Apple's Early Version of HomePod Stood Three Feet Tall and Packed Dozens of Speakers

[576316]

Or, you'd be looking at getting a couple of Sonos One's for around $400. If you really want to spend $700 you may as well get 3 or 4 of the Sonos speakers.

It's not about whether this is good, it's about whether it's priced to compete with similar 'more than good enough' or even possibly better speakers. And it's also about SIRI. It's easy to see that Alexa/Sonos is a better value and more useful option for most of the same situations that the homepod would be deployed. Even if the Homepod does sound marginally and subjectively 'better' it's not going to sound $150 better to most people's ears - yours, mine, or Phil Schiller's.

Why's that so hard to understand?

Depends. Like I said, if you're in the Apple ecosystem you're looking at HomePod. I've bought and returned a Sonos PLAY:1 and Sonos One. Returned them both because the software and services were trash.
[doublepost=1511357545][/doublepost]

$350 for a mono speaker ??

HomePod is not mono, but you can pair two of them for true L/R.

 

[RickInHouston]

Depends. Like I said, if you're in the Apple ecosystem you're looking at HomePod. I've bought and returned a Sonos PLAY:1 and Sonos One. Returned them both because the software and services were trash.
[doublepost=1511357545][/doublepost]

HomePod is not mono, but you can pair two of them for true L/R.

One could even say compared to Ok, Google and Amazon, Siri is trash!

Why back yourself into a corner? Why further entrench yourself into a garden without need? That's what I don't get.

 

[jadot]

Depends. Like I said, if you're in the Apple ecosystem you're looking at HomePod. I've bought and returned a Sonos PLAY:1 and Sonos One. Returned them both because the software and services were trash.
[doublepost=1511357545][/doublepost]

If you don't like Sonos/Alexa - you're not going to get anything out of Siri. Apple heave never been able to catch up with other personal assistants, probably because of the 'Walled Garden' approach they have on everything. Sure, they can spin out the 'we only make the best products' line all day long, but it's spin none-the-less. Other tech companies have achieved fantastic solutions and innovated past the things that Apple is still having problems with. Imagine if the iPhone had Google assistant instead of Siri. Imagine if Apple put it's resources into something other than Maps. Imagine if iCloud offered the same value and functionality as as office 365. Imagine if you didn't have to pay for your photo storage a la Google. Imagine if you could plug your Homepod Nano into your existing stereo system...

Why do you want to paint yourself into a corner? I don't get it?

 

[A MacBook lover]

Haha, most people don’t get it.

HomePod is a $350 speaker with $2000 quality sound.

Siri comes second, sound quality first.


Everyone doubted Airpods, yet they are arguably the best headphones around

 

[Lotusman]

Did you drive a fuel economical Jeep Wrangler 4x4 perhaps?

HA! No, the clue was in my member name... I do have a Wrangler though... 22mpg downhill with the wind behind it at altitude after a good waxing!
[doublepost=1511359844][/doublepost]

Haha, most people don’t get it.

HomePod is a $350 speaker with $2000 quality sound.

Siri comes second, sound quality first.


Everyone doubted Airpods, yet they are arguably the best headphones around

Sir/Ma'am... you are severely deluded or have been led horribly astray by someone with nefarious intent. $2k will place one squarely in audio heaven, and while hugely desirable for many reasons sound quality is not one of Airpods virtues in comparison to similarly priced offerings, even Beats review better and that's before you get into the likes of Sennheiser, B&W etc.
[doublepost=1511360144][/doublepost]

Make it portable!

That's not such a dumb statement! Power requirements aside, being able to carry it out onto the deck, have decent audio where other solutions are barely decent also and the added advantage of "Hey Siri, get me another beer" could be mighty handy!

 

[576316]

If you don't like Sonos/Alexa - you're not going to get anything out of Siri. Apple heave never been able to catch up with other personal assistants, probably because of the 'Walled Garden' approach they have on everything. Sure, they can spin out the 'we only make the best products' line all day long, but it's spin none-the-less. Other tech companies have achieved fantastic solutions and innovated past the things that Apple is still having problems with. Imagine if the iPhone had Google assistant instead of Siri. Imagine if Apple put it's resources into something other than Maps. Imagine if iCloud offered the same value and functionality as as office 365. Imagine if you didn't have to pay for your photo storage a la Google. Imagine if you could plug your Homepod Nano into your existing stereo system...

