Consumer Reports: Google Home Max and Sonos One Sound Better Than HomePod

[HobeSoundDarryl]

Can’t argue with you here. Do you work for CR haha. Just after reading that Bose sued them in the 70’s about a negative review on one of their speakers. I’m doubting Apple would do the same as CR has never lost a case

I don't work for CR. But they do tend to be a consumer review source I trust simply because they do what they do so differently than just about everyone else. No ads means that a Samsung or similar can't basically BUY favoritism. No ads also means there's nothing in it for them per "click bait" suggestions and similar.

Since they do sometimes rate Apple products best, it's hard to argue how stupid/crooked/biased/anti they are here and not do it there too.

Does that mean this is the defacto final world on HP vs. the other speakers? No, this is just one review to be considered against other reviews from other sources. Someone who uses reviews to help them think about purchases will typically consider a group of reviews and let them help them toward making their own decision.

I'm glad they exist. I wish there were more sources of objective reviews like them. Are they always right in all things? No- nobody can be. But they do their best and I generally find value in their reviews myself... whether they are crowning products from a favored company #1 or not.

 

[philipk]

Goofed

 

[craigmak]

Wait Boomy and Overemphasized bass is a bad thing? That’s how I like my music.

 

[scotth23]

Per my earlier response to the same reply, of course Apple used anechoic chambers to develop the HomePod, but they didn't design it to be listened to be
I would hazard a guess that Apple developed and tested the device in an anechoic chamber in order to test frequency response and perfect the beam forming etc... During the development they are controlling the calibration/output so they can surround the unit with microphones and check that the recorded outputs are matching the design specs etc... But to extrapolate that because very sensitive design and calibration was conducted in such an environment that the speaker should perform at its optimum in the same environment is quite a leap.

Why is it a leap to think that a speaker would perform poorly in the room it was designed in? I never said optimum performance. The argument by people on here is that the test put the HomePod at a disadvantage because it wasn't a regular room. But Apple didn't design or test or calibrate the HomePod in a regular room. They tested it and tuned it in an anechoic chamber.

People here are taking a real leap against this review because they think the speaker was ONLY designed to play in a problematic room and that it can ONLY perform to its best standards in a problematic room. That's an absurd expectation.

I would not believe that a speaker can only perform at it's best when it is making adjustments. If the speaker doesn't have to make any adjustments or minimal adjustments, wouldn't that be preferable? Wouldn't that be the purest, unaltered performance the speaker could give? Everyone assumes that the speaker can only work at it's best IF it's making adjustments. That's a large assumption and kind of a silly one.

 

[brofkand]

Consumer Reports takes no advertisements, and buys everything they review.

How many of the other reviewers of the HomePod actually bought their review unit?

 

[Michael Goff]

I have no bias. Hell, while I'm not in the Apple ecosystem anymore, I'm still a shareholder. I want them to succeed for my own financial gain.

But ask yourself this: When was the last time a reviewer gave a top tier manufacturer's product a failing grade or even discussed its significant shortcoming in a review. Happens all across reviews and publications.

I was just reading Motor Trend Online and they tested the large SUVs. The #2 pick was some Dodge. You know what one of the most unreliable vehicles are? Dodge. Yet it got #2 and no mention of crap reliability. Why? Cause they don't want to upset FCA by calling them out and lose either access to cars to test or advertising funds. CR has no such problem.

Everyone has bias: you, me, Jim down the street.

 

[MrGimper]

Watch this video with this guy doing a blind listening test. When he realizes that he has selected the Google Home Max over the HomePod he quickly tries to change what he meant. It's hilarious!

Wow, that's unbelievable.... he clearly says 3 is his choice. Then when others start offering their opinions he just agrees with them. Then when he takes the blindfold off and the other chap says you picked the Google, he says he picked 6 and the google was his second choice. Blatantly lying.

I don't have an axe to grind regarding the HomePod. I got 4x Sonos Play:1's in my house and I love them. I just find it ridiculous that so many people are saying CR are wrong just because they have a different opinion.

 

[prasand]

In regard to the chamber / room that's being used as proof of Apple's testing. That's not proof of anything. Apple had many rooms using for testing, and it's illogical to think that a room designed to prevent reflections would be used for testing reflections, it's possible though (as one can be testing to see how much sound is absorbed and not). But it's more probable that such a room was designed for testing frequencies, and they had a different room for testing reflections.


Anyway, that aside:

Perhaps, for the HomePod to be truly measured, 3rd party tests need to be more complete. The audiophile test was decent, but it was too limited.

