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

[itguy06]

I don't even like the Homepod but even I think this report is inaccurate. All the other reviews show clearly that the Homepod sounds better technically and perceptually.

Or all the reviewers want to stay on Apple's good graces and say glowing things so they get early access to Apple gear. It's happened before with various companies - give a mediocre or poor review and be the last to get the gear.

Consumers Reports actually buys the stuff they test so there is no incentive to increase any ratings. They tend to tell it like it is or they see it.

 

[outskirtsofinfinity]

What? Consumer Reports stille exists? My in-laws used to read it. The inlaws that always asked me to remove viruses from their Windows 95 machine every time we visited them, back in the 90s... You know the type.

 

[Mtmspa]

Being a musician, recording artist, producer etc that works in studios, with studio equipment like D.A.W.’s etc I have to say can’t fault my HomePod’s, purchased 5, 2 for my lounge for when stereo pairing is available, then one for gym, bedroom & kitchen, low the sound quality & live recordings are amazing in particular, even sound great when use as monitor speakers for D.A.W.

Nice to hear from someone that actually knows what they are talking about. A rarity on here.

 

[daveak]

I’m glad that there are sane people at CR who tested it with more demanding kind of music. Not that kind of music that Apple promotes. I couldn’t believe my eyes when I read words like mid range, treble and bass being boomy in an article about HomePod. Finally... You know, HomePod is fine if you like rap, hip-hop or something like that, but it’s definitely not great for music made with actual instruments.

You couldn't be more wrong.

 

[CJM]

I’ve seen a couple of reviews where they don’t like the sound - I think in both the HomePod wasn’t positioned 4-6 inches from a flat wall - I wonder if that has anything to do with it.

 

[CrystalQuest76]

Literally every review I’ve seen has been super positive. And somehow, anti Apple consumer reports has nothing but bad comments. Shocker.

Comments on Macrumors are always going to be overwhelmingly positive about apple products. It is a place for apple fans to gather. Please show some intelligence in your analysis.

 

[Feyl]

You couldn't be more wrong.

Please, elaborate.

 

[chucker23n1]

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.

You’re presupposing that Apple did so. That’s possible, but another explanation is that they simply haven’t gotten around to SiriKit music intents. Maybe they intended (sorry) to ship them by the time HomePod is out.

I wouldn’t at all be surprised if, by this year’s or next year’s WWDC, we’ll see music intents in SiriKit, powerful enough both for Spotify and for podcast apps like Overcast. They’ve been steadily adding intents, after all.

 

[nt5672]

Consumer Reports hates Apple anyway. Rag magazine at best.

Exactly, but given that Apple acquired Beats and Apple thinks Beats make the best headphones in the world, it would seem reasonable for the Home Pod to sound like this quote, "The bass was "boomy and overemphasized," while midrange tones were "somewhat hazy," and treble sounds were "underemphasized." In fact this quote seems to apply to every set of Apple ear buds I have owned. It would be nice to hear from someone that was not being paid by Apple or being paid by Apple competitors. I suspect the truth lies someplace between.

 

[CrystalQuest76]

In conflict with every other review thus far.
Maybe they're right and everyone else is wrong.

Check the financial motivation of all the professional reviewers that you are referring to. Consumer Reports has a long history of disconnecting financial interests from their reviews. That is why CR reviews are trusted by so many.

 

[gim]

Oh my, an Apple product is NOT the best in it‘s class?! This is outrageous, any reviewer who criticizes anything made by Apple is clearly biased, incompetent, and basically a pathological liar.

I don’t even care about CR‘s findings. I’m just embarrassed to be a part of this community when I read all your ignorant and pretentious comments.

 

[unplugme71]

Interesting, my HomePod sounds better and fills the room better than my Sonos Play 1 or Sonos Play 3.

It even sounds better than both my Play 1's in pair mode - although the Play 1's do fill the room slightly better with sound when in pair mode.

Room is 13' x 17' with 1 standard window size and a 5' wide opening into kitchen (for size reference).

 

[daveak]

Please, elaborate.

"but it’s definitely not great for music made with actual instruments."

That is wrong. Simple as that. https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/how-is-classical-music-on-homepod.2105343/ for more people who disagree.

 

[chrono1081]

I don't value Consumer Reports, they were constantly off back in the day when I worked at Circuit City and they would recommend the ********* of the **** (Bose over Kef for example when anyone hearing the two would instantly pick Kef).

 

[Keniutek]

I hope the bass is not the "beats bass". If it is... im out. Just like every beats cans (except solo 2), bassheads dream.

 

[chucker23n1]

Comments on Macrumors are always going to be overwhelmingly positive about apple products. It is a place for apple fans to gather. Please show some intelligence in your analysis.

You haven’t been on these forums very long, have you.

 

[Vasilioskn]

If you say “fake news” then you automatically lose credibility.

 

[daijholt]

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

So these guys are testing based entirely on subjective perception to the sound, while a reddit audiophile tested using scientific standard and cold hard figures.

Numbers don’t lie, so if the math says HomePod is better than a KES (which is always gonna be better than Sonos One or Home max), then I’m more inclined to believe the numbers over someone’s personal preference.

 

[DemonMF777]

This test was done in a special listening room, so the dsp done by HomePod is not taken into account. I bet it's way better in a normal unoptimised room.

I was thinking the same thing... It's not meant to be used in a special acoustic room, so the units DSP is probably working overtime & could even be affecting the sound negatively.

 

[Tubamajuba]

funny how CR is anti apple when they don't say an Apple product is the next best thing since slice bread

Funny how we’re supposed to give equal weight to an outlier compared to all the other reviewers that put the HomePod way ahead of all the other smart speakers in terms of sound quality. I’m not definitively accusing CR of being anti-Apple, but something smells weird about this.

 

[Rogifan]

So is Consumer Reports a proper audiophile publication?

 

[peteo]

Just here for the comments

Popcorn popped!

 

[boshii]

This is just one of many reviews. Not everybody has to have the same glowing review about a product because Apple made it. You don’t have to return your HomePod because Consumer Reports doesn’t like it.

 

[peteo]

Funny how we’re supposed to give equal weight to an outlier compared to all the other reviewers that put the HomePod way ahead of all the other smart speakers in terms of sound quality. I’m not definitively accusing CR of being anti-Apple, but something smells weird about this.

Yeah, I mean there's never any bias when a company fly's you out to review their products in a company controlled environment.

 

[Michael Goff]

Or all the reviewers want to stay on Apple's good graces and say glowing things so they get early access to Apple gear. It's happened before with various companies - give a mediocre or poor review and be the last to get the gear.

Consumers Reports actually buys the stuff they test so there is no incentive to increase any ratings. They tend to tell it like it is or they see it.

That explains the good reviews, bias. Anything other than quality, right? And CR are just the unbiased ones here...

Your bias is showing.