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I can't decide whether I like the sound from my HomePod or Apple TV plus $1000 soundbar. It depends on the music/voice track playing.
I will say podcasts come through very clearly, which means I won't have to wear headphones at home at all.

Collecting from the store this morning, I noticed a lot of questions from the staff member about why I was buying it. He also wanted me to test it out.
It's a very new product.
You paid $1,000 for a sound bar?!
 
I can't decide whether I like the sound from my HomePod or Apple TV plus $1000 soundbar. It depends on the music/voice track playing.
I will say podcasts come through very clearly, which means I won't have to wear headphones at home at all.

Collecting from the store this morning, I noticed a lot of questions from the staff member about why I was buying it. He also wanted me to test it out.
It's a very new product.

Does a soundbar separate the sound frequencies and spread them into a 360° sound stage like the HomePod does?
 
Does a soundbar separate the sound frequencies and spread them into a 360° sound stage like the HomePod does?

Why would sound bar did that? That's not how movies and recorded music are supposed to be listened. None of the sounds in real life originate like this.
 
Here’s a few early reviews from “real users”:

I'm quite happy with the HomePod.

- I switched between my soundbar*/Apple TV and HomePod playing a range of music and it's pretty comparable. Not as good but not too far behind.
When I can play from the sound bar and the HomePod at the same time that will be great.

-Vocal audio is exceptional- I have it on low in my home and it's very easy to understand. I usually have to use headphones to actually hear podcasts so that's a bonus.

-Podcast playback seems to have errors. I asked it to play a specific show and it actually announced the name correctly but playing a totally different podcast. Playing podcasts via airplay for the moment will be OK

-Saying "add milk to shopping list" worked fine. Siri control of my lights works perfectly. Siri can't read my emails, but can read my text messages.

*Yamaha 106 connected by HDMI
-dave


Just received my HomePod and loving the ease of setting it up.
I was surprised at how big and heavy it was which is great as it has a string sturdy build to it.
Siri works flawlessly and promptly when asking questions and the sound is so far fantastic.
Only been plugged in for you 5 minutes but worth the cost so far.
-Waz
 
Why doesn’t the black version have a box that’s representative of the product? It looks more like Space Gray, not that I would mind one in that shade.

...?

It is Space Gray.

Untitled.jpeg
 
I have a macbook pro that has all my music on it(Not bought from iTunes) once I set the HomePod up with my Mom's iPad(Since I am waiting for the 2018 iPad to come out) can I set it up to play the songs on my mac?
How is the response with Siri, like when you ask Siri questions such as how is the weather today, etc
 
In real life it looks black. It’s the darkest shade of the many shades of Space Grey.
How many shades of Space Gray?
/dontsay50dontsay50dontsay50dontsay50dontsay50dontsay50dontsay50dontsay50dontsay50dontsay50dontsay50dontsay50
/Knows the answer is 50:oops:

Hope you're enjoying. Question. Nilay at the Verge says to use it with the ATV, it has to be done through AirPlay and it has to be reset to AirPlay for the ATV after each time you stream Apple Music. Any truth to that?
 
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I got a feeling HomePod is going to be Magical like the first iPod & AirPods.
Don't forget the infamous Apple Hi-Fi Home Stereo for iPod! Hey, at least that was in stereo; if you want stereo in the HomePod, you're going to have to order two (2!) and wait for the software update..... wait for it... wait for it... wait for it...
 
I have a macbook pro that has all my music on it(Not bought from iTunes) once I set the HomePod up with my Mom's iPad(Since I am waiting for the 2018 iPad to come out) can I set it up to play the songs on my mac?

Apparently there are 2 ways:
  1. Airplay from your Mac to HP. No Siri control.
  2. Pay Apple for Match or AM and then Siri should be able to play any Matched music on your Mac.
 
Apple should launch in Australia a day later. Their homeland should not be the lastest in receiving their own products. It should be the first one.
Haha. If I was American I'd probably think the same actually.
 
Got mine, sounds great.

Definitely no Left/Right though - to settle a long running dispute :)

Running various sound check videos from youtube, anything sent to either channel alone is simply quieter.
 
Siri is dumb as a brick and it doesn't do Spotify. Apple music committed suicide many years ago with the purchase of beats and hasn't recovered. Sadly I am not interested.
 
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