Why do you want to paint yourself into a corner? I don't get it?

Well, I only ever used Alexa for settings timers/requesting a radio station. Siri will do that for me. Integration with my Apple Music is what I'm looking for most. I trust Apple to produce a speaker that sounds better than competing products. Believe me, I am backing away from Apple. But for my music needs, I think the HomePod will best suit me.

 

[Burger Thing]

Those people aren't the target of the HomePod. The HomePod is targeted at the 99% of music lovers who want good quality sound in a convenient package that's simple to use.

Audiophiles are not part of that target market and will be much better served by their silly systems where they can nerd out and tell everyone how much better their music sounds in frequency ranges science has confirmed we can't hear anyways.

The person you quoted mentioned small bookshelf speakers. He isn’t talking about Audiophiles. In your continueous Black and White differentiation you keep missing the point. Either on purpose - or not.
[doublepost=1511364143][/doublepost]

Haha, most people don’t get it.

HomePod is a $350 speaker with $2000 quality sound.

Siri comes second, sound quality first.


Everyone doubted Airpods, yet they are arguably the best headphones around

Best in what, exactly? Sound quality? Convenience? Comfort? Compatibility? Can you please specify? Since you mentioned Sound quality above, I assume that is your reference. Then no, sorry to tell you, the AirPods are not the best headphones around. They are a good product nevertheless

 

[Uofmtiger]

Or, you'd be looking at getting a couple of Sonos One's for around $400. If you really want to spend $700 you may as well get 3 or 4 of the Sonos speakers.

It's not about whether this is good, it's about whether it's priced to compete with similar 'more than good enough' or even possibly better speakers. And it's also about SIRI. It's easy to see that Alexa/Sonos is a better value and more useful option for most of the same situations that the homepod would be deployed. Even if the Homepod does sound marginally and subjectively 'better' it's not going to sound $150 better to most people's ears - yours, mine, or Phil Schiller's.

Why's that so hard to understand?

Because it is short sited and doesn't state the fact that Apple sells tons of other devices and all of them are Siri compatible with one music service...Apple Music which now has over 30 million paying subscribers. Many people want to be able to use the music service they use all day and pay ~$10 a month for at home without needing to have their iPhone in hand. Alexa, Sonos, Google Home, etc.. can't do this.

Also, this will have Airplay 2 control, so if you have an AppleTV or your current Airplay device gets an update, you will have one other reason to prefer this to Alexa. Not to mention that Airplay 2 will be added to iOS and you will get multi-room audio from any app rather than being tied to Sonos app.

I own an Alexa and it is frustrating that I have to use it with Bluetooth to get access to Apple Music. I prefer Apple Music because it gives me Siri control from my iPhone, Watch, etc.

If the Sonos is good enough for you, then you should buy it. I have always preferred Airplay when I need to get my phone out and if I am tied into Alexa services, I just use a Dot to connect it to speakers I already own.

In short, I want a solution that can play Apple Music and can control Airplay. No one else has that feature.

 

[Regime2008]

Haha, most people don’t get it.

HomePod is a $350 speaker with $2000 quality sound.

Siri comes second, sound quality first.


Everyone doubted Airpods, yet they are arguably the best headphones around

Wait what?! Since when did Apple offer a product that was sold for a fraction of what it was worth?! Since when are airpods in the same category as quality?! How low are your expectations when it comes to sound quality?!

 

[Phonephreak]

Depends. Like I said, if you're in the Apple ecosystem you're looking at HomePod. I've bought and returned a Sonos PLAY:1 and Sonos One. Returned them both because the software and services were trash.
[doublepost=1511357545][/doublepost]

HomePod is not mono, but you can pair two of them for true L/R.

Yes but it’s not stereo
[doublepost=1511374774][/doublepost]

Haha, most people don’t get it.

HomePod is a $350 speaker with $2000 quality sound.

Siri comes second, sound quality first.


Everyone doubted Airpods, yet they are arguably the best headphones around

Better than $2000 speakers. Hahaha. No.....

