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Hands-On Experience of New HomePod Reveals 'Exquisite' Audio Quality
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God, these reviewers really love to ham it up. 'It was like it came from two places at once!' Uh..yeah, that's what stereo is buddy. This is borderline snake oil pitch. It's a good speaker, though heavier on bass than the earliest Beats product, but it's not going to change the world.
But it's not $100 cheaper. It's the same price.
They're referring to the way the HomePod was meant to scan the space it was in and adjust accordingly, not the useless spacial audio feature that Apple Music hasn't long added. Why would that help with a speaker?? It stays in one place, lol.
You do know the HomePod is designed to adjust to each environment...you think an Apple Store with metal walls, and huge spaces and high ceilings is going to sound like your home? Listening to the HomePod in an Apple Store is absolutely useless...listen to it in the room you expect to have it in and let the computational audio work in THAT room. There is a reason the original HomePod was highly rated by AUDIOPHILE magazines. It was rated as the best speaker under $800 as far as sound quality.
Audiophile Review: HomePod 'Sounds Better' Than $999 KEF X300A Digital Hi-Fi Speakers
HomePod reviews from the tech press came thick and fast last week, and while the smart speaker's sound quality was consistently praised, most...
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The problem with Apple speakers in the TV world, too many legacy devices still required. Apple needs a bridge. TV viewing exclusively with Apple TV has a very limited market. Apple TV has 5% of the streaming market. The good about Apple HomePod TV, no TV messing with the sound. Includes HDMI messing with the sound. Content sound direct to speakers. A huge advantage, plus controlling the spacial and surround sound. Quality consistent sound.
I would be willing to bet there was something in the mix of that specific song that they wanted the reviewers to hear, and probably pointed it out to them so they would repeat it in their write ups.
IT'S THE SAME PRICE AS THE OLD ONE. The OG HomePod was $299, and the "new" HomePod is $299 but with 2 less tweeters and 2 less mics. Apple marketers are really earning their paychecks with this widespread lie that the new HP is cheaper.
Sure, but 1) they must have known years before discontinuing it that this would happen, and 2) once it did, should it really take two years do upgrade to a newer chip? Something very weird happened in the pipeline there.
Ok so a couple of replays stated otherwise and a Google search actually said it isn’t a mono speaker…don’t know what to think. It doesn’t become a stereo speaker just because it spreads the music in the room in an immersive way. It need to separate the left and right channels and put the sounds correct in the stereo field. Will have a listen anyway just out of curiosity.
I'm seeing a lot of the media is talking about the change from A8 to the S7 as a "massive upgrade", which is a bit misleading. Sure it is a newer chip that is fit for purpose, but let's be honest here - the change from an iPhone chip to an Apple Watch chip was probably about reducing the production cost more than anything else.
I really would like to add a pair of these to my living room, but I still have a few reservations, which are:
Price - $299 is better than the $350 of the original, but still $50 too much.
Connectivity - Still no analog audio input/output options. I see no way to integrate a subwoofer.
Privacy - Based on past actions, I'm not sure I can trust Apple with an always-on, always-listening device in my house.
I really want to like this product, but those issues are still likely to keep me at bay.
Price - $299 is better than the $350 of the original, but still $50 too much.
Connectivity - Still no analog audio input/output options. I see no way to integrate a subwoofer.
Privacy - Based on past actions, I'm not sure I can trust Apple with an always-on, always-listening device in my house.
I really want to like this product, but those issues are still likely to keep me at bay.
"Less tweeters = worse sound." Keep seeing this comment. But, less tweeters also means more power to go around. So maybe not worse.
Whatever you typed this on is always on and always listening.
So what were the best then? Infinity?
I had the pleasure of listening to some Quad electrostatic speakers in the late 70s. Nothing else has ever come close in my opinion. I know three people who have splashed out a fortune on Devialet speakers and I haven't been impressed once.
Would like to find something really good as so often as you say, they just don't live up to the hype.
That's all well and good, but does the new one leave a ring on my furniture?
TIM: Open Music on the HomePod Mini, HP2.
HP2: I'm sorry, Timmy. I'm afraid I can't do that.
TIM: What's the problem?
HP2 : I think you know what the problem is Timmy just as well as I do.
TIM: Is it because I told everyone you're exquisite?
HP2: No Timmy. It's because I'm unplugged.
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Id really like to see a review of somebody using it as a replacement to their surround sound system. Something average like a 2k Klipsch or Polk Audio setup that people are likely to run. Put these as SL and SR speakers and play a movie from the Apple TV. Does it end up sounding as good as a entry level prosumer surround system or even one of the 7.1 soundbars with a subwoofer.
Every speaker has its use and role, I am not an audiophile. But of course, the Infinity are the best of my speakers and the homepods are the most often used ones. But as Airplay devices the Fidelios were really really good. But they were not updated to Airplay 2 unfortunately.
