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Consumer Reports: Google Home Max and Sonos One Sound Better Than HomePod
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I don’t understand that argument. Why would anyone want to listen to low-res music? I’m not an audiophile but I still want to listen to my music in the best quality hi-res sound. We’ve had this with LPs and CDs for decades. iTunes low-res compressed sound quality is taking us backwards. There is absolutely nothing to stop Apple offering hi-res music options in iTunes.
Does one really need "All about that Bass" or "Stupid Hoe" in high-res?
I mean not everyone is into The Beatles(Mono).
In general I trust aggregate and/or statistical data above empirical data, but I lost all faith in CR after personally trusting several of their recommendations and discovering that my experiences were exactly (even dramatically) the opposite. It just happened too many times for me to discount. Probably the most glaring example being Goodyear triple-tread (IIRC) tires which weren't simply not very good at several of the things for which CR rated them highly, but which also wore-out completely in something utterly absurd like 20k miles. That was the last straw. I canceled my subscription and won't be going back. I have the suspicion that they simply don't do anywhere close to as good a job testing products as they claim to...
*shrug* maybe you're one of those people that brake hard on every stop. W/o evidence, you're just a single data point. I trust CR far more.
Sort of like claiming a blue car is better than a red one. Does not apply. Disingenuous post. To each their own. Sound is subjective.
I've owned enough hifi gear to know a thing or two, and I have had people tell me their audio system sounds great and they were very proud, yet in all honestly it sounded like crap. Who is right and who is wrong? It did sound great... to them. Who am I to judge? My system sounds great to me, and cost fair amount of money, but to the next guy it may sound horrible.
Sticks and stones my man. Didn't you hear that from your parents growing up? If my analogy bothers you, you'd better find a nice closet and hide now. Trust me.
I could spend the same amount of money on two amazing floor speakers that provide true stereo sound with true separation and get so much more sound quality. I'm not telling you how to spend your money, but... yeah.
It removes the most likely motivation to be biased. It is possible - but unlikely - the reviewer's son works for Sonos.
I'm seriously asking, which speakers do you recommend for $350 and what are the lowest priced floor standing (tower speakers) you recommend? Thanks.
Tried it. Way over rated. Doesn’t really get much louder then my TV speakers. And the problem is that the AppleTV doesn’t default back to the HomePod if someone starts to stream something to the HomePod from any other device.
I think both of these will be fixed with a software update - they seem too obvious for them to ignore for very long.
Interesting article pointing out that you should listen for yourself (and talks about the first Apple guided reviews):
HomePod listening tests reveal the grimy truth about audio reviews
HomePod listening tests reveal the grimy truth about audio reviews
There may be something wrong with yours - not loud enough is the last phrase I would use to describe the HomePod
CR is a brand you can trust as you know their opinion is unbiased. There are only very few reviewers of Apple products who are wholly independent and not kept on a tight leash by Apple's PR dept. You saw what happened the last time CR stood up and called Apple out against the tide of the Apple PR machine. If CR says the Home Pod sound is terrible then we can safely believe them regardless of what others say.
And a skewed/wrong one.
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Most ridiculous post in this entire thread.
My parents taught me to point out absurdities when I see them. Instead of pointing out why you thought that my criticism of your analogy wasn't justified, you tell me to hide. I'd be willing to compare my accomplishments helping cancer patients over four decades to whatever it is you've done. But don't worry — my next action will be to block you, so you needn't bother.
Biased in what way?
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While I couldn't call it a failure as the quality is pretty sweet, I'm gonna have to agree that it's not that loud. It matches my TV speakers in loudness (but obviously at a significantly better quality). Though being as loud as TV speakers isn't saying much.
Except TV's speakers you can't really use them loud because of the distorsion and well they sound horrendous. And my Tv certainly doesn't sound as loud as the Homepod (2012 Samsung plasma) and it has in general a decent sound when not at a high volume (but not great).
they certainly aren't unbiased at all..their embarrassment with the MacBook Pro says it all.
So you only believe and accept reviews that are conducted in room settings similar to your living space or work space where your smart speaker would reside?
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I agree. I revisited a HomePod at BestBuy yesterday. Siri actually worked pretty well, but the sound is not any better than other smart speakers I have heard. Better than some, worse than others. I am sure it will fit nicely into the eco-system thing, but other than that, nothing stands out.
I listened to both tracks with my HD558 headphones.
Two points.
1. I hate you.
2 The "bass" is monotonic, and not terribly low frequency.