 

[A MacBook lover]

Sir/Ma'am... you are severely deluded or have been led horribly astray by someone with nefarious intent. $2k will place one squarely in audio heaven, and while hugely desirable for many reasons sound quality is not one of Airpods virtues in comparison to similarly priced offerings, even Beats review better and that's before you get into the likes of Sennheiser, B&W etc.
[doublepost=1511360144][/doublepost]

Yes but it’s not stereo
Better than $2000 speakers. Hahaha. No.....

Calling someone delusional isn’t the best argument. Maybe explain your viewpoint rather than attack the person?

Anyways...

HomePod is a technological breakthrough.

Beamforming via phased arrays to control directivity is years ahead of mainstream home hifi (ie passive flat-baffle speakers).

Most manufacturers you could care to name haven't got the foggiest clue about engineering for controlled directivity which has manifold psychoacoustic benefits, let alone design advanced DSP to control it.

Only massively vertically-integrated R&D-heavy firms with huge economies of scale (eg Harman International, Bang & Olufsen) are even close to nailing beamforming technology for home audio. Not even hifi stalwarts like Focal or Dynaudio are anywhere close to that level of engineering expertise and manufacturing capability.

While we shouldn't assume Apple will knock it out of the park, one must also recognize that home hifi is largely woefully underengineered, with some companies not even using computer modeling to design their speakers(!!!). This is even more the case especially wrt directivity control, and passive flat-baffle speakers are pathetically antiquated compared to what apple has with the HomePod.

It will likely slaughter any bookshelf speaker below a $2k price

Apple is showing off their sound engineering chops, and really doing something special here.

The only other beam forming speaker on the market that you can currently buy is the BeoLab 90 from Bang & Olufsen. It costs $40,000 (yes, you read that correctly) because beamforming is THAT far ahead of normal HiFi speakers. For apple to release that tech at $350 is unprecedented, and almost unbelievable... like the original iPhone.


[doublepost=1511379006][/doublepost]

Best in what, exactly? Sound quality? Convenience? Comfort? Compatibility? Can you please specify? Since you mentioned Sound quality above, I assume that is your reference. Then no, sorry to tell you, the AirPods are not the best headphones around. They are a good product nevertheless

Totally agree with you. Probably the best ‘overall’ product, but not leading the market in any sense, besides convienice.
[doublepost=1511379078][/doublepost]

Wait what?! Since when did Apple offer a product that was sold for a fraction of what it was worth?! Since when are airpods in the same category as quality?! How low are your expectations when it comes to sound quality?!

AirPods were quite underpriced compared to other products on the market. It happened before, it will happen again.
[doublepost=1511379160][/doublepost]

 

[Phonephreak]

I'd much rather have a HomePod. Far greater utility with a wireless connection. And, most importantly, with a speaker and microphone array, there are loads of potential digital signal processing enhancements available. That's why the A10 is there, btw.

Dsp Modes just screws up the sound. IMO.
[doublepost=1511384874][/doublepost]

Calling someone delusional isn’t the best argument. Maybe explain your viewpoint rather than attack the person?

Anyways...

HomePod is a technological breakthrough.

Beamforming via phased arrays to control directivity is years ahead of mainstream home hifi (ie passive flat-baffle speakers).

Most manufacturers you could care to name haven't got the foggiest clue about engineering for controlled directivity which has manifold psychoacoustic benefits, let alone design advanced DSP to control it.

Only massively vertically-integrated R&D-heavy firms with huge economies of scale (eg Harman International, Bang & Olufsen) are even close to nailing beamforming technology for home audio. Not even hifi stalwarts like Focal or Dynaudio are anywhere close to that level of engineering expertise and manufacturing capability.

While we shouldn't assume Apple will knock it out of the park, one must also recognize that home hifi is largely woefully underengineered, with some companies not even using computer modeling to design their speakers(!!!). This is even more the case especially wrt directivity control, and passive flat-baffle speakers are pathetically antiquated compared to what apple has with the HomePod.

It will likely slaughter any bookshelf speaker below a $2k price

Apple is showing off their sound engineering chops, and really doing something special here.

