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Hands-On With Apple's Second-Generation HomePod
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Unlike Windows XP this ships with a software firewall that’s enabled by default. We don’t have to wait until SP 2 ….
He’s honestly not a very good content creator in general..
His are the only YouTube creations I can stomach, frankly. They don't try to be more than they are. "I got some stuff, here's that stuff, I'll play with it a bit so you see it out of the box but then be back in a month to tell you how I feel about it." That's enough for me.
He's excellent. And far far better than the others who are super-animated and over-energetic to get clicks and eyeballs.
They could sound better, sure, but how much more would you want to pay? For the price they are a great value.
Highs and detail aren't that great, but the bass compares favorably with my av system that cost more than a order of magnitude more.
They are airplay, not bluetooth speakers.
Not if you care about the sound. In that price range it is an excellent performer.
Source?
Depends on the speaker.
"GoldenEar speakers will sound great right out of the box, but be prepared for some further improvements during the first 100 hours of playing time. Although there is nothing “breaking in”, critical listeners all agree that during the first 100 hours of use there are audible changes and subtle improvements in sound quality in any high-performance speaker system."
FAQs | GoldenEar
FAQs What makes a good speaker golden? Everyone already owns a pair of golden ears. Why should anyone buy a pair of ours? Although GoldenEar loudspeakers are often praised for their unrivaled combination of performance and value, we believe there are many deeper and more significant reasons for...
www.goldenear.com
"Definitive Technology estimates a break-in period of 24 to 48 hours of playback before the speakers will deliver optimum sound quality."
[Comments based upon my v1 Homepods]
Does Apple have a trade-in program for these?
Edit: Answer is “no”. But they will recycle the old one.
Edit: Answer is “no”. But they will recycle the old one.
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Inflation is partly due to mass psychology. If everyone expects prices to rise, and accepts that they do, then prices will just keep on rising, faster and faster.
Also, the inflation numbers for personal electronics are probably way lower than for food, rent, cars, etc. In fact we’re probably seeing *deflation* in the tech sector, since supply chain shortages are being sorted out and discretionary spending is coming down. I’ve noticed high end TVs are getting a lot cheaper.
I dunno about that... my feeling is that there is a LOT more enthusiasm in the market for a bigger quality speaker like this now than when the HomePod originally came to market.
Personally, I never considered or was particularly excited about the first HomePod, but I am seriously considering buying a pair of these - not because it's such a uniquely different or better product, but because my appreciation for good speakers and sound quality has considerably gone up over the past 2-3 years.
Time will tell... but I'm optimistic
I think it’s just the experience of interacting with Siri. It’s enough to make anyone annoyed.
The sound quality was discussed in the video, but considering this is a smart speaker and that it sounds very similar to the first one, I find it logical that the video spent much time on new features rather just focusing on sound quality.
Turn on the spatial audio and have Dolby Atmos always on in Apple TV setting, you will love it more
If you compare these to pure speakers and focus just on sound, you are right. It's not even close.
However, these are smart speakers that do a lot of other things the "many other/better solutions" simply can't do.
They're different products for different uses.
In my case, I have Genelec speakers in my living room and I plan to leave them there for music and home theater, but I am seriously considering getting a HomePod (or two) for the kitchen
Hey Dan,
Great video. I laughed at the difference between the first gen homepod slowness with turning off your light and the speediness of the second gen's S7 chip showing the difference in responsiveness.
I read the verge review about how with eARC you can use audio sources that aren't just apple, like a PS5, switch, or xbox. Is it possible to do a follow up video showing this? If not it's cool. I'm just really curious since a lot of other reviews didn't show this and would be a great selling point that the 2 gen homepods can at least use audio that just isn't apple devices.
Great video. I laughed at the difference between the first gen homepod slowness with turning off your light and the speediness of the second gen's S7 chip showing the difference in responsiveness.
I read the verge review about how with eARC you can use audio sources that aren't just apple, like a PS5, switch, or xbox. Is it possible to do a follow up video showing this? If not it's cool. I'm just really curious since a lot of other reviews didn't show this and would be a great selling point that the 2 gen homepods can at least use audio that just isn't apple devices.
It takes a standard IEC 60320 C7/C8 plug - same as Apple TV and the Apple power bricks, and many many devices from other manufacturers.
So you should be able to find a 3rd-party power cable in the length you need if necessary!
I’ve owned 3 first-generation HomePod and now replaced 1 with a second-generation.
The HomePod in the kitchen has been my favourite place for one: it works so well in plenty of scenarios – music while preparing ingredients, podcasts while cooking meals, multiple named timers e.g for rice, tea. weather info at breakfast, journey times before heading out in the car, news updates on demand, Apple Music radio in the background, word/term definitions during conversations at dinner with my children, HomeKit interactions…
A versatile tool/companion with excellent sound!
That said, I might change my mind about favourite location when I get round to trying stereo pairing (they’re currently all in different rooms), or get a duo of second-generation models in the lounge to replace my old Samsung sound bar & sub connected to Apple TV.
Thank you. That’s useful to know.
I prefer original cables - particularly when they’re as nice as Apple’s modern ones (fit & finish, aesthetics, texture, environmental credentials) and the braided HomePod cable is a good example.
I’d be a bit too concerned about damaging my new £299 HomePod to test an alternative cable right now, but good to think it’s a possibility. Does anyone know if the different power configuration of U.K. appliances would affect the suitability of cables from other devices?
I mean, hasnt apple already tried this? It failed, becasue it was 1) it was too expesnive, 2) eco-system exclusive, 3) no headphone jack to give the device a second life when Bluetooth and Siri, and Apple services change. 4) the big one, it was dependent on Siri which was already years behind a lobotomized chimp back in 2018, compared to the competition. But now we have ChatGPT. It's only a matter of time before somebody (probably google) integrates that or a similar chatbot into their smart speakers and Siri won't even be classed as an Ai assistant at that level.
Given how much Apple charges for its technology they should be leaders in this space, not followers.
Given how much Apple charges for its technology they should be leaders in this space, not followers.
The S7 has two A13 efficiency cores, probably clocked higher than in a watch. Although it’s built on a much smaller process than the A8 (with associated benefits) I think the S7 might have been chosen because it integrates everything needed, including RAM (1GB) and flash storage (32gb) in one package . It may have improved audio DSP functionality but that’s not clear.
It probably also benefits from lower heat dissipation. The tear downs of the OG and mini show they’re very well engineered but anything generating less heat is welcome for longevity and performance.
Like a lot of things, there’s probably not enough profit at $200. Everything I’ve looked at buying lately has gone up in price considerably since the pandemic thanks to component shortages. For example I was thinking about new passive hifi speakers till I found out how much things had gone up!
Oh, for sure the original cables will be the best match aesthetically. But if the original is damaged, or you need a different length, it's an option.
No, any cable that fits, from any device, will work just fine.
Looks like there is better repairability than 1st gen, and second gen has a passive cooling for sub amplifier. YouTube link:
HomePod 2 teardown
HomePod 2 teardown