New information regarding a potential home theater setup from Apple has emerged in the beta versions of audioOS 27.2 and macOS 27.2. Code references suggest that Apple TV 4K may soon support connecting four HomePod speakers simultaneously to create a four-channel surround sound system.
Currently, Apple TV 4K devices are limited to pairing with only two HomePod or HomePod mini units for stereo sound. The discovered code in audioOS 27.2 Beta 3 indicates that Siri will be able to identify and configure individual speakers within this multi-unit surround sound array.
The macOS 27.2 third beta update includes new SF symbols depicting a four-speaker room layout. These icons show a top-down view of HomePods and are labeled for home theater settings, aligning with the reported development of the new audio configuration.
Additional findings suggest that when HomePods are grouped for home theater use, Siri requests may be routed to the Apple TV via a new proxy mechanism. The system also introduces new light animations for touch interactions, though these features remain in the testing phase.
According to reports from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple may announce new versions of the HomePod mini and Apple TV 4K as early as October 13. The company might also introduce updates for the full-sized HomePod alongside these hardware releases.
