This trick obtained my Xbox and Blu-rays to play g...

Among the finest makes use of of Apple’s HomePod is not as a standard

smart speaker
, like an Amazon Echo, which you are normally meant to set on tables, cabinets, and counters for music and

smart home
management. As a substitute, a rising variety of folks — judging from anecdotes — are selecting to make use of HomePods as wi-fi audio system for his or her

Apple TV 4K
. It isn’t at all times essentially the most cost-effective dwelling theater possibility, however it’s good to remove muddle, and even a pair of HomePod minis can sound surprisingly good. A pair of full-size HomePods taking part in Dolby Atmos materials is a factor to behold.

Some folks do not understand, although, that you would be able to funnel audio from extra sources than simply your Apple TV. In actual fact, absolutely anything related to your TV ought to work, together with cable packing containers, recreation consoles, and Blu-ray gamers. The catch is that you just want a particular {hardware} and software program setup for all the things to work correctly — and as soon as you have obtained it going, you could end up caught within the Apple ecosystem except you are prepared to shell out much more money for a substitute. I will clarify all the things you must know.

What {hardware} do you must get began?

Excellent news and unhealthy information on this one

Apple

Earlier than anything, you may want a TV with an ARC or eARC port. ARC stands for Audio Return Channel, and the brief rationalization is that it permits audio system and different audio gear to ship their content material through

HDMI
, quite than devoted audio cables.

eARC
is an up to date normal based mostly on HDMI 2.1, the profit being a lot larger bandwidth — at its greatest providing uncompressed, 192kHz, 24-bit sound. So, whereas each ARC and eARC help widespread codecs like Dolby Atmos, you will not get essentially the most out of your TV with out eARC. Examine the labels in your TV’s HDMI ports to see what you are geared up for.

Unavoidably, you may additionally want a second- (2021) or third-generation (2022) Apple TV 4K. The primary-gen mannequin merely is not appropriate with Apple’s pass-through tech, and there is no methodology to attach HomePods on to a TV. As a substitute, they should be arrange within the

Apple Home
app, then chosen as audio output on the Apple TV.

Make sure you use the right HDMI cable, too. You may want an HDMI 1.4 cable or higher for ARC, and HDMI 2.1 or later for eARC. There must be some model marking on the cable you are utilizing. If not, you have solely obtained two choices: testing a cable to see what it is able to, or shopping for a substitute you realize is appropriate.

You need to use both one or two HomePods, however should you plan to make use of a pair, they should be the identical mannequin and technology — you possibly can’t hyperlink a full-size HomePod and a HomePod mini, for instance, or a first-gen and a second-gen. I might strongly advocate shopping for a pair — it is the one solution to allow stereo and

Dolby Atmos
playback. After all, you may additionally have to test if a selected app, video, or track is encoded for Atmos.

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The right way to get recreation consoles and Blu-rays to play by way of your HomePods

All of the steps you must know

Apple

So that you’re conscious, I am not going to run by way of the complete setup processes for Apple TVs, HomePods, or the Apple House app. That might prolong issues needlessly, since Apple gives fundamental setup info within the Apple TV and HomePod packing containers. I’ll point out when every setup must occur, although, because you may be unboxing all the things for the primary time.

Observe the steps under. For those who’ve already obtained one or two HomePods linked to your Apple TV, skip forward to step 10.

1. Replace your iPhone or iPad to the most recent software program through Settings > Basic > Software program Replace.
2. Join your Apple TV 4K (second- or third-generation) to your TV’s ARC or eARC HDMI port utilizing an acceptable cable. Keep in mind, you want at the very least HDMI 1.4 for ARC, and HDMI 2.1 for eARC.
3. If you must, end organising your Apple TV, together with assigning it to a room in Apple House. If you have not already arrange Apple House, use the app in your iPhone or iPad first.
4. Replace your Apple TV to the most recent model of tvOS by going to Settings > System > Software program Updates and clicking Replace Software program.
5. Flip off your Apple TV utilizing the Siri Distant.
6. Set up the HomePod(s) you are going to use, placing one on both sides of your TV should you’ve obtained a stereo pair. Within the House app, make sure you assign your speaker(s) to the identical room as your Apple TV.
7. Nonetheless in House, go to … > House Settings > Software program Replace to ensure your HomePod software program is present. Be affected person.
8. When your HomePods are prepared, flip the Apple TV again on.
9. You need to be routinely prompted to make use of your HomePod(s) for TV audio. If not, use Settings > Video and Audio > Audio Output choices as an alternative.
10. Be sure all of the secondary peripherals you wish to use HomePod output (consoles, Blu-ray gamers, and many others.) are related to your TV.
11. Again in your Apple TV’s Settings > Video and Audio > Audio Output menu, choose Play Tv Audio below Audio Return Channel.

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Extra notes

Troubleshooting, and the downsides of utilizing HomePods

For those who’re nonetheless having hassle, test that ARC, eARC, and/or HDMI-CEC are enabled in your TV’s native settings menu (not the one in your Apple TV). You may additionally have to double-check the model in your HDMI cable, and whether or not it is plugged into the correct port. Most TVs have a number of HDMI ports, however just one geared up for ARC or eARC.

The most important draw back of utilizing HomePods as a do-it-all audio supply is, after all, that your Apple TV has to stay completely related. For those who pull it out of the loop, a HomePod will lose its reference to the TV. That is a significant discouragement to leaving the Apple ecosystem, so that you may wish to select a standard soundbar as an alternative should you’re not an Apple die-hard.

As a result of the connection between a HomePod and an Apple TV is just not solely wi-fi, however linked to Apple House, there’s additionally the potential for issues from wi-fi interference or unhealthy settings within the House app. To repeat, your Apple TV and HomePod(s) must be assigned to the identical room in the identical dwelling — if not, they will not be capable to see one another.

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