Apple tests four-speaker HomePod surround sound system

Code discovered in the audioOS 27 beta 8 suggests Apple is developing significant new audio features for the HomePod ecosystem. The most notable finding is a potential four-speaker surround sound configuration. This setup would allow users to arrange four second-generation HomePods into a dedicated home theater system with specific roles for front-left, front-right, rear-left, and rear-right channels.

Technical details in the code indicate that the system would provide independent signal processing for each speaker. Front speakers would handle stereo channels and include acoustic compensation for placement near walls or corners, while rear speakers would utilize omnidirectional processing to fill the space behind the listener. The system would also manage automatic room calibration, timing adjustments, bass management, and EQ.

Additionally, the code references a new “Party Mode” designed for stereo-paired HomePods. This mode aims to create a more diffuse and even sound field, spreading audio more uniformly across a room rather than optimizing for a single “sweet spot.”

Further clues point to a hardware configuration codenamed “Forklift,” which combines two second-generation HomePods with two unidentified speakers from the AID12007 hardware family. This suggests Apple may be preparing to launch new audio hardware, such as a third-generation HomePod or a new HomePod mini, to complement these software updates.