HomePods Will Not Stereo Pair in 12.1 Despite Trying EVERYTHING!

I have two HomePods updated to 12.1 that were previously stereo paired while in version 11 perfectly but since having to update my network name and reinstall my smart home, I have not been able to get them to 100% stereo pair since. I have reset them countless times and tried reinstalling them and repairing them isolating every variable I could to pinpoint the problem, with no success. One or the other will respond to "Hey Siri" but not both. I have tried pushing the stereo sound through Airplay on iTunes and it works well except each HomePod still retains its own volume control so when you turn one down or up ONLY that one goes up or down, resulting in you having to turn down both at the same time to achieve balanced volume. It does work for airplay from Apple TV. On the last reset one of the HomePods displays that an update is available despite it reading 12.1 under settings having been updated for months. Our network consists of a Comcast modem wired into an Apple Base Station (fully updated) which broadcasts a Wifi Dual Band signal to my devices. I have even gone as far as reset my entire network and allowed for default Apple settings all the way from the router. I have called apple and they are escalating it to engineers, whatever that actually means. I literally have no more ideas as to what could even be the problem besides an error with the 12.1 update.

I have tried EVERYTHING. I have read many forums and still nothing that i have not tried to fix this problem. [TURINGTEST2] is the resident master on HomePods from what i can tell. If you can see this pleas help!