The only other beam forming speaker on the market that you can currently buy is the BeoLab 90 from Bang & Olufsen. It costs $40,000 (yes, you read that correctly) because beamforming is THAT far ahead of normal HiFi speakers. For apple to release that tech at $350 is unprecedented, and almost unbelievable... like the original iPhone.


[doublepost=1511379006][/doublepost]
Totally agree with you. Probably the best ‘overall’ product, but not leading the market in any sense, besides convienice.
[doublepost=1511379078][/doublepost]

AirPods were quite underpriced compared to other products on the market. It happened before, it will happen again.
[doublepost=1511379160][/doublepost]

Explain how a small wireless speaker is going to destroy a $500 pair of speakers let alone a $2000 pair. Yes the HomePod may sound pretty damn good but to say it’s going to destroy a quality pair of speakers is silly.

 

[citysnaps]

Dsp Modes just screws up the sound. IMO.

Sure, I suppose it certainly can, if the implementation is poor.

Have you ever personally experienced adaptive beamforming and room characterization/calibration/equalization? If so, what specific system?

I don't view Apple's approach as a mode, something to turn on or off, or to fiddle with in order to to boost sonic "effects." Their technology is intrinsic to the proper operation of the system.

Having a engineering background in signal processing, beamforming and adaptive equalization and interference cancelling, I can't wait to purchase a HomePod. Would be sweet if Apple released an SDK for it, but that would be too good to be true. The potential is enormous.

 

[ctdonath]

HomePod is a $350 speaker with $2000 quality sound.
Siri comes second, sound quality first.

This.

Last few days I've been really wanting good speakers for my office, after seeing a Klipsch* bluetooth set for $150 - but didn't jump at them because I know the connectivity+UI will be...irritating. I'll pay more for an Apple product that makes the connection seamless, not annoying, and the usual "just works" and "better than it needs to be". Yes, there will be "better & cheaper" out there, but still won't have that Apple ecosystem symbiosis.

That Siri will be relentlessly present is a convenient bonus, but certainly not a selling point.

What I balk at is the combined $700 tag for a pair - unless I can be convinced that directional audio will really work that well.

(* - yes, I know Klipsch has seriously mixed reviews. Point was it reminded me I want good speakers.)
[doublepost=1511385891][/doublepost]

Better than $2000 speakers. Hahaha. No.....

If you are truly going to sit down and deeply listen to good music in a balanced listening space, and you are actually an audiophile, correct.

If you are going to add speaker(s) to an office/living/bed room for nice sound that's convenient to operate for casual listening, and don't want them dominating the room, HomePod wins.

Remember: cell phone cameras have pretty much destroyed the dedicated digital camera market. Yes a DSLR is, to the trained eye, superior to an embedded sensor smaller than a sugar cube - but is _good_enough_ and ALWAYS THERE, which together are better than a $2000 camera in most circumstances.

 

[Dahl]

Strange that Apple are pre-announcing products these days. Not just this but the iMac Pro and though not announced the promised new Mac Mini and Mac Pro.

In the past Apple would just develop the products and release them. This worked well with their hype-based marketing strategy.

Is this Tim’s strategy to stop the leaks - by leaking himself?

I think it works well to stop some people from going to Amazon or Google. I waited for Sonos to release smart speakers, but a native Apple product is probably going to be better.
[doublepost=1511386352][/doublepost]

It will never complete with the sales of something like the echo or google home. Homepod is at least $100 too high.



I will completely disagree. I think they are clearly going after Alexa/google home/Sonos with Alexa. At $350 it is very overpriced for what it is. If it is about music, you are better off connecting a pair of bookshelf speakers to an amazon dot.

But most people don't want speakers anymore. How many under 30 wants to have the traditional home stereo set up? The high-end stereo system is dead to the mainstream.

 

[A MacBook lover]

Dsp Modes just screws up the sound. IMO.
[doublepost=1511384874][/doublepost]
Explain how a small wireless speaker is going to destroy a $500 pair of speakers let alone a $2000 pair. Yes the HomePod may sound pretty damn good but to say it’s going to destroy a quality pair of speakers is silly.

Homepod isn’t wireless, it’s wired to the wall. Maybe you should do your homework.

