Apple appears to be working on major new HomePod home theater features, including a four-speaker surround sound system and a new “Party Mode,” according to code found in audioOS 27 beta 8 and shared on the Woozad forums by a member. pdfu.
References in the software for the second-generation HomePod suggest the ability to set up a configuration with front left, front right, rear left, and rear right HomePods. The four-speaker surround setup refers to automatic room calibration, speaker position mapping, timing adjustments, bass management, equalization, dialogue enhancement, and different processing modes for movies and music.
For stereo content, the code suggests the possibility of either spatializing the sound across all four speakers, or limiting traditional stereo playback to the two front speakers.
The files also reference a new tuning system called “Forklift” that combines two second-generation HomePods with two speakers using an unidentified AID12007 hardware family. We’ve never seen this ID before – it doesn’t match any existing HomePod model – which suggests it refers to an upcoming HomePod mini, a third-generation HomePod, or some other unreleased audio device.
Additionally, Apple appears to be working on a new “Party Mode” feature for stereo-paired HomePods. The feature applies a more diffuse sound field designed to distribute sound more evenly across the room for a more immersive listening experience, rather than optimizing playback for a single listening position.
The Home app and Apple TV currently don’t have the ability to set up four HomePods as a surround system. Indeed, none of these features have been referenced before. All we can say at this point is that they indicate Apple is testing them, but it remains to be seen if Apple will ultimately release them.
A new HomePod mini, a new Apple TV and an all-new Apple smart home hub are coming soon, according to Bloombergis Mark Gurman, so it’s possible these features are part of Apple’s broader HomePod refresh. Watch this space.
