Having second thoughts about the HomePod.

[maflynn]

I'm very happy with my Alexa, and maybe in the next day or two, I'll be firing up a Dot in another room, something that I couldn't afford to do with the HomePod. With that said, I am getting sucked into Apple's RDF and the HomePod does look tempting. The thing that stops me dead is the 350 dollar price tag. I'm not audiophile and in all honesty, I'm content with the music out of Alexa, which causes me to be content with bank account balance (since I'm not spending 350 dollars).

 

[GDF]

Funny - I use Alexa for mostly my smart lights (Hue, Kasa) and my harmony remote.

I also have Alexa in another room of the house. It serves two purposes, turning on a lamp and turning on and off Harmony activities. With all the compatibility issues and little standardization and knowing Apple was very strict with who is allowed to touch HomeKit, I decided to setup Homebridge. Siri is now able to do a lot more now. Apple also lowered their gates a little by allowing software encryption instead of requiring hardware encryption. I think there’s a lot more to this HomePod than initially meets the eye. It’s a Smart Home Hub too. And when you combine a great speaker, good source Apple Music, Siri, and automatic integration into your already existing Apple Ecosystem, which is so deeply embedded in many peoples lives. Alexa isn’t that close to her users, she’s a little shy. Whereas Siri wants to know what you want to tell her. Siri on everything else, so I have no reason to think it would be any different on this speaker other than some commands being disabled.

 

[BlueGoldAce]

I also have Alexa in another room of the house. It serves two purposes, turning on a lamp and turning on and off Harmony activities. With all the compatibility issues and little standardization and knowing Apple was very strict with who is allowed to touch HomeKit, I decided to setup Homebridge. Siri is now able to do a lot more now. Apple also lowered their gates a little by allowing software encryption instead of requiring hardware encryption. I think there’s a lot more to this HomePod than initially meets the eye. It’s a Smart Home Hub too. And when you combine a great speaker, good source Apple Music, Siri, and automatic integration into your already existing Apple Ecosystem, which is so deeply embedded in many peoples lives. Alexa isn’t that close to her users, she’s a little shy. Whereas Siri wants to know what you want to tell her. Siri on everything else, so I have no reason to think it would be any different on this speaker other than some commands being disabled.

Alexa should be able to do everything the Homepod can do, beside play Apple music via voice command/natively (again, Sonos airplay 2 gets around this a bit), and send actual imessages.

Alexa can control nearly ever smart home device/system out there. Alexa can't do homekit, but she can control anything homekit can control, just as well as siri (if not better, siri voice recongition isn't great...I run into problems with it on my iphone and apple tv). So the only advantage here for the homepod is homekit itself, which is just a system for smart devices. I control my nest, lights, etc with Alexa and Google Assitant.

Apple Music isn't a superier service, comparitevely, to Amazon Music/Google Play Muisc, Spotify, Deezer, Tidal, etc. It is a personal preference thing. Tidal is obvouslly the best for pure quality, while I would argue Spotify has the best curation. Google has youtube red/muisc included, and Amazon Music is actually pretty nice (trying it out currently). I use Apple Music because I like to run with just my Apple watch. I also have Google Play music (for the wife) and Amazon Music on trial right now. Honestly, if I had to pick one, it would be a close call between Amazon Music and Google Play Music, with Google Play inclusion of Youtube possibly swinging the score.

I type all this to say, the Homepod is going to be a great sounding device in a sea of smart speakers. It might be the best sounding one with smart features, followed closley by the overpriced Google Max, and the $175-200 Sonos One...which when paired in Stereo mode will offer the best sound.

But the Sonos One works with Alexa, Google Assitant (soon), and Siri/Airplay 2 (soon) via apple devices. But, what swung the argument more so, was that Sonos is a system. Want to add a bigger/smaller smart/non-smart speaker to you house? Great, a new Sonos device will incorporate into your already set up system. Home theater to smart speakers.

I don't have a loyalty to any company. So I don't know if I will be in the Apple eco-system as much as I am now, two years from now. So Sonos is the safe bet.

That being said, I am looking forward to reviews on the devices actual sound.

