The Apple HomePod is undoubtedly one of the best speakers available in its class. With a design that pleases the eye, high-quality audio delivery, and the inclusion of Apple’s smart assistant Siri, the HomePod holds its own as a speaker that does so much to rival other speakers on the market. But, with home theaters on the rise, can the HomePod deliver incredible sound from your TV like other smart devices?

The HomePod cannot be used as a traditional TV speaker unless the TV is connected to an Apple TV device; this is the only way users can play audio through their HomePod from their smart TV.

The HomePod itself has superior sound quality and easily integrates with your other Apple products in your home, allowing ease of use, especially with an Apple TV setup. In this article, we’ll cover what’s required to connect your HomePod with Apple TV, as well as how to link the devices together.

Can HomePods Work with Any TV?

If you’re looking to integrate your HomePod into your existing home theater system, your best bet is to ensure that the TV you are using has an HDMI port.

An HDMI connection is required to connect an Apple TV device that will allow you to link your TV’s sound to your HomePod. In other words, the HomePod will work with any TV as long as it is connected to an Apple TV device. Another requirement to connect HomePod with your TV is a stable internet connection. Apple TV will use your home’s Wi-Fi network to communicate with the HomePod.

With these requirements met, the audio from Apple TV will play through the HomePod. However, something to keep in mind is that the HomePod can only play audio from one device at a time. You will have to temporarily disconnect your HomePod from the Apple TV if you want to use it as a speaker for your iPhone or Mac.

If you have Apple TV, the HomePod is the perfect choice for you. You can also control the Apple TV and the HomePod through any smartphone as well, which is an added convenience.

How to Use HomePod with Apple TV

Setting up your Apple TV to play audio through your HomePod speaker couldn’t be easier. All you have to do is go into the Apple TV settings:

  • Select Video and Audio.Once you do that, choose the option for Audio Output.Now, you should be free to pair your HomePod with your Apple TV.

After this initial pairing process, you will be able to select the HomePod as your speaker again in the future without even having to go into the settings. Simply hold down the Play/Pause button on the remote to quickly switch between your paired audio outputs and choose HomePod from there.

Apple TV Models Compatible with HomePod

Now, since you need an Apple TV to use your HomePod as a speaker for your TV, let’s look at some of the current models on the market that are compatible with the smart speaker. Apple TV currently comes in two different models, depending on the visual quality you are looking for.

  • Apple TV 4K: With this model, all video is 4K HDR, which provides a crisp and realistic picture; this the best option as far as UHD TVs go. The Apple TV 4K also offers home theater audio with Dolby Atmos integrated with HomePod, which lets you create a movie theater experience by placing your HomePod(s) in the same room as your TV.Apple TV HD: This is an older model but continues to render high-quality HD videos for compatibility with all HDTVs. This model does not have the home theater audio option but comes in at a lower price point, which is an attractive feature in and of itself.

In the end, choosing between these Apple TVs comes down to graphic specs, not functionality. The HomePod still functions as a speaker with both versions of the Apple TV, regardless of the home theater audio configuration offered with the Apple TV 4K model.

If you have multiple HomePods, you can set them up to work as a stereo pair for a more immersive entertainment experience.

In Summary

The HomePod offers easy integration with all Apple products and excels when coupled with an Apple TV. The Apple TV allows the HomePod to play audio from your TV to the speaker, providing audio quality unmatched by any TV’s internal speaker.