not sure about ancient it may work better for that setup. but so far with sonos you can change the sound you can't do that with the homepod.
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Consumer Reports: Google Home Max and Sonos One Sound Better Than HomePod
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Well Apple says you don't have to do that. Honestly Sonos didn't sound any different with tuning.
Dunno, how about "easier" ?
It may take a few extra steps, but the Sonos setup process isn't exactly rocket science.
Indeed, simple is limiting. But I think it's a divergence of preference, some want simplicity, some want customizability. I think the HomePod would benefit greatly from some ability to cater it to the customer's bias, but I understand why Apple chose not to. I just think they're limiting the potential by not doing it. They don't have to do a complicated EQ, they could do something simple like B&O (not just because I am a biased B&O user, lol. It's not complex: click here).
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CR is unbiased and NOT beholden to advertisers. However, I did read the semi-review which clearly states the Apple sound good but not as good as others. It's just an opinion.
Sorry. I don't get it.
Watching this guy break the HomePod into tiny pieces, banging on it like an orangutan, and offering absolutely no real information convinced you to return yours?
How can you even take this guy seriously when he wonders if the speaker will still work after he crudely removes the outer fabric cover... Seriously. This guy is a knucklehead. He asked questions like -- Are these the speakers or some kind of sensors? Is this speaker even have a magnet?
There is no way you could have learned something of value from this video, other than the fact that our society is getting dumber by the minute... I mean, who evaluates the quality of a speaker with a hatchet and a Dremel tool?
I agree my wife heard her first B&o bluetooth speaker and bought one. I think she will get rid of the homepod because it is easier for her to sue that over the homepod. mainly listening to nextflix and podcasts and such and music on the stereo's we have. if homepod could access more music services directly it would be much better for her.
I bought my first Mac in 1986 after a glowing CR review. And have now had Apple products for 32 years. Wonder how CR corporately got off the rails? They’ve started making it their mission to trash Apple.
Well even I trash Siri but that’s a different story.
Well even I trash Siri but that’s a different story.
Yes, that's exactly right.
It looks like you enjoy the publication and I'm happy for you. In fact, I decided to take a second look after reading your comments. I don't think they are as unbiased as you seem to believe, but I noticed some improvements.
First, it actually looks like they are trying out a donation-based business model, similar to NPR. Check it out. Access to ALL reviews is now free, apparently. Not sure if it's a permanent change or just a temporary thing.
Their reviews are always shallow in my opinion. HopePod is no exception. Again, look at that room with all the speakers. How are the "experts" scoring the sound quality and what qualifications do they have to make an objective judgement? Maybe great, but we don't know because they don't tell us.
Plus, they adjust the sound manual on all other compatible test items. Apple does it automatically. So, what are the acoustic properties of the test room. HomePod is programmed to work best in a natural home setting. Again, we don't know because they don't really tell us. They are testing Apple's truly smart speaker -- meaning it actually uses technology to create a sound stage -- against "dumb" smart speakers which are tuned manually.
Perception of sound is very subjective anyway. I take all reviews with a grain of salt. I love the sound quality of the HomePod. It sounds amazing to my ears. Tried others, none sounded as good. Pretty basic. Buy what makes you happy
Obviously. Shrewd money move for him, but still a poor source of information for his audience.
This review about the sound quality goes counter cycle from anyone else I’ve read.
There maybe several reasons without going on a bad faith road.
1. They could have gotten a Lemmon.
2. The HomePod could have simply not adapted it self right to the room conditions.
3. It could actually be not has good in such controlled environments.
There maybe several reasons without going on a bad faith road.
1. They could have gotten a Lemmon.
2. The HomePod could have simply not adapted it self right to the room conditions.
3. It could actually be not has good in such controlled environments.
Though I am strictly an Apple Music user, I hope that by this year's WWDC Apple opens up the HomePod a bit ... or more specifically Siri, so developers can expand its capabilities. But if a media domain is implemented in SiriKit, it'll probably be dependent upon the developer's iPhone or iPad app (not locally installable on the HomePod).
