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The “Compare HomePod Models” box on Apple’s site includes a feature that Apple has not previously discussed. The “Apple TV 4K Home Theater” is a feature of the regular full-size HomePod, but not the new HomePod mini.
Apple has confirmed to The Verge that an upcoming software update will allow HomePods paired with Apple TV 4K to stream Dolby Atmos, as well as 5.1 and 7.1 audio. The feature uses HomePod’s spatial awareness feature, computational audio that uses an array of microphones to measure room acoustics and adjust sound on the fly, to provide virtual surround sound.
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The feature is said to work best with two HomePods in a stereo pair, but it can still work with just one. The new HomePod mini does not support this feature as it does not have spatial recognition capabilities.
An upcoming software update will allow users to choose HomePod (or HomePod mini) as the default audio output device for their Apple TV, a nice improvement in quality of life over the current situation where you have to go back to select it as AirPlay output. device every time you turn on your Apple TV.
The default sound device option and new virtual surround sound feature are expected to launch in a HomePod software update later this year. The first is already present in the closed beta test version of version 14.2 of the HomePod software.
