HomePod Wait, So 4K TV + HomePod = No Bueno?

[ericwn]

You're right, the HomePod is not a replacement for a soundbar, or full-on surround system. However I disagree with the assessment that Apple never intended the HomePod to be used to watch TV.

Since the HomePod can be used as audio out on the Apple TV, I find it very hard to believe that the people at Apple never thought that people might only use it to listen to music "as intended." Of course they knew people would watch TV while streaming the sound to a HomePod.

So if a person, let's use me as an example, simply wants better sound than provided by the built-in TV speakers, and already has an Apple TV, then a HomePod is a completely adequate device. I don't currently have the room or the strong desire to setup a new surround system in my small flat at the moment. So the HomePod is an ideal solution for me. I get really, really nice music playback, and I get TV sound which sounds great. There have been a couple of times, since I bought the HomePod, when I was watching a back episode of Law and Order: Special Victims Unit, that I almost thought I did have a surround system. When the audio source has good sound, the HomePod is really outstanding. When the audio source is 2-channel stereo, the HomePod is still very, very good.

As a middle ground device between a full-on surround system and the TV speakers, the HomePod fits in very, very nicely. The people who say Apple never intended the HomePod to be used this way are, I believe, mistaken.

Be that as it may, how many users live in a world where the atv is their sole source of tv entertainment? Right now HomePod would work only for those users and I bet you any half decent tv sound bar will sound better in comparison.

 

[mallbritton]

Clearly Apple never intended it to be used this way since they didn’t bother to allow the HomePod to default back to a connection to the ATV after playing music from another source.

You may or may not be right. I simply don't know since I'm not privy to the thinking at Apple during development. All I'm saying is that if someone wants to use a HomePod as better audio out for TV sound they certain can, and it works very, very well in my experience.

 

[loon3y]

You may or may not be right. I simply don't know since I'm not privy to the thinking at Apple during development. All I'm saying is that if someone wants to use a HomePod as better audio out for TV sound they certain can, and it works very, very well in my experience.

All it is is software, since there are no audio in ports Apple would just need to make a Android based app for Sony/Samsung/ or something to connect to 4K tvs

 

[HDFan]

The bass on a Playbar/Playbase will crush a HomePod.

I'm curious why you say this. I only listened for a few minutes in an Apple Store to one of my test tracks (Bruno Mars "Just the Way You Are" and I was rather impressed for a speaker at this price point. The low bass notes that start at about 50 seconds range from 40 to 100 Hz. [I think I've got this right after looking at the track in Audition, but I'm not an expert]. My Triton One towers with their built in subwoofers actually have trouble with the lowest note, but that's likely due to an acoustic hole in my listening environment. The other thing I listen for is the (hissing?) sound at around 15 seconds. Given the noise level in the Apple store I wasn't able to evaluate its performance.

I'm waiting for Sound and Vision magazine to finish their lab tests.

 

[DarwinOSX]

While it's certainly possible, I think 'intended' is a stretch.

https://www.apple.com/homepod/

Not a single mention of pairing with the ATV as a feature.

If you have used it with a tv you can see they diesnged it to work with one. It’s very obvious.

 

[vipergts2207]

If you have used it with a tv you can see they diesnged it to work with one. It’s very obvious.

Because of the way it disconnects from the ATV when you play music from another source? Or the way you can't use it with other sources like cable or a console? Those obvious design intents?

 

[glide]

I'm curious why you say this. I only listened for a few minutes in an Apple Store to one of my test tracks (Bruno Mars "Just the Way You Are" and I was rather impressed for a speaker at this price point. The low bass notes that start at about 50 seconds range from 40 to 100 Hz. [I think I've got this right after looking at the track in Audition, but I'm not an expert]. My Triton One towers with their built in subwoofers actually have trouble with the lowest note, but that's likely due to an acoustic hole in my listening environment. The other thing I listen for is the (hissing?) sound at around 15 seconds. Given the noise level in the Apple store I wasn't able to evaluate its performance.

I'm waiting for Sound and Vision magazine to finish their lab tests.

Because I own both. For TV and movie listening with AppleTV as the source, the PlayBar trounces the HomePod.

And it should. That is what it is designed for. As mentioned to OP, the HomePod is not a home theater product.

 

[BlankStar]

It might become a home theater product if TV makers would embrace AirPlay 2 as a built-in technology. But I don't see that happening soon (if ever)