Max Yuryev
If you have a pair of HomePods and want to use them in stereo as a home theater speaker replacement on the Apple TV, you may find the volume to be lower than you would really want for the setup. Changing a setting on the Apple TV can help push the decibel count higher, but even that has its limitations.
Following the release of AirPlay 2, we recently compared a set of stereo paired HomePods connected to an Apple TV to a home theatre surround sound system, and Apple's smart speakers were found to be extremely lacking. The two HomePods even seemed quieter than a $350 soundbar usually used to watch television in a bedroom.
The seemingly lower volume prompted us to use an audio decibel meter to see how loud the HomePods really are. During an intense fighting scene in Thor: Ragnarok, the stereo HomePods only put out a peak volume of 77 decibels, a fairly weak number for $700 worth of speakers.
There seemed to be an issue which lowered the volume output to our stereo HomePods, but then we found a fix for the problem.
On the Apple TV, go to Settings, then Video & Audio, followed by Surround Sound. Select Turn Convert Format On, then switch it to Stereo.
Replaying the same action scene, the HomePods achieve a much better peak volume of 83 decibels, which due to the logarithmic scale of decibels, is roughly three times louder. This small change made the viewing experience much more enjoyable.
As a crude comparison, this is similar to the difference in volume between a vacuum cleaner in the same room and standing 30 feet away from the tracks as a freight train passes by.
Curious to see how the built-in speakers of the television compared to stereo HomePods, the same test revealed that the HomePods were still quieter, even after the volume fix.
Of course, the sound quality from the TV speakers was obviously worse, but it seems ridiculous for a cheap $350 4K smart TV to have louder speakers than two HomePods paired in stereo.
We then decided to compare the volume while watching a movie to what the HomePods produce when playing music.
We rolled the end credits of Disney's Big Hero 6 to listen to "Immortals" by Fall Out Boy. The movie was purchased through the iTunes Store.
The meter recorded 83 decibels, the same peak volume achieved in the earlier test, which seems fine.
We then asked Siri to play that exact song straight through the HomePods, and we immediately noticed a massive difference.
The stereo HomePods played the song at a peak of 91 decibels. Ideally, this is as loud as we wish the HomePods would play while watching a movie on the Apple TV.
Ultimately, while we found out how to make the stereo HomePods play quite a bit louder than under default settings, it is still way too quiet to use a pair as a viable home theater system replacement. Apple does have an option in the Apple TV settings to reduce loud sounds, but we actually wish Apple would include an option to amplify the sound altogether.
Hopefully Apple addresses this issue in a future update, so Apple TV users who like their action loud can use a set of stereo HomePods as their dedicated external Apple TV speakers.
Andrew Orr
William Gallagher
Christine McKee
AppleInsider Staff
Chip Loder
24 Comments
I wonder if it was intentional, given most Apple TVs are probably directly connected to a TV and outputting sound through the rubbish TV speakers that would distort away at that level?
I noticed this same issue when using a single HomePod with an Apple TV 4 a few days ago. I had to turn the volume up to about 70-80% just to achieve a "normal" listening level in a quiet home.
The same thing happens when sending audio from an Apple TV 4 to a Bose SoundLink Mini II via Bluetooth in another room - I have to turn the volume "way up".
Audio coming from a third and fourth Apple TV 4/4K to vis HDMI is "normal".
Most likely Apple is trying to prevent ear damage in its customers. This is a good thing. I wouldn't try to mess with it.
Pushing decibels and not distorting the audio quality is not an easy task, the problem is most people who do not understand audio performance think loader is better even if that means giving up sound quality. I think that is what Apple is trying to balance.
I just got a Homepod. It's not THAT loud. It sounds good, even at MAX volume, but it's not really LOUD. For me, getting 2 of them to use as Sterno at the price point seems silly.
You're going to be better of in getting a Nice Sound Bar. One with it's own Sub for a fraction of the price and be better off!!! It's a joke to a half way decent 5.1 surround system or better.
I got a small sound bar for my 34" Ultra Wide Screen Monitor. I have it attached to the bottom of my Monitor so it still swivels around. It's great and works for my needs on my computer. Out in the Living Room, I have a nice 5.1 system. I was under my house running wires to the back speakers. Not a big deal after wiring my house with CAT6 Ethernet.
My Panasonic Plasma in my Bedroom actually has some nice speakers on it. Sounds really good and loud. No need for even a sound bar. Let alone using my Homepod. It sounds great for music. It can hear my voice really good. For the things it can do, it does it pretty good. But it needs to be opened up to 3rd party's. It needs at least FULL Siri support. Not limited Siri. Having a Amazon Dot and a Google Mini, I can play with all 3 of them and compare.