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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.

CR has a financial motive as well. Just not the model you're referring to. A model that depends of click bait and selling some sort of financial packages. I'm also a paying member of CR, so I'm not biased. I have a financial interest in CRs work. But I have also seen them play their consumers and the media specifically. They are not saints and have a financial interest at stake too. They ARE selling a product.
 
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CR isn't worth even a glance anymore. They haven't been relevant in at least 5 years. I wish news outlets would stop giving them undeserved publicity. There are far better consumer reviews to be found in every corner of the internet nowadays.
 
Of all the negative reviews of the sound (and they're not negative reviews of the sound overall, more like criticisms), 1 remarked that there are zones where the sound is not quite right, 1 said that the midrange or upper tones were not "balanced." the other said that the placement of the HomePod can affect quality.

But all these reviews have been generally positive about the sound quality.
 
Yeah, I mean there's never any bias when a company fly's you out to review their products in a company controlled environment.
Since you brought this up, can you tell me which reviewers were flown out to Apple, and most importantly, which HomePod reviews were written based entirely on the reviewers’ impressions formed in Cupertino?
 
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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.

The way I see it, is you will have those who are partial to Apple because you are frequenting an Apple related website. I think having options is good with Sonos and the Google home Max, it creates competition and diversity. And I think in order for the HomePod to thrive, it’s nice for consumers to choose what works best for their home. Everybody has their own preference, but the HomePod really is a great sounding device regardless of how someone chooses to judge it.
 
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!

Personally, I have been consistent in my criticism of CR as being of little value after I subscribed with them for a period of time during which I was shopping for things they are traditionally good at reviewing - cars, appliances, mattresses, etc.. and found they were of little value.
 
I have heard the Google Max but unfortunately it was in a retail store which was not an ideal setting. I have yet to hear the Sonos or HomePod so I will keep my opinion comparing them all to myself at this time. However, for whatever reason it does appear that Consumer Reports has an issue with Apple. But whatever.
 
Nice to hear from someone that actually knows what they are talking about. A rarity on here.
I think what you meant to say is, "Nice to hear from someone who actually confirms my confirmation bias." ;) Nothing against @jamesdc , but you have no idea if he's really who he says he is. Even if he is 100% everything he says he is (and I have no reason to doubt he is), that does not mean his opinion of what sounds good is any more valid than your opinion or mine. James could have horrible taste in sound. He could be a mumble rap producer.:D Or a country music artist.:p

You've simply gravitated to something that reinforces your already held beliefs. We all (me included) do it from time to time. It's not a rarity on here.
 
"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.
I think that listening to classical music through Apple Music which, uses compressed quality, is not exactly a great idea in the first place. That’s like saying, “hey, let’s listen to the new Stones album on my stereo speaker iPhone”. It’s just wrong. People who actually love music will understand.
 
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.

That very well could be. I hope that is the case.

Thought, if that is the case, then Apple fans still are justified in their anger at Apple for releasing a product which is half-baked and unfinished.
 
I had to look up Allen St. John to see who he was.


And it turns out he’s an editor on Bike magazine. He also writes about sports and pop culture. That’s who I want testing audio equipment, a sports guy.
 
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I think that listening to classical music through Apple Music which, uses compressed quality, is not exactly a great idea in the first place. That’s like saying, “hey, let’s listen to the new Stones album on my stereo speaker iPhone”. It’s just wrong. People who actually love music will understand.

Read the classical thread. There are people streaming lossless over AirPlay. As for you comparison, ridiculous.
 
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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!

Personally, I have been consistent in my criticism of CR as being of little value after I subscribed with them for a period of time during which I was shopping for things they are traditionally good at reviewing - cars, appliances, mattresses, etc.. and found they were of little value.

Personally, I think people should go to specialized reviewers instead of the one size fits all CR.
 
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