HomePod surround sound could finally become a reality, with newly discovered code pointing to a four-speaker configuration for Apple’s smart speaker. References found within audioOS 27, the operating system that powers the HomePod, describe a setup involving multiple connected units, fresh audio calibrations and a feature named “Party Mode”.
Owners have called for a more capable sound system since the original HomePod arrived in 2017. Stereo pairs deliver impressive results, yet they stop short of the immersive experience offered by full surround configurations.
What the code reveals
The material appears in audioOS 27, specifically within beta 8 for the second-generation HomePod. It includes direct references to tuning files that map front and rear left and right positions. Front HomePods would handle audio in the usual manner, while rear units would attempt to fill the room using omnidirectional output.
These settings apply only to second-generation HomePods, but the code also references an as-yet unreleased model. That could be the new HomePod mini anticipated later in 2026. The rear channels would additionally carry system sounds and Siri responses.
Depending on the content being played, the speakers would work in tandem to synchronise audio for optimal results. Films and multi-channel audio would receive dialogue processing, bass management and dynamic range control. Spatial audio also features, adjusting synchronisation according to whether the setting is switched on or off.
Party Mode and availability
Party Mode appears as a new option for stereo-paired HomePods. Rather than centring the mix on a single ideal listening position, it would spread audio more ambiently around a space, suiting group settings.
There is no indication that these capabilities will arrive during the OS 27 release cycle. Given the references to unreleased hardware, the features may be tied to the launch of the new HomePod mini at the earliest.
The code was highlighted by a forum contributor with a track record of surfacing details from Apple betas, including the presence of a Siri AI waitlist within the release version of iOS 27. File paths have been shared for anyone wishing to confirm the code on their own device, pointing to strings such as those found under the audio tunings directories, including references to multichannel movie surround and a stereo party mode configuration.
The four-speaker calibration and Party Mode settings currently reside in beta 8 of audioOS 27 for the second-generation HomePod.
Source
Image: appleinsider.com