 

[Newtons Apple]

Number one like feature I like about my Echo devices is that I can raise and lower my zoned heating and ac system. Very nice to be under the covers and have the temp increased.

The HomePod does not do my Nexia t-stat, might in the future but Alexa does it now.

 

[xenaki]

I had one on order but decided to cancel. I too am no audiophile and the Echo sounds great to me. So I ordered four Echos for the price of one HomePod. Can't beat that.

 

[BlueGoldAce]

Ill admit I am not an audiophille....but the Sonos One's I bought blew me away, compared to my Google home (Also...I might actually prefer alexa over google assitant). They are paired in stereo mode in my kitchen, and the sound carries wonderfully through my whole house.

Now I plan on adding to my Sonos system in the future, which will be compatibile with whatever ecosytem I am using.

 

[keeper]

Can’t wall mount them like Sonos and is water resistant.
To little choice for the source, I’m sticking with Sonos which
provide a good sound in sub rooms with a link into my main hifi.

 

[maflynn]

Number one like feature I like about my Echo devices is that I can raise and lower my zoned heating and ac system. Very nice to be under the covers and have the temp increased.

The HomePod does not do my Nexia t-stat, might in the future but Alexa does it now.

That's one feature my kids asked when I first set up my Echo, I've yet to install a smart thermostat but I can see that being on the short list of things to do. Though as we head into February, I might as well wait as the heating season has only a few weeks left (I don't have any centralized AC)

 

[green94]

I don't believe Apple ever expected to sell a HomePod to anyone who has already invested in Sonos.

Of course they did, they even compared the HomePod to the Sonos 3 during the keynote.

 

[Macalway]

These look very good for what they are.

 

[rdy0329]

Apple Music is an average source. Good sources are Deezer, Tidal, CDs, and vinyl.

Apple Music sounds better than Spotify but I agree that it's not a great source if you're serious about music. Thankfully, you can stream Tidal (or any other services) via AirPlay 2.

Being in a SONOS household myself, I'm also torn between getting TWO SONOS Ones versus ONE HomePod.

BUT what keeps me from cancelling my order is that infamous Reddit review where one Homepod supposedly beats TWO Sonos Play:1s according to an audiophile.

 

[BlueGoldAce]

Apple Music sounds better than Spotify but I agree that it's not a great source if you're serious about music. Thankfully, you can stream Tidal (or any other services) via AirPlay 2.

Being in a SONOS household myself, I'm also torn between getting TWO SONOS Ones versus ONE HomePod.

BUT what keeps me from cancelling my order is that infamous Reddit review where one Homepod supposedly beats TWO Sonos Play:1s according to an audiophile.

Yeah, I find that hard to believe, honestly. The Stereo seperation is something the homepod can't match. The stereo seperation of the pair actually leads some Sonos users on reddit to recommend them over the Sonos Play 5.

But we will see.

 

[rdy0329]

Yeah, I find that hard to believe, honestly. The Stereo seperation is something the homepod can't match. The stereo seperation of the pair actually leads some Sonos users on reddit to recommend them over the Sonos Play 5.

But we will see.

Disclaimer though would be exactly that. The redditor mentioned something more on the bass and clarity rather than *true* stereo separation.

Two Homepods will solve and beat two Play:1s but that’ll put you at about $700. About $200 more than Play:5

This is really a hard decision to make and it shouldn’t be something I/We should be stressing about anyway.

 

[BlueGoldAce]

Disclaimer though would be exactly that. The redditor mentioned something more on the bass and clarity rather than *true* stereo separation.

Two Homepods will solve and beat two Play:1s but that’ll put you at about $700. About $200 more than Play:5

This is really a hard decision to make and it shouldn’t be something I/We should be stressing about anyway.

Very true.

Personally, I am not willing to spend $700. So if the Homepod is reviewed as being markedly better than a pair of One's...then Ill be tempted. But the HomePod is really locked down, and like the Apple Watch I own; You have to stay in the Apple ecosystem to use it.

I try and limit the number of devices I have that require that.

 

[rdy0329]

Very true.

Personally, I am not willing to spend $700. So if the Homepod is reviewed as being markedly better than a pair of One's...then Ill be tempted. But the HomePod is really locked down, and like the Apple Watch I own; You have to stay in the Apple ecosystem to use it.

