iPhone to sync audio and video

Like I've described above - it doesn't support HomePod audio output.

 

[Thinkscape]

Set any audio delay in Receiver. They are made for fine controls of such stuff and will work with pretty much everything. Plug all kinds of things into that flexible Receiver and enjoy the best speakers in your home.

Move HPs to other rooms to be used as originally intended.

I appreciate your comment.
I do have a proper multi-channel HT setup in another room, I understand the value of dedicated receivers, pre-amps, amps, passive speakers etc... but I also use the ATV and HomePod for watching movies, which arguably is exactly what Apple intended (according to docs, promo materials and thousands of people using them).

I know you can throw money at the problem and add more devices into the mix, but I'm trying to solve the underlying problem here.

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

Yes, I don't think it will succeed though as you are battling a variety of causes at the same time... the natural delay in the projector vs. bluetooth/airplay timings, etc. I suspect you'll have to get audio & video into SOMETHING (like a Receiver) and then it does the job of signal timing corrections.

But maybe there is some software way and I hope you find it. If not, I think you'll have to "throw some money at it" to add some middleman hardware to adjust timing of video & audio flow.

And no, Apple intended for HPs to be used for MUSIC. Fans kept pressing to use them with AppleTV too and Apple opted to take that money. They seem to be making ZERO effort to build out the rest of home theater audio, even with the seemingly obvious opportunity to use 2 HP minis for surrounds. No HP sub rumors. No HP center or soundbar rumors. Etc. They seem to begin & end at only stereo playback with no aspirations to make them “the rest.” Not even one rumor.

And don’t be fooled by the “Atmos” tag. Real Atmos requires physical speakers around the main seating position & overhead. Your ears would easily notice the difference vs. any faux Atmos spin. If real Atmos could be had by 1 or 2 speakers down front, every professional cinema would jump on that super cheap option vs. paying much more to deliver the real thing. Next time you go to the movies, go early enough to see the cinema space lit up and look around. You’ll see speakers all around. None have ANY 2 speakers down front and nothing else.

But again, I hope you find apps or Apple evolves tvOS to resolve your problem. I suspect they have little interest. Else, it’s likely HP minis would already be packaged with 2 HPs as a very basic 4.0 system. Then add center and a sub to make that a basic 5.1 system.

Good luck!

 

[waw74]

might not help, but reboot your router, it's possible it's gotten bogged down and it's not passing info between your devices like it should.

 

[Thinkscape]

And no, Apple intended for HPs to be used for MUSIC. Fans kept pressing to use them with AppleTV too and Apple opted to take that money. They seem to be making ZERO effort to build out the rest of home theater audio, even with the seemingly obvious opportunity to use 2 HP minis for surrounds.

Well 🤷‍♂️

But I do get your point ...
On the flip side, there is Wireless Audio Sync (for hdmi-attached devices that might introduce latency), so they did somewhat think of the general use case and problem space.

But maybe there is some software way and I hope you find it.

I think you've missed the bit in the original post.
Plex and Infuse both have audio delay option. Adding around +80-100ms fixes the issue for me, but it's limited to whatever I'm playing through those apps. I'm looking for a system-level setting, so that other apps (like Apple TV+, Netflix, games etc.) would benefit from that as well.

might not help, but reboot your router, it's possible it's gotten bogged down and it's not passing info between your devices like it should.

Tried the whole network stack troubleshooting... didn't help.

And don’t be fooled by the “Atmos” tag. Real Atmos requires physical speakers around the main seating position & overhead. Your ears would easily notice the difference vs. any faux Atmos spin.

True. At least the atmos soundbars have actual upright firing speakers and wireless satellites etc.

What's preventing me from ******** all over the implementation is the amazing simplicity and low-cost of this setup, which is why a lot of people are using it for a mini-HT setups, smaller rooms, portable/movable etc.

From system's perspective, adding audio delay option (just like a lot of receivers and TVs have) is absolutely trivial. From what I gather the HP/Airplay have some built-in latency compensation (similar to bluetooth), so that i.e. system sounds and streaming works reasonably well -- it just doesn't happen to include display latency (which is what I'm observing with a projector which has to do scaling/keystoning).

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

No, I did see that and yes, I agree that Apple COULD make a system-wide version of what already works that way in the 2 apps. But then, you need Apple to actually do something, ASAP, for a relatively niche problem on the “the hobby” product where far more people have wanted a “trivial” and simple “audio pass through” feature for generations of AppleTV updates. We’re still waiting.

Far greater numbers have been hoping Apple would debug Mac port software to resolve the “unexpected ejection” of many- but not all- third party enclosures over now 5 generations of macOS. We’re still waiting.

And there are so many other very tangible examples on the wait list for far greater numbers than this issue… all still waiting.

Nevertheless, I’ll hope right with you but when it comes to hoping for a short-term Apple fix, the modern solution is “workaround’ DIY. Else, the wait may be many years… if it ever gets addressed at all.

I’ll hope they act fast for you… but if not, what’s plan B that doesn’t involve Apple changing something? Plan B will likely be your short-term solution until Apple MIGHT get to this want someday.

I’ve shared one that will definitely work immediately, though it involves spending money and subbing in “dumb speakers” for the HPs.

Another recommendation that keeps the HPs in play is replace the projector to resolve the problem at that end.

Either of those can get you a resolution in maybe a day’s time. Else, take a number and wait for Apple to hopefully get to you… someday.

Just trying to be helpful in solving your problem now. As soon as it becomes dependent on Apple altering tvOS code, the “now” is lost. Maybe WWDC 2025? 2026? 2027? etc. If you have great patience, it might come someday… as audio pass through and minimalization of “unexpected ejection” might come someday too.

 

[ScrumpyDaniel]

I've never been able to get it fully synced up which is frustrating. In the end I have to have my TV set to Game mode, run wireless audio sync on 4K 50hz (I'm in the UK hence 50) and leave match frame rate turned off.

Even still, certain content still doesn't sync up properly. I struggle with HDR content even when i've run Wireless Audio Sync.

The recommendation is to run wireless audio sync for all frame rates but when I do this and set match frame rate on, its massively out of sync.

The whole idea of wireless audio sync is that it plays the sound out of your TV speakers. which in theory should be in perfect sync with video content and then measure the delay so it matches it with the HomePods.

I get the exact same results as you do. Often the sound is 100ms ahead which is very frustrating.