First, the test should be taken in square or rectangular room with flat / straight walls. Second, the microphone should be placed various degrees in the full 360 degrees surrounding it, at various distances ... not just the front to side degrees of the HomePod (the audiophile tested only half of the HomePod when the HomePod also uses the back too). Third, those tests need to be done with the HomePod at various distances from the wall, and again at various distances away from the corner of a room (and the longer versus shorter wall if the room is rectangular, as the side firing sounds wouldn't reflect as well if the side-walls are further apart, etc). I think this would pretty much map its capabilities in any room.

However, that array of tests also needs to be done with different media conditions.

First, something that doesn't trigger EQ ... be it basic tones played at 100% volume, whitenoise or whatever. Second, a pre-set group of control songs, played at different volumes throughout the array of tests listed in the prior paragraph, directly played, and then also tested again using AirPlay with something other than Apple Music (perhaps Tidal).

If then one wants to do it in a realistic environment / room, it's cool to throw clothes on a floor, kick down a few walls, leave a naked girlfriend / wife on a bed, or whatever ... but the full array of tests would need to be done there too. So, if there's a half wall, etc. then that means there's more walls the HomePod to be tested against (HomePod should be tested at various distances from the wall opposite of the half-wall, and again at various distances from the half-wall itself, etc). --It would take much time to do it, but I think that would give us enough data to compare it to traditional speakers. And maybe throughout that the audio should be recorded with a binaural microphone or something sufficient, and allow the reviewers to purely listen to various speakers in their optimal positions using headphones. Perhaps, allowing there to be a comparison of pure subjective sound, not tainted by things like an amazing "no sweet spot" realization / experience.

Not saying this methodology is without flaws, or some things aren't pointlessly redundant, just trying to propose an approach to testing instead of arguing about which test was better or blah blah blah.

I welcome all that would tear this apart. Maybe someone would be willing to do it, if everyone helped define a test.

 

[_waylaid]

I wasn’t going to get a HomePod but after seeing only overwhelmingly positive reviews I decided to get one on day one. After living with it for a few days I have to wonder what music reviewers have been playing on it because in my experience anything with lots of guitars and vocals does sound a bit flat and muddy. Sparser audio sounds ace but then that’ll sound OK on anything.

For a speaker that is controlled by software it’s amazing (and annoying) that there are no user accessible controls to adjust the sound. I’d like to think Apple will improve the software to improve the mid range so that it doesn’t blur into a homogenous sound but they may think they’ve already hit it out the park reading those initial reviews.

Not sure what the spatial awareness stuff is adding (or subtracting) but it would be good to be able to hear it with it turned off so that it is just a dumb speaker.

For those instantly against what Consumer Reports says, Serenity Caldwell (pretty pro Apple you’ll know) also says some music sounds muddy on the HomePod.

More positive, Siri recognition over loud audio is stunning. If there’s any audio on my phone Siri never hears me, Echo never hears me, but the HomePod ...wow.

You know what Siri can do so don’t think the HonePod suddenly takes it to a new level but I can imagine a lot of work will go into improving Siri now it is available sans a screen.

 

[jmgregory1]

It really doesn't matter what CR says about anything Apple sells, as they are just not relevant in the same way they were back before the internet was a thing. I would bet if you looked at their readership base, it's skewed very heavily towards a 60+ year old audience - the same people who started with a subscription for CR back in the day.

And when CR has given Apple devices poor ratings, it's often using their subscription audience that kills the rating, which is not a true view of the overall user base, since again their readership is so skewed to a certain demographic.

Today, you can go buy a HomePod, take it home, set it up, use it and decide whether you think it sounds good and works for your particular scenario. It's no risk, and only costs you time and tying your money up for a short period of time if you decide to return it. And this is true for almost any device. Try it, keep it or return it - not sure why anyone would make a decision not to try something like this because CR says it doesn't sound good. If you have the option to go to an Apple store to listen to it, I can guarantee that it sounds good - even in a noisy store setting.

Of course that doesn't mean it will sound good in every home or work setting. My condo has 18' ceilings, brick walls, lots of windows and a open concept living room / dining room / kitchen that is 20' wide by 60' long and I'm pretty sure one HomePod will not be able to fill the space with great sound.

 

[Mrjoedot]

Smells like bias

 

[Aston441]

Of all the criticism I read of the HomePod, both before and after the release, sound quality was not one of them. Nobody seriously doubted this thing wasn't going to sound awesome for its size.

