The new Apple TV 4K can route all audio signals from a compatible TV to a pair of HomePods without the user having to actively use Apple's set-top box. Below we'll show you how it all works.
While the new Apple TV 4K is shipping today, a new support document has revealed that its audio capabilities have an unexpected extra. The new set-top box can not only send audio to the HomePod as before, but also receive audio from a TV and pass it on to the smart speakers. writes Apple:
With HDMI ARC or eARC enabled, your Apple TV 4K (2nd generation) can receive high-quality audio from a supported TV and then play it through your HomePod speakers.
Accordingly, the Apple TV 4K supports two additional connection standards, called ARC and eARC. ARC (Audio Return Channel) is a feature of HDMI 1.4 that allows audio to be sent from a device to a compatible TV and passed on to a separate audio receiver, speaker, or soundbar via its HDMI port. eARC (enhanced ARC), meanwhile, offers support for passthrough of higher bandwidth audio such as Dolby Atmos as well as 5.1 and 7.1 surround sound. For Apple TV 4K (2nd generation), ARC and eARC support effectively allows a HomePod or stereo-paired HomePods in a home theater audio setup to play audio from other devices connected to the TV such as a cable box, PS5 or Xbox Series X, and more.
How to configure HomePod for all TV audio signals with Apple TV 4K
This feature only works with the Apple TV 4K 2nd Gen. or later. The TV must support HDMI ARC or eARC. Apple also points out that users must set their HomePod speaker or stereo pair as the default speaker for Apple TV. The individual steps are as follows:
- Launch the Settings app on your Apple TV 4K.
- Now select video and audio.
- Select Default Audio Output. (Make sure HomePod is selected under Default Audio Output.)
- Then under Audio Return Channel (Beta), select Play TV audio. You know ARC or eARC is on when it says On (ARC) or On (eARC).
The TV may also need to be set to enable ARC or eARC, although the settings for this vary by manufacturer. Once set up, this means for Apple TV 4K users that whatever they watch on the TV, regardless of the source, will get full HomePod audio quality. It's perhaps another addition to the reasons Cupertino calls Apple TV 4K "extremely valuable." (Photo by Unsplash / Howard Bouchevereau)
