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k2k koos

macrumors 6502a
I have a stereo pair of HomePods in my bedroom. I just played some music through them from the Music app on my iMac using Catalina. It works fine so I'm a bit confused by the posts saying it won't work.
It works from the Music app, but you can't play stereo audio from for example Youtube or Spotify, or other webpages, in other words, its' not stereo sound at system level, rather at app level, which is stupid... it works with wired speakers only, why not HomePods....
 
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Benz63amg

macrumors 601
Oct 17, 2010
4,393
914
It works from the Music app, but you can't play stereo audio from for example Youtube or Spotify, or other webpages, in other words, its' not stereo sound at system level, rather at app level, which is stupid... it works with wired speakers only, why not HomePods....
What about bluetooth speakers like the kEF LSX? will it not be system wide?
 

Benz63amg

macrumors 601
Oct 17, 2010
4,393
914
bluetooth will probably work, airplay2 doesn't (only dedicated apps such as Music). But I don't want to spend KEF LSX money , I'd like to connect 2 HomePod mini's as a stereo pair.
What about Harman Kardon sound sticks 4?
 

Binarymix

macrumors 65816
Nov 1, 2007
1,134
382
See my post On computer pairing.

I think it's the best/only solution until Apple allows the minis to be stereo paired with Macs for system sound..
 

medialook

macrumors member
Nov 12, 2017
83
50
Bracknell, United Kingdom
It is available in 11.3 - connection is dropping from time to time and there is a lag (which is especially noticeable in Final Cut Pro x) but this is a big step. Office > are pair of mini's and Living Room pair or regular ones.

Are your HomePods mini able to connect to 5ghz network? mine are stuck at 2,4Ghz and I am unable to force them to connect to 5ghz

Screenshot 2021-02-07 at 22.09.10.png
 
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Benz63amg

macrumors 601
Oct 17, 2010
4,393
914
It is available in 11.3 - connection is dropping from time to time and there is a lag (which is especially noticeable in Final Cut Pro x) but this is a big step. Office > are pair of mini's and Living Room pair or regular ones.

Are your HomePods mini able to connect to 5ghz network? mine are stuck at 2,4Ghz and I am unable to force them to connect to 5ghz

View attachment 1726735
What is available? Your post is unclear

did Apple enable the official usage of 2 HomePod Mini’s as a stereo setup for a Mac such as an iMac or MacBook Pro?
 

Benz63amg

macrumors 601
Oct 17, 2010
4,393
914
Correct. Switching system audio output to HomePod pair.
So I just read the article from macrumors and it says this: “Using paired HomePods in this way works for music and videos in apps, but system sounds will continue to play on the built-in Mac speakers.”

what’s the point if it doesn’t play ALL system sounds then? Why didn’t they make it play all system Audio?

 
Last edited:

medialook

macrumors member
Nov 12, 2017
83
50
Bracknell, United Kingdom
So I just read the article from macrumors and it says this: “Using paired HomePods in this way works for music and videos in apps, but system sounds will continue to play on the built-in Mac speakers.”

what’s the point if it doesn’t play ALL system sounds then? Why didn’t they make it play all system Audio?

I guess is is because if latency problem. I was very disappointed that It didn't work before the update but after getting this enabled in 11.3 I am less (but still) disappointed
 

Benz63amg

macrumors 601
Oct 17, 2010
4,393
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I guess is is because if latency problem. I was very disappointed that It didn't work before the update but after getting this enabled in 11.3 I am less (but still) disappointed
It seems like I might actually buy a pair of homepods minis to use with my MacBook Pro once the 11.3 update for Big Sur comes out.

how’s the sound of the HomePod mini’s? Good quality sound?
 

SayCheese

macrumors 68000
Jun 14, 2007
1,720
919
Oxfordshire, England
Late to the party here but I came to see if I could buy a pair of home pod mini's to use as stereo speakers for my Mac Pro. Apparently I'll need to wait and see what 11.3 brings?
 

Benz63amg

macrumors 601
Oct 17, 2010
4,393
914
Late to the party here but I came to see if I could buy a pair of home pod mini's to use as stereo speakers for my Mac Pro. Apparently I'll need to wait and see what 11.3 brings?
That’s exactly right, I’m doing the same. Once 11.3 comes out we’ll be able to pair two mini’s for a stereo set up with a Mac

funny enough, I haven’t even heard the HomePod mini in person due to covid and just for the fact I haven’t visited an Apple store in the past year, have you heard the HomePod mini? How’s the sound quality?
 

SayCheese

macrumors 68000
Jun 14, 2007
1,720
919
Oxfordshire, England
That’s exactly right, I’m doing the same. Once 11.3 comes out we’ll be able to pair two mini’s for a stereo set up with a Mac

funny enough, I haven’t even heard the HomePod mini in person due to covid and just for the fact I haven’t visited an Apple store in the past year, have you heard the HomePod mini? How’s the sound quality?
I've not heard it either for the same reasons. However I saw a couple of YouTube videos on it (MKBHD & iJustine) and they both rate the speaker.
 

ErikGrim

macrumors 604
Jun 20, 2003
6,527
5,147
Brisbane, Australia
That’s exactly right, I’m doing the same. Once 11.3 comes out we’ll be able to pair two mini’s for a stereo set up with a Mac

funny enough, I haven’t even heard the HomePod mini in person due to covid and just for the fact I haven’t visited an Apple store in the past year, have you heard the HomePod mini? How’s the sound quality?
I have two of them. While not comparable to the four big boys I have, they still pack a good punch.
 
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Benz63amg

macrumors 601
Oct 17, 2010
4,393
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I have two of them. While not comparable to the four big boys I have, they still pack a good punch.
Which big boys? You mean the larger HomePod?
I had a large HomePod 2 years ago when they came out and the bass was too strong, is it the same case twitch the HomePod minis or are they more balanced? Is the sound clear?
How do they compare to a Harman Kardon SoundSticks?
 

ErikGrim

macrumors 604
Jun 20, 2003
6,527
5,147
Brisbane, Australia
Which big boys? You mean the larger HomePod?
I had a large HomePod 2 years ago when they came out and the bass was too strong, is it the same case twitch the HomePod minis or are they more balanced? Is the sound clear?
How do they compare to a Harman Kardon SoundSticks?
The larger HomePods are far better than the Minis. If you thought the bass was "too strong" on the big HomePods, you'll be happier with the Minis. My SoundSticks are still great (and loud), but I am considering eventually replacing them with a pair of Minis to integrate the study/office/studio more with the rest of the apartment.
 
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Kylo83

macrumors 601
Apr 2, 2020
4,426
14,382
does 11.3 use airplay 2 because stereo HomePods has a horrible lag and carries on playing audio once paused its not airplay 2 smooth
 

Benz63amg

macrumors 601
Oct 17, 2010
4,393
914
Nope. Like Music, it's still Airplay 1. Wonder what the holdup with adding it to macOS is?
Maybe they can't it to older Macs that don't have the latest bluetooth version? or does AirPlay 2 sole rely on Wifi?
 
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