Upcoming 17.1 Software Brings Enhance Dialogue to Original HomePod and HomePod mini - MacRumorsOpen MenuShow RoundupsShow Forums menuVisit ForumsOpen Sidebar
Skip to Content

Upcoming 17.1 Software Brings Enhance Dialogue to Original HomePod and HomePod mini

by

With the HomePod software 17.1 update that is set to be released in the near future, Apple is bringing support for Enhance Dialogue to the HomePod mini and the original ‌HomePod‌.

AppleTV and HomePod Feature
Enhance Dialogue is a feature that is meant to boost the volume of spoken voices to make dialogue easier to hear over effects, action, and music in a movie or TV show. The feature works when a ‌HomePod‌ or ‌HomePod mini‌ is paired to an Apple TV and used as the audio output option.

Prior to now, Enhance Dialogue was available on the second-generation ‌HomePod‌, and it was a feature that was first introduced in tvOS 17. With tvOS 17.1 and ‌HomePod‌ software 17.1, Enhance Dialogue can be enabled on any ‌HomePod‌ (or set of HomePods) paired to an ‌Apple TV‌ 4K.

Enabling Enhance Dialogue can be done by playing a TV show or movie, bringing up the playback controls with the Siri Remote, and choosing the Enhance Dialogue feature from the Audio Options button. It can be enabled for all content by going to Settings > Video and Audio > Enhance Dialogue.

Apple today seeded the final beta version of the ‌HomePod‌ 17.1 software, and it should see a release as soon as next week alongside iOS 17.1 and tvOS 17.1.

Related Roundups: HomePod, HomePod mini
Buyer's Guide: HomePod (Caution), HomePod Mini (Don't Buy)
Related Forum: HomePod, HomeKit, CarPlay, Home & Auto Technology

Popular Stories

HomePod mini 2000 Days Old Thumb 2

What's Happening With the HomePod Mini 2? All the Current Rumors

Tuesday April 7, 2026 3:03 pm PDT by
The $99 HomePod mini is now over 2,000 days old, which means it has been five and a half years since it received a meaningful update. Apple is working on a new model, but launch rumors have come and gone due to Siri issues. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Apple introduced the HomePod mini in October 2020, and refreshed the color options in 2021, but it is way...
Read Full Article • 45 comments
iOS 27 on iPhone 17 1

iOS 27 Will Add These New Features to Your iPhone

Saturday May 2, 2026 8:43 am PDT by
Apple is expected to unveil iOS 27 during its WWDC 2026 keynote on June 8, and there are already many rumored features and changes for iPhones. The first developer beta of iOS 27 will likely be available immediately following the keynote, and a public beta typically follows in July. Following beta testing, the software update should be released to all users with a compatible iPhone in...
Read Full Article • 94 comments
Apple Event Logo

Apple Just Released a New Accessory

Monday May 4, 2026 8:13 am PDT by
Apple today released a new Pride Edition Sport Loop for the Apple Watch. The band features a rainbow design with 11 colors of woven nylon yarns. The new Pride Edition Sport Loop is available to order now on Apple.com and in the Apple Store app in 40mm, 42mm, and 46mm sizes, and it will be available at Apple Store locations starting later this week. In the U.S., the band costs $49. There...
Read Full Article

Top Rated Comments

G
G3Blue
33 months ago
For a few years I’ve always had subtitles turned on (this highlights another issue with subtitles missing words).

I have HomePod minis in stereo and this feature works great. I don’t have the courage to install beta software on my original HomePod.



Attachment Image
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
B/D Avatar
B/D
33 months ago

So why is this possible with "outdated" socs?
Good question. The story with 17.0 was that the feature was only available to the big second gen Homepod, because the processing of the audio mix to bring foward the speech was done by the speakers themselves in real time, and that process used some machine learning instructions set. This required a Bionic processor. The S7 chipset is based on the A13 Bionic, and therefore support this particular set of instructions, whereas the A8 does not.

Perhaps now, with 17.1, Apple have made the Apple TV 4K, not the Homepods, the device in charge to the processing of the audio mix, which would allow this feature to be available on the entire Homepod family.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
NervousFish2 Avatar
NervousFish2
33 months ago
Oh my god, this is cool!
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Schnegg Avatar
Schnegg
33 months ago
I don‘t own Homepods, but this is great. Something needs to be done about these awful surround mixes with the loud effects and droned out dialogue.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
HobeSoundDarryl Avatar
HobeSoundDarryl
33 months ago
Nothing beats a good center channel speaker for clear dialogue. Phantom centers like phantom overheads (ATMOS) or phantom surround speakers is not the same as actual centers, actual overheads or actual surrounds.

Those happy with stereo, enjoy this new feature. Those willing & able to go for true surround or true ATMOS, there is abundant offerings that can deliver that as fast as you want to move. Your ears will definitely notice.

That's not meant to put down HPs at all- they are great for what they are... which is NOT home theater speakers unless one defines home theater audio as stereo. A good Apple product or two budget will buy an incredible, true surround sound setup that will sound as good 10, 20 or 30 years from now as it sounds day 1. The "smarts" in the Apple devices you already own can make it work just like HPs do... except it will work with EVERYTHING that produces audio, including all streaming audio sources, anything pre-HDMI... and all to come that expands above current audio standards.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Jeaz Avatar
Jeaz
33 months ago

Just speculation. By the way, has this ever happened in the past or is it the first time ever?. I´m talking of Apple introducing a feature for a particular generation of devices, and then some time later making that same feature available to older devices via a software update . I find it curious.
Not that I can recall right now, although I have a nagging feeling it's happened before. Either way, it's very rare at least but I'm not complaining.
I was bummed before that this wasn't on the OG HomePods, but this feature alone was hardly enough to upgrade for. But very nice it's coming in 17.1. Looking forward to it!
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Read All Comments
Related Apple News: South Africa | Culture | Reviews | Business | Lifestyle