I have mix feeling listening to it now after updating to ios 11.3 I still feel the sound was better than before to my ears.
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Apple Releases New 11.3 Software for the HomePod
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I’m in the “happy with the bass as it is” camp, so reluctant to update.
Hopefully iOS 12 will bring an equaliser (I mean, it’s a speaker, so is that so much to ask?), but knowing Apple I won’t hold my breath...
For those who have updated, any other noticeable changes apart from the sound?
Hopefully iOS 12 will bring an equaliser (I mean, it’s a speaker, so is that so much to ask?), but knowing Apple I won’t hold my breath...
For those who have updated, any other noticeable changes apart from the sound?
I wasn’t getting the “uh huh” while using HomePod as a speaker for Apple TV. Stopped watching a show and it came back.
Ah, I see what they did. Siri doesn't acknowledge you if music is playing. The music just turns down so you already knows she's listening. If nothing is playing, she'll stay "uhuh" if you say Hey Siri and go quiet.
I listen to EDM and Pop and some ballads but for listening to EDM it feels a bit weird since the bass is tone down a bit now before it was more bass heavy for EDM and Pop songs. But listening to it now EDM sounds bit cleaner and detailed for me.
Yep, that seems to be the case.
Looking at your signature, you must feel like I do on update days. Too many devices!
Nope, just the sound is a bit changed to lower the bass a bit and the midrange sounds a bit cleaner for those who want sound quality over a fun sound signature.
The HomePod uses algorithms to equalize the sound in real time at any given moment in any given environment. It appears that Apple modified that analysis system to create an overall more accurate and cleaner sound. Saying that Apple decreased the “bass” is misleading at best.
Bass in general can be boomy(Some people may like the fact that it’s boomy but it’s far from accurate) in certain rooms because the sound system is not optimized for the room or the real-time audio optimizing algorithm is not functioning properly therefore causing much stronger and louder bass than should be present therefore overpowering the rest of the sound spectrum.
What Apple has done here should be appreciated for optimizing the Audio analyzing algorithms, not mocked.
Just because the average person likes “Boomy” inaccurate sound and bass doesn’t mean that that’s the sound profile Apple should set for the HomePod as the Signature Profile,
Now, I do agree that Apple should introduce an equalizer to OVERRIDE the built in audio analyzing system for these individuals that want inaccurate boomy sound regardless to avoid complaints.
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I see where you’re coming from. And believe me, though I am not an audiophile, I do value my audio equipment. And I hate the boomy Beats sound and music and much prefer Bower & Wilkins P5 and PX (both of which I own) to anything Beats or Bose have released. However, whilst a neutral profile works for headphones, my apartment is very close to a busy street, so much that the bass from the HomePods in the updated software are muffled by the white noise coming from the street.
It’s a shame because I loved how it sounded before in my apartment. We should have the option to override less so because of personal preferences, but to adapt to different settings of noise we have around. The bass “dissolves” too easily in the air...
The fact that they arbitrarily change something that people are accustomed to without any notice is what is wrong. They should reset the return period for all HomePod's so people that are unhappy about the new sound signature can return them.
Crossing my fingers that things will turn out for the better; in doing side-by-side tests with my old Sonos 1, that was one of things that stood out. At lower volumes (say 1/3 or less), while the Sonos's bottom end would drop out compared to the HomePod, the mid-range wasn't getting swallowed up by thick, thumping bass so actually sounded "clearer" but more localized.
Hoping this helps address that issue!
(Initial thoughts after updating) Much more balanced sound at lower levels; before the update, anything at 1/3 or lower let the bass overwhelm the sound but now the mids & highs are much more crisp and present. Happy with the change from here.
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I have a reference song that I test all audio with. I listened to Michael Jackson's Human Nature so often growing up because it was the only vinyl album I owned outside of my dad's collection. Every note, every background vocal and sound, the physical effect of the song on my skin, is burned into my brain.
I was a little disappointed when I first ran it on my HomePod because despite all the stellar audiophile reviews, my Harman Kardon reproduced it better. Wow, they fixed it. The bass is still there, it's still rich, but it's not overwhelming all the details in the song.
I was a little disappointed when I first ran it on my HomePod because despite all the stellar audiophile reviews, my Harman Kardon reproduced it better. Wow, they fixed it. The bass is still there, it's still rich, but it's not overwhelming all the details in the song.
So you prefer it now? The bass at lower volumes is bothering me. It’s almost inaudible compared to how it wa sbefore. At louder (higher) volumes, however, the sound is crispier and improved.
OK.....here is what I'm hearing.
There is a now a big difference if your streaming from iCloud or playing via Airplay.
Streaming has less bass.......Airplay is still solid with strong bass.
I played a couple of songs back to back via Airplay and then streaming.......don't understand it but the bass is significantly different between the two.
I like Airplay sound but dislike the new iCloud streaming sound.
There is a now a big difference if your streaming from iCloud or playing via Airplay.
Streaming has less bass.......Airplay is still solid with strong bass.
I played a couple of songs back to back via Airplay and then streaming.......don't understand it but the bass is significantly different between the two.
I like Airplay sound but dislike the new iCloud streaming sound.
By airplay do s it include Apple Music streaming form iPad? I always assumed it used the cloud.
[doublepost=1522370333][/doublepost]
OMG, you nailed it. There is a big difference between them.
I honestly can’t say that I personally hear a difference. A lot of you had me scared to update it, but after some people were making comparisons to before and after, and especially those that have two HomePods, I decided to do it, and I’m happy to say I still love it and am not worried about if there is a nuanced difference.
So I figured I ought to stop talking about the audio quality without giving myself a good couple hours to listen to a set.
I listen to a lot of progressive house and techno — genres that typically have a good deal of bass. But here’s the thing. A key to DJing is the ability to provide sufficient bass without overwhelming the other elements of the sound. Of course there will be those moments at a live performance where they truly lift the bass up, but that’s often not what the producer’s original intent was in the studio (I’m excluding the top 100 electro house tracks here). Listening to a 2-hour set by Eric Prydz, I’m hearing a high-quality, crisp sound with HomePod — the snare is kicking, FX are crisp, and that bass is there just when you want it (i.e., the drop), without drowning out the other elements of the track. My favorite part of HomePod is hearing little bits of songs I know by heart that I’d never heard before — and the new HomePod algorithm may even be expanding that effect.
Just thought I’d share my experiences with the music I like. I still think a simple equalizer would be a nice addition. We need not forget we’re all early adopters here and Apple will continue to dial the product in.
[doublepost=1522373466][/doublepost]This could be solved very elegantly: “Siri, turn up the bass!”
I listen to a lot of progressive house and techno — genres that typically have a good deal of bass. But here’s the thing. A key to DJing is the ability to provide sufficient bass without overwhelming the other elements of the sound. Of course there will be those moments at a live performance where they truly lift the bass up, but that’s often not what the producer’s original intent was in the studio (I’m excluding the top 100 electro house tracks here). Listening to a 2-hour set by Eric Prydz, I’m hearing a high-quality, crisp sound with HomePod — the snare is kicking, FX are crisp, and that bass is there just when you want it (i.e., the drop), without drowning out the other elements of the track. My favorite part of HomePod is hearing little bits of songs I know by heart that I’d never heard before — and the new HomePod algorithm may even be expanding that effect.
Just thought I’d share my experiences with the music I like. I still think a simple equalizer would be a nice addition. We need not forget we’re all early adopters here and Apple will continue to dial the product in.
[doublepost=1522373466][/doublepost]This could be solved very elegantly: “Siri, turn up the bass!”
