Apple could be preparing a major upgrade for HomePod owners, with newly discovered software references pointing to support for a four-speaker surround sound system.
Code found in audioOS 27 beta 8 includes configurations for four second-generation HomePod speakers positioned around a room as front-left, front-right, rear-left and rear-right channels, as reported by AppleInsider.
The discovery could significantly expand HomePod’s role alongside Apple TV. Apple currently allows a single HomePod or a stereo pair to be used as the default audio output for Apple TV 4K, but there is no option to create a physical four-speaker HomePod surround setup.
The code suggests Apple has developed different tuning for the speakers depending on their position in the room. The front HomePods would provide the main left and right audio, while speakers positioned behind the listener could use a more omnidirectional treatment to fill the rear of the room.
Apple also appears to be working on automatic calibration for the expanded setup, with references to speaker positioning, timing, bass management, EQ and dialogue processing. The system could adjust how the four speakers work together depending on whether the user is watching a movie or listening to music.
Interestingly, the software also references a configuration combining two second-generation HomePods with two speakers identified by an unreleased hardware family. That raises the possibility that future HomePod hardware could form part of the surround system.
The HomePod mini 2 is among the products that could feature in Apple’s upcoming hardware lineup, alongside updates across several of the company’s other product families.
Another feature uncovered in audioOS 27 is referred to as “Party Mode.” Rather than creating a tightly focused stereo listening position, the mode appears designed to spread sound more evenly throughout a room when using paired HomePods.
The four-speaker system would mark a notable expansion of Apple’s home cinema ambitions, potentially allowing HomePod and Apple TV users to create a more conventional front-and-rear speaker arrangement without moving to a separate surround sound platform.