I try and limit the number of devices I have that require that.

Nevermind, Apple just charged my card right now. They're making the decision for me.

On ecosystem part, you're already halfway there (and on an Apple-related forum). Resistance is futile.

 

[walex19]

Let’s just wait till Feb 9th shall we?

 

[BlueGoldAce]

Nevermind, Apple just charged my card right now. They're making the decision for me.

On ecosystem part, you're already halfway there (and on an Apple-related forum). Resistance is futile.

Haha...I am more than half way. I have an Apple TV 4k, iPad 12.9 pro 2nd gen, iPhone X, and an Apple Watch.

But I use and enjoy my PC dektop and laptop, as well as my nest products, google home products, etc. Apple offers the best product in the smart watch, tablet, and one of the best in the phone market.

But when it comes to music, I prefer open solutions.

 

[rdy0329]

Haha...I am more than half way. I have an Apple TV 4k, iPad 12.9 pro 2nd gen, iPhone X, and an Apple Watch.

But I use and enjoy my PC dektop and laptop, as well as my nest products, google home products, etc. Apple offers the best product in the smart watch, tablet, and one of the best in the phone market.

But when it comes to music, I prefer open solutions.

My policy is also buy the best product in its category. hence, Echos and Chromecasts are also part of my household.

I'll just take solace on the fact that Homepod supports AirPlay. Can't wait for Feb 9th.

 

[maflynn]

That’s not to say the homepod won’t have amazing sound but thinking with the house I have I won’t make good enough use out of it.

That's my thinking, plus will it pass the wife test. It would be hard to convince her that spending 350 on the speaker when the Echo (at least for now) does more and can be purchased for a fraction of what the HomePod is going for.

 

[canyonblue737]

Cranked up the 5 speaker Sonos system this morning and forgot how good it really sounds. Do not think the two HomePods will even come close to beating the Sonos.

Got caught up in the “Apple” excitement but good sense is getting me to cancle both of the HomePods. I have a house full of Amazon echos. The HomePod does not even cover my Nexia thermostats used by my zones ac system.

Maybe I will try later.

I have 4 Play:1 and 2 Play:5 speakers and I do like them. From what it "sounds" like (pardon the pun) the HomePod will sound better than any Sonos speakers *except* for the Play:5 and even that is unclear. It may have better separation for a single speaker than any Sonos speaker sold. For me the ease of controlling music by voice on the HomePod (I use Apple Music) was the selling point and I have pulled the trigger on 2 of them to try. If they are terrible sounding I can always return them. If Apple delivers on their promise of seamless whole house audio I can see myself replacing the rest of my Sonos system with HomePods over the next year or so and combining it with my existing fleet of Echo Dots across my home that handle a lot but NOT music.

 

[Newtons Apple]

I have 4 Play:1 and 2 Play:5 speakers and I do like them. From what it "sounds" like (pardon the pun) the HomePod will sound better than any Sonos speakers *except* for the Play:5 and even that is unclear. It may have better separation for a single speaker than any Sonos speaker sold. For me the ease of controlling music by voice on the HomePod (I use Apple Music) was the selling point and I have pulled the trigger on 2 of them to try. If they are terrible sounding I can always return them. If Apple delivers on their promise of seamless whole house audio I can see myself replacing the rest of my Sonos system with HomePods over the next year or so and combining it with my existing fleet of Echo Dots across my home that handle a lot but NOT music.

How do you figure the HomePod will sound better? There is not even a midrange speaker. Sorry but sticking to my Sonos. Do not let the 14 days slip by you.

 

[canyonblue737]

How do you figure the HomePod will sound better? There is not even a midrange speaker. Sorry but sticking to my Sonos. Do not let the 14 days slip by you.

you are absolutely right, if they don't sound good I'm NOT keeping them. i don't need them to sound as good as the Play:5's which come into their own only at high volumes we seldom listen too but if these things are flat sounding and not better than the Play:1 and Play:3 I'll have to return them. i'm starting with 2 because if I go HomePod I know I'll want them in the kitchen and master bedroom immediately because that is