 

[Regime2008]

I find it funny how some people are claiming it will sound better than $2000 speakers. If you head over to forums for audio gear, they seem to think otherwise... I don't think it will sound bad...but definitely not better than even speakers in its own price range.

https://www.head-fi.org/threads/apple-homepod.852063/

https://www.head-fi.org/threads/the-official-smart-speaker-discussion-and-review-thread.852103/

 

[A MacBook lover]

I find it funny how some people are claiming it will sound better than $2000 speakers. If you head over to forums for audio gear, they seem to think otherwise... I don't think it will sound bad...but definitely not better than even speakers in its own price range.

https://www.head-fi.org/threads/apple-homepod.852063/

https://www.head-fi.org/threads/the-official-smart-speaker-discussion-and-review-thread.852103/

We can all speculate, but time tells no lies. We will find out eventually.

Apple has the money (and track record) of knocking things out of the park, so I’ll side with Apple on this one.

 

[Regime2008]

Homepod isn’t wireless, it’s wired to the wall. Maybe you should do your homework.

Wireless as in no ability to hook it up via 3.5, optical, usb, coax, hdmi, etc... You know, some of the common connections in the sound quality realm...

 

[A MacBook lover]

Wireless as in no ability to hook it up via 3.5, optical, usb, hdmi, etc... You know, some of the common connections in the sound quality realm...

In the audiophile realm, you mean. With BT 5.0 the sound bandwidth is good enough for 99% of people.

(I was referring to it beig powered from the wall, btw)

 

[Regime2008]

In the audiophile realm, you mean. With BT 5.0 the sound bandwidth is good enough for 99% of people.

(I was referring to it beig powered from the wall, btw)

But does homepod come with Bluetooth streaming? IIRC it doesn't.

 

[A MacBook lover]

But does homepod come with Bluetooth streaming? IIRC it doesn't.

Of course it does! That would be a major oversight for a speaker to lack Bluetooth capability when every competitor has it as basic functionally.

 

[Regime2008]

Of course it does! That would be a major oversight for a speaker to lack Bluetooth capability when every competitor has it as basic functionally.

Hate to be the bearer of bad news...but you can't suggest someone to do their homework, when you haven't done yours'....It doesn't have bluetooth, which seems to be mentioned in every article about the homepod. It's a huge disadvantage as matter a fact...

 

[citysnaps]

Hate to be the bearer of bad news...but you can't suggest someone to do their homework, when you haven't done yours'....It doesn't have bluetooth, which seems to be mentioned in every article about the homepod. It's a huge disadvantage as matter a fact...

But HomePod does support Wi-Fi, with 802.11a, b, g, n, etc with MIMO for enhanced speed/connectivity. And, most importantly for Apple device connectivity, AirPlay 2.

Does Sonos support Bluetooth? Or does it have that same "huge disadvantage?"

 

[Phonephreak]

This.

Last few days I've been really wanting good speakers for my office, after seeing a Klipsch* bluetooth set for $150 - but didn't jump at them because I know the connectivity+UI will be...irritating. I'll pay more for an Apple product that makes the connection seamless, not annoying, and the usual "just works" and "better than it needs to be". Yes, there will be "better & cheaper" out there, but still won't have that Apple ecosystem symbiosis.

That Siri will be relentlessly present is a convenient bonus, but certainly not a selling point.

What I balk at is the combined $700 tag for a pair - unless I can be convinced that directional audio will really work that well.

(* - yes, I know Klipsch has seriously mixed reviews. Point was it reminded me I want good speakers.)
[doublepost=1511385891][/doublepost]

If you are truly going to sit down and deeply listen to good music in a balanced listening space, and you are actually an audiophile, correct.

If you are going to add speaker(s) to an office/living/bed room for nice sound that's convenient to operate for casual listening, and don't want them dominating the room, HomePod wins.

Remember: cell phone cameras have pretty much destroyed the dedicated digital camera market. Yes a DSLR is, to the trained eye, superior to an embedded sensor smaller than a sugar cube - but is _good_enough_ and ALWAYS THERE, which together are better than a $2000 camera in most circumstances.

Even for casual listening I doubt the HomePod would compete with a dedicated sound system. Listen. I’m not bashing the HomePod, I’m sure it will sound pretty good.