However, sound is physics, and other than having massive powerful amps and big speakers, the only way around the physical limitation of having a small speaker is by faking it with DSP and other tricks. The same tricks used by Sonos and everybody else.

I think the HomePod haters mainly hate the pickle Apple is putting them in, as fans. On one hand, they are Apply fans and want to own Apple hardware; if Apple makes a speaker they want that speaker. On the other hand, Apple has never been good with cloud or subscription services, so many many Apple fans subscribe to non-Apple services. By making the speaker only work with Apple's own music subscription service, they are forcing fans of Apple to choose between having Apple hardware or using the service they have been using and like.

Locking down the HomePod away from any third party services isn't just the walled-garden approach - it downright hostile. Imagine if tvOS only worked with iTunes and Apple refused to allow Netflix or Hulu, or if iOS only worked with Apple mail and refused to allow Gmail or Exchange. The same anger would come from Apple fans being forced to choose.

Agree a million percent. I listen to iTunes and iHeartRadio and Amazon Music on my many echos. Why would I give that up? Apple is idiot to cripple the HomePoo.

 

[lordofthereef]

The sad thing is a lot of people will not even try the product because they don't want to think for themselves, and prefer CR do their thinking for them.

Conversely, there are people that won't try any other product and never even considered it until Apple decided to enter the market. People do crazy things and make irrational and emotionally loaded decisions. I don't know that I would call that sad, personally. It's simply the human condition.

 

[62tele]

The sad thing is a lot of people will not even try the product because they don't want to think for themselves, and prefer CR do their thinking for them.

I don’t think so. Not many folks pay attention to consumer reports. Their methodology is not exactly cutting edge. Plus, folks who live in the Apple ecosystem pay even less attention to CR when it comes to technology.
I could care less what they think. CR is the missionary position in a 50 shades of Grey world.

 

[lordofthereef]

Of all the criticism I read of the HomePod, both before and after the release, sound quality was not one of them. Nobody seriously doubted this thing wasn't going to sound awesome for its size.

However, sound is physics, and other than having massive powerful amps and big speakers, the only way around the physical limitation of having a small speaker is by faking it with DSP and other tricks. The same tricks used by Sonos and everybody else.

I think the HomePod haters mainly hate the pickle Apple is putting them in, as fans. On one hand, they are Apply fans and want to own Apple hardware; if Apple makes a speaker they want that speaker. On the other hand, Apple has never been good with cloud or subscription services, so many many Apple fans subscribe to non-Apple services. By making the speaker only work with Apple's own music subscription service, they are forcing fans of Apple to choose between having Apple hardware or using the service they have been using and like.

Locking down the HomePod away from any third party services isn't just the walled-garden approach - it downright hostile. Imagine if tvOS only worked with iTunes and Apple refused to allow Netflix or Hulu, or if iOS only worked with Apple mail and refused to allow Gmail or Exchange. The same anger would come from Apple fans being forced to choose.

I have the same complaint about Apple Watch music streaming. I refuse to sign up for iTunes music, not because I think it's worse than google music, but because I feel Apple is straddling me into itnso that I might stream on my Apple Watch. Been with google music for ages when they locked in an introductory price, too.

 

[skids929]

There is no scientific measurement to how good/bad a speaker sounds. Article stinks, glad I cancelled my CS subscription.

 

[MrGimper]

I don’t think so. Not many folks pay attention to consumer reports. Their methodology is not exactly cutting edge. Plus, folks who live in the Apple ecosystem pay even less attention to CR when it comes to technology.
I could care less what they think. CR is the missionary position in a 50 shades of Grey world.

Yup, why believe CR when iJustine with her norks out is obviously a more credible bet

 

[cfurlin]

Thankfully how good something sounds is subjective so no need to pay any attention to Consumer Reports.

 

[Baymowe335]

You lose credibility when you use terms like “actual instruments”. First, anything can be an instrument. Second, a lot of hip-hop is made using “actual instruments”. Sometimes they’re live recordings. Sometimes they’re samples of recorded instruments or samples of individual notes.

Lol, hip hop today is the most processed, computerized beat driven music ever made. You have to be kidding me. And no, not anything can be an instrument.

 

[MrGimper]

Thankfully how good something sounds is subjective so no need to pay any attention to Consumer Reports.

Or all the other reviews.....
[doublepost=1518482325][/doublepost]

Lol, hip hop today is the most processed, computerized beat driven music ever made. You have to be kidding me. And no, not anything can be an instrument.

