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tvOS 27.2 RC Lays Groundwork for HomePod Surround Sound

The iOS 27.2, tvOS 27.2, and HomePod Software 27.2 updates that Apple seeded today add support for four-speaker surround sound on the new Apple TV 4K ahead of its launch.

surround mixed 16x9
Setting up a ‌HomePod‌ home theater is done directly on the ‌Apple TV‌, but there is an option to start the process with the ‌Apple TV‌ remote app on iPhone.

With the fourth-generation ‌Apple TV‌ 4K, you can use four HomePod mini 2 speakers, four second-generation HomePods, or two HomePods and two ‌HomePod mini 2‌ speakers for surround sound (as long as each pair matches).

The original ‌HomePod‌ and the original ‌HomePod‌ mini can't be used for surround sound, and older ‌Apple TV‌ models don't support the feature.

Combining ‌HomePod‌ speakers with an ‌Apple TV‌ creates a home theater grouping, and the speakers are treated as a single accessory instead of separate audio devices. The speakers can detect their position in the room for calibrating timing and levels.

The ‌HomePod mini 2‌ launches on October 30, while the fourth-generation ‌Apple TV‌ 4K comes out on November 13. Both new devices can be pre-ordered from Apple. We're expecting iOS 27.2, tvOS 27.2, and ‌HomePod‌ Software 27.2 updates to come out next week.

Related Roundups: Apple TV, HomePod, HomePod mini 2

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Top Rated Comments

1 day ago at 12:29 pm
Apple really needs to get this HomePod issue sorted out. Sorry but these speakers really don't make sense to me. I'm pretty invested in the Apple ecosystem, but no way in hell will I invest in a full surround system that ONLY works with Apple TV. Your game console, TV or any other device connected to your TV is useless with the HomePods. When they were just a 1 speaker the device made sense but now it's just a mess. I also wonder can the HomePods even work as 4 speakers without the Apple TV at all? Apple made a huge fuss over Dolby Atmos music but it would be silly if you can't even play the surround music without needing to rely on an Apple TV to connect them all together. Honestly I wouldn't mind trying out HomePods but the limitations are too much to seriously consider it not to mention in a heavily competitive soundbar/speaker landscape.....
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
BeatsByTim Avatar
1 day ago at 12:24 pm
As someone who has had a proper 5.1 surround setup for 10 years all carefully laid out and calibrated:

Don't. It's a waste of time and money. You barely notice once you're into whatever you're watching. It just adds clutter.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Skwoodge Avatar
1 day ago at 01:27 pm
This is the most unbelievably overpriced and stupid idea I've ever heard from Apple. Anyone willing to pay this much is going to buy a real surround sound system, and not this subpar offering from Apple. This is actually embarrassing.

Just like they partnered with LG for the home security kit, they should have partnered with someone for a genuine Apple surround sound system. It would still be expensive, but at least it would make sense. I doubt anyone at Apple is going to use this themselves for their home theater set up.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Kylo83 Avatar
1 day ago at 12:17 pm
Surround sound is 5.1 or more not 4.0 no movie is mastered in 4.0
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Aquamite Avatar
1 day ago at 12:29 pm
This setup is mostly thought for Dolby Atmos mixes, however it can adapt to 5.1 and 7.1 mixes too.

Dolby Atmos adapts to the number of speakers you have, it doesn't matter if they are 2, 4, 7 or 9. It's an audio mixing tech based in audio objects and not audio channels.

Actually Dolby Atmos can work on headphones like AirPods and they don't have a .1.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
kagharaht Avatar
1 day ago at 01:22 pm
Hey it's your money. Feel free to waste it thinking you have proper surround sound with HomePods. I have a 5 OG and 5 Mini and I can buy more whenever I want. No way in hell I would buy 4 of these for surround sound...thats just funny.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
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