Apple Releases 14.2 Software for HomePod With New Siri, Intercom and Home Theater Features

Lordy lord,this sound absolutely incredible. Tried with a couple of stereo paired Homepods, and the Atmos track of Greyhound.


First things first, requirements and set-up:

A). Upgrade Homepods and Apple TV 4K to final version of 14.2 (different build than the RC).

B). Make sure that the Homepods and the Apple TV are in the same room (via the Home app), as the Apple TV.

C). Makes sure that both of them AND the Apple TV, are set up as a hub for Homekit (no idea why this is necessary).

D). Make sure that the audio output of the Apple TV is set to Auto and that it says Atmos ON.

E). Makes sure that the Homepods are set as the default output of the Apple TV. If you don´t do this and merely select them from the Apple TV Airplay menu, the inmersive audio feature will not work or appear, and the homepods will sound the same as before.

F). Try some content with 5.1 or Atmos sound.

G). ENJOY.

Can Apple just allow the HomePod mini speakers to be used as rear speakers and call it a day.

Okay, so I got home and tested this out. Took a bit of messing with the home app and restarting my homepods because my stereo pair was showing up twice in the home app and twice in the default output options on the ATV. Took several tries to get the audio calibration to work as the ATV kept connecting to my sound bar to play the sound or the prompt wouldn’t come up on my phone, or the test sound would play and the prompt would tell me that it didn’t hear the test sound.

First impressions playing Blade Runner 2049: The homepods sound pretty good, good bass as I expected. I can tell that there is an “ambient effect” and it’s better that hearing the movie in stereo. Sounds and effects have a spaciousness, however none of the “effects” give the illusion of coming from the rear or sides. It’s not mind blowing. Switching back to my Atmos sound bar with sub and rear speakers... there is no comparison. The sound bar wins hands down as I expected. I could see where homepods would make better sense in a smaller bedroom and there is a cost difference ~$700 for stereo homepods vs ~$900 5.1.2 sound bar w/ sub and wireless rear speakers. But my money would be on spending the extra $200 If you were choosing between the two. Of course if you already have bought a pair of homepods it‘s a nice upgrade, but calling it “surround” or Atmos is kinda stretch. Slightly better than the old stereo mode is what I’d say.

Still no news on third party music services integration...?!

Looking forward to see how well this morning theatre setup with Atmos works.

Yep. Wondering if the Surround and Atmos features means some sort of virtualised surround field (spatial audio on Airpods Pro is staggering the first time you hear it), or merely that the Homepods can accept multichannel audio signals and make a sound as opposed not being able to handle the input and not making a sound.

Looking forward to see how well this home theatre setup with Atmos works.