What? Drake doesn’t naturally sound like he’s singing thru a tissue-covered comb?

 

[prasand]

Yup, why believe CR when iJustine with her norks out is obviously a more credible bet

The CR report is as valid as Justine's would be, the first is merely disguised to be fair to those not knowledgeable enough to see the limits. If I'm going to listen to biased perspectives, I'd prefer the eye-candy. So, take the CR report as gospel if you'd like, I'll be over there *points to the left-wing* smiling at Justine.

 

[Wash08]

Consumer Reports has conducted some early audio testing of the HomePod, and while the full evaluation isn't yet finished, the site believes that both the $400 Google Home Max and the $200 Sonos One sound better than Apple's new $349 smart speaker.

The HomePod received a "Very Good" sound quality rating, as did the Sonos One and the Google Home Max, but the latter two speakers also received higher overall sound quality scores.

Consumer Reports says that its speaker tests are conducted in a dedicated listening room, with experienced testers who compare each model with "high-quality reference speakers." In the case of the HomePod, testers found a few issues.

The bass was "boomy and overemphasized," while midrange tones were "somewhat hazy," and treble sounds were "underemphasized." Overall, Consumer Reports found the HomePod's sound to be "a bit muddy" when played next to the Sonos One and the Google Home Max.All three smart speakers "fall significantly short" of other wireless speakers Consumer Reports has tested, like the Edifier S1000DB, priced at $350.

The HomePod's sound has been highly praised both by new HomePod owners and by media sites that tested the device ahead of its release. While Consumer Reports doesn't believe the HomePod outshines the Google Home Max and the Sonos One, other reviews have disagreed, including an extensive, in-depth review published by a self-professed audiophile earlier this morning.

Article Link: Consumer Reports: Google Home Max and Sonos One Sound Better Than HomePod

coming from CR that loves Toyotas and any thing bland, I trust my cat’s opinion more

 

[falainber]

The CR report is as valid as Justine's would be, the first is merely disguised to be fair to those not knowledgeable enough to see the limits. If I'm going to listen to biased perspectives, I'd prefer the eye-candy. So, take the CR report as gospel if you'd like, I'll be over there *points to the left-wing* smiling at Justine.

Only Apple and their fans think that CR is biased. Being biased does not pay CR. Once people start perceiving CR as biased they will stop buying their products.

 

[Tech198]

Mixed reviews still.

I think people think CR reports biased because they may not do true testing that the experts do... They only do *in this case an iPhone test*.

Any audio experienced type guru would do better testing when speakers are given doens't matter weather its a Hi-Fi, or a Homepod,,,, It still has a speaker in.

I gotta favor Audiophile.. Consumer reports do not test via special equipment, therefor would scew results anyway..

It may be ok for most people, but its definitely no expert test.

 

[ActionableMango]

This is totally funny. Just a few months ago CR issued a report that was negative to the Microsoft Surface line in comparison to Macbooks, and 99% of the posts were praising CR. Now when they say something against Apple 99% of the posts bash CR.

So much objectivity!

One really important competitive feature of the HomePod is that it analyses the listening environment and corrects for it. If you put it in a perfectly neutral environment, it loses its competitive advantage. This is an unrealistic test environment. Their result is not going to be what anyone should expect unless they live in a sound deadening chamber, which is probably why everyone else is saying the opposite of what CR is saying.

Also, remember the Apple MacBook battery life drama when CR yanked it off the recommended list, an action which hit all the tech websites? Well they had Safari in developer mode. The battery life bug was only in developer mode, and only existed in one specific point version of Safari. CR didn't question that battery life was fine when not in developer mode. They didn't question that battery life was fine in developer mode in all previous versions of Safari. They didn't bother to ask Apple why there is a huge discrepancy. They simply went for the headlines and everyone thought Apple MacBook battery life sucked. But normal people in real life use cases didn't experience the abysmal battery life claimed by CR, because normal people do not use Safari in developer mode, and even developers who do use developer mode would have only been hit by that bug in that one specific version.

So twice Apple was slammed for something that was due to an unrealistic test that was engineered, run, and interpreted by CR staff, who seem to ignore glaring problems with their own tests.

In contrast, the CR report on the MS Surface reliability is based on survey results of real-world MS Surface owners, not an artificial test designed by CR staff.

 

[The Game 161]

Mixed reviews still

Not really, most reviews have said it's the best sound you will find on any smart speaker.