Yes counting the 4k as 5.????
all appleTVs since the first model have been able to pass audio over the HDMI cable.
how would sound get into the homepod once it went through the HDMI cable?
that would require a HomePod with an input connection. meaning it would be a HomePod update, not an appleTV.
What's an appleTV 6? are you counting the 4k as the 5?
If you want to use HDMI audio, you need to use another speaker
What about if you use the arc/earc HDMI port on the TV?no, you can't do that
even airplay TVs are just receivers, they can't send airplay audio, just play it.
the sound from your TV/switch never goes to the appleTV, so there's no way for the sound to go from there to the HomePod.
wireless isn't the best choice for gaming anyway, as it can lead to delays.
No. Since appleTV is also a signal source, not an amplifier, it makes no sense to have ARC.But I suppose ARC support is not there in any of the current models?
It would make sense in exactly the situation I’ve been describing.No. Since appleTV is also a signal source, not an amplifier, it makes no sense to have ARC.
That would be me .Stop and think about what adding ARC to the ATV might mean to both Apple and its customers. From the business perspective it puts Apple into the soundbar market with another outlet for additional HomePod sales. From a consumer perspective, especially those with existing Apple infrastructure, their home AV system just became more integrated and possibly less complicated (TV, ATV, HomePods, plus whatever additional viewing source -ex. Dish, Directv). No question that true audiophiles or those wanting higher end theater arrangements will not go in this direction but for many others the sound quality provided by the HomePods would definitely be an acceptable ticket.
Now I got it! You mean if aTV morphed into a soundbar.It would make sense in exactly the situation I’ve been describing.
You've just described how ARC worksThis sounds like something a TV would have to support, as well as the aTV.
Think about it, you want your TV set to HDMI2 (for example) to play your Switch. But then you want the TV to take the incoming audio from HDMI and use ARC to send the audio back over the cable plugged into HDMI1. Then the Apple TV needs to receive that and output it to the HomePods.
So, not only would the Apple TV need to support it (and essentially act as an AVR or soundbar), the TV would need to strip the audio from HDMI2 and send it back over HDMI1.
The only other option would be to have HDMI inputs on the Apple TV, which would then actually make it into an AVR.
Well in that case, I guess I didn't realize that's how ARC worked. I've always had an AVR that all of my components are plugged into. It has been a long time since I've had more than one HDMI cable plugged into the TV (the output from the AVR).You've just described how ARC works
there is one specific HDMI input on the TV that can also send audio "backwards" - so the audio will go out of an input
When any of the other inputs are selected, or you're using an app on the TV, then the TV takes that audio and sends it out on of the inputs on the TV using ARC.
The ATV would have to have the hardware be an ARC receiver.
--If using the aTV it would send it's audio directly to the hompods
--if using an app or another input on the TV, then the aTV would behave just like an AVR, so the TV would send audio to the aTV using ARC, then the aTV would send to the HomePods.
It still sounds like a poor way to go,
When using wireless audio, having at least a small delay is pretty much guaranteed. Also every time a signal is processed, more delay is added. (like when the aTV will have to convert the audio to stream it to the HomePod)
when using an app on the aTV, then the aTV has some clue about how much delay is being introduced in the audio path, so it can delay its video output to match.
But when using another input or app on the TV, it would have no clue about the delay happening downstream in the audio path, so you have a really good chance of noticeable lip-sync issues.
HDMI does have a lip-sync function, but it seems to only work to counteract delays in the video proccessing, by adding a bit of delay to the audio. which wouldn't be helpful here.
I think you must be the first person I’ve seen to say they’re disappointing.So I decided to give it a try and bought a pair of HomePods. Turns out, the lack of ARC on the AppleTV was the least of the issues I had. The sound quality of a stereo pair of HomePods with the AppleTV 4k is very disappointing (annoyingly bad midrange, not even a semblance of surround sound), and AV sync is all over the place (even after a half a night worth of calibration efforts).
I cannot recommend the HomePods as home theatre speakers, they’re going back. Which makes the question of ARC support by the AppleTV moot.
I think you must be the first person I’ve seen to say they’re disappointing.
Everyone else that I’ve seen talk about them since the most recent tvOS release say how impressed they are with the sound they’re getting with two of them paired.
So, there it is. I find that they sound very weirdly unbalanced, compared to quality stereo speakers. They have a boomy upper bass, tizzy highs and a very poor midrange. The latter bothers me most. I find that the Homepods mini sound more agreeable, even though they don’t have the same fake bass extension.
As for immersive sound, or home theatre surrogate surround, it did not work well at all. I placed them according to Apple’s KB article, and also experimented with many other placement options. After each change of placement I gave them some 10 minutes’ worth of playing music, so they could adapt to their new location. They project a diffuse wall of sound that doesn’t extend far into the room, and certainly not behind the listener. I have heard far more impressive results from regular stereo speakers and Q-Sound mixes, for example.
In any case, Apple took them back, no questions asked.
I love the homepods for music, I think they sound wonderful. Sync issues as home theatre speakers means I will probably get rid of them or at least replace with a sound bar and move these somewhere else in the house. It might well be that this is an issue with all wireless speakers though.I think you must be the first person I’ve seen to say they’re disappointing.
Everyone else that I’ve seen talk about them since the most recent tvOS release say how impressed they are with the sound they’re getting with two of them paired.
Is this not much use?I love the homepods for music, I think they sound wonderful. Sync issues as home theatre speakers means I will probably get rid of them or at least replace with a sound bar and move these somewhere else in the house. It might well be that this is an issue with all wireless speakers though.
Is this not much use?
Use Apple TV to play audio throughout your home
Apple TV can serve as a hub for playing audio throughout your home.support.apple.com