Which I think for most users would be fine. Though I imagine some people will still complain about not being able to install apps directly on the HomePod, lol.
WWDC is a few months away, so it makes sense to return it, and only buy it again if SiriKit is opened up by the summer. Personally I'll keep mine and wait, because unfortunately in my apartment Bluetooth devices are an issue with neighbors always trying to connect to them (I can't leave them on, so I have to always turn them completely off or disconnect the power, which sucks). So AirPlay being able to be restricted to allow only connections from people on the same network, is beneficial.
two items here:
1) Apple through the years has changed. Different management and differing goals. Consider Toyota trucks of the mid 1980s. Things have changed today 2017. Toyota's quality levels now represent more of what the general automotive market is maintaining. Toyota still have a nice product and value just not exceptional situation. Apple is changing too; you can no longer blindly buy a product from them and assume it will work as expected. As consumer electronics become more reliable Apple still suggests you buy Apple Care. Apple marketing consistently gets caught in a lie and is known to not to always represent the long term customers best interests. Organizations such as Consumer Reports and even the US court system are the new limits to Apple Inc marketing.
2) Siri is not reliable, has never been useful. Yet it is totally integrated into the homePad unit. there is a lot of marketing push on forums like this. All good but where will the unit you buy today be in a year.
I preferred the HP over any Sonos I've heard including the 5. For the money the HomePod is superb if you use Apple Music. Best sound I've heard from any Sonos is using the bridge or connect to a proper amp and speakers!
But I confess I have had many painful experiences with Sonos's software, buggy updates and dropping it's wifi at crucial times with clients systems. Every single one has ended up wired via ethernet with the IP addresses for each speaker reserved on the router!
But I confess I have had many painful experiences with Sonos's software, buggy updates and dropping it's wifi at crucial times with clients systems. Every single one has ended up wired via ethernet with the IP addresses for each speaker reserved on the router!
I think that would qualify as a middling review even if it wasn't really the opinion of Pogue himself.
I knew of that review and read excerpts, but not the whole review. Looks good.
I remain interested in HomePod, but after swimming through lots of reviews, it's become pretty clear to me that like all other audio experiences, there aren't many shortcuts you can take to figure out if "audiophile quality" means that it's something I'll enjoy enough that it'll be worth the money and also be a big enough step up from my current combo of DAC + bookshelf speakers.
Apple's tuning of the sound on the 2016 reboot of the MBP line is what has me intrigued by their HomePod offering. If they can work magic on that tiny thing, what might they be able to do with a more proper audio chamber? I'm simply stunned at how good the sound is coming out of that flat and unforgiving MBP enclosure.
There are definitely many effusive (and some may say over the top) evaluations of HomePod, which is going to make the people who don't seem overly impressed stand out ten times more than they otherwise would. Most of them aren't cranks with an agenda. They just seem louder than they really are because they're not joining in the chorus.
You’re saying a person should buy 700$ worth of HomePod or the comparison to a 400$ single speaker isn’t fair. That’s ridiculous.
Interesting that Sonos founder and former CEO John MacFarlane rated the HP as handily beating a single Sonos One, but not as good a pair of Sonos Ones.
http://bgr.com/2018/02/12/apple-homepod-review-from-sonos-founder/
http://bgr.com/2018/02/12/apple-homepod-review-from-sonos-founder/
There are a LOT of other Reviews that have used a VERY wide-range of music. In fact, some of the highest-marks for the HomePod were on its handling of NON-Pop-Type music.
But .......he said TWO Sonos ONEs in a stereo pair were better than a Homepod, for the same price.
A clever bit of marketing to increase sales
Guess I shouldn't be surprised that someone named "cocky jeremy" didn't bother to check the actual review before leaving a comment.
"consumer reports has nothing but bad comments"
Bad comments such as "The HomePod is one of the best-sounding smart speakers we've tested" and "We find the HomePod doesn't sound strained even when you turn up the volume", right?
They're not knocking the product directly - just saying that other products (including the more expensive Google Home Max) sound better.