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Apple Releases New 11.3 Software for the HomePod
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Just turned off automatic updates on mine - I like the sound profile the way it is now. In fact because of the size of the room it’s in, I kinda which I could push the bass a little higher not lower. I really do think there needs to be an eq that can be set, with a reset button to put it back to factory eq.
Yet I’m still stuck on ‘downloading...’. There should be a progress bar so I could at least see if it was actually doing something.
Pretty sure there is more cowbell on Don't Fear the Reaper with 11.3
I started remotely but got home in the mean time. Still downloading. Guess it will get done eventually. No clue how to force it
Yup it does sound different. I am going to have to listen to a few more things but my first impression is less bass and louder mid-range. The volume at peak also seems a little less.
EDIT Perhaps Apple need to actually tell us what they did if they changed the sound profile. I can see some yahoo suing them for changing the sound post sale.
EDIT Perhaps Apple need to actually tell us what they did if they changed the sound profile. I can see some yahoo suing them for changing the sound post sale.
Good call on that; I just turned that off.
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Less muffled mid-range is good; definitely with some types of music at lower volume the bass gets a bit overwhelming. A bit hesitant to update but maybe it'd be for the better.
I'm not calling anyone a yahoo, but I can easily see that suit happening. Our society is litigious. I will giggle a bit if it does happen since it would have been avoided with a notification beforehand.
Yup someone who goes into a store and compares Sonos sounds against the HomePod chooses the Apple product and now the sound is changed on them post sale. That customer would have bought a Sonos if the sound profile is like the new one with this update.
Some lawyer is drafting a suit now.
Huh, one of the reasons I returned mine was too much bass. 
My takeaway is they should probably give user more control over the bass.
My takeaway is they should probably give user more control over the bass.
Huh, one of the reasons I returned mine was too much bass.
My takeaway is they should probably give user more control over the bass.
100% agree on the user control - as I found the bass a little underwhelming at times
If I hadn’t read the forums, I wouldn’t have noticed anything different. That said, perhaps there’s a tiny bit less bass and a tad more crispness with vocals/effects. I think Apple is making some minor adjustments. I wouldn’t be surprised if they already have a simple EQ widget cooking for release with audioOS 12. Most won’t touch it, but the adjustability will satisfy some folks.
At the end of it, I bought two HomePods because I enjoy the utter simplicity of these things — plug ‘em in and listen away. The one in the back adjusted itself to refract sound of the wall behind it; the one in the front is placed more centrally and distributes sound 360. It’s nice that I didn’t have to do anything to make this happen.
Apple products — and by extension HomePod — are designed to satisfy the masses, and most will think HomePod sounds great before and after the 11.3 update. There are many other devices out there with more tweak-ability, but nothing as simple to use.
At the end of it, I bought two HomePods because I enjoy the utter simplicity of these things — plug ‘em in and listen away. The one in the back adjusted itself to refract sound of the wall behind it; the one in the front is placed more centrally and distributes sound 360. It’s nice that I didn’t have to do anything to make this happen.
Apple products — and by extension HomePod — are designed to satisfy the masses, and most will think HomePod sounds great before and after the 11.3 update. There are many other devices out there with more tweak-ability, but nothing as simple to use.
Couldn't agree more. Have 2 HomePods and don't notice any difference with both of them playing. Very happy with the sound, even with streaming to both of them at once through iTunes..
I should add — if there’s significant push-back on any changes in audio output (incl. via emails to Tim), Apple will likely tweak again and/or offer some level of user customizabity.
Wouldn’t it be funny tho if they changed nothing and this is all placebo? (I do hear a small change myself.)
Updating now. Interested in hearing what people who love/hate the new sound are listening to? I don’t listen to anything too heavy (jazz, light rock/pop, funk, folk etc), so I feel as though this might help the sound for me. I always found the bass slightly high and mids too low.
I've had it playing essentially since the 10am update and I think it sounds better. The vocals are definitely more on top of the bass whereas before I thought it was bass heavy at times. I'm not listening to anything out of the ordinary. . . whatever Siri happens to throw on from "my radio" Currently it's Mumford and Sons - I Will Wait. . . before that it was some new Weezer (off of the Pacific Daydream album). . . it all sounds really really good.
Edit: Now it's playing Macklemore - Thrift Shop (yay Seattle) It sounds fantastic. Whatever Apple did is ok with me.
This is very interesting that you guys are reporting the sound signature changed, I remotely updated my HomePod from work as well today and I look forward to going home to test out the sound. The bass was a tad bit on the boomy side so I do appreciate Apple lowering the bass output internally(if that’s actually what they did)
Mine doesn't say anything. She used to say "uhuh?" and I liked that. From a distance, I knew that she was listening, even if I couldn't see the Siri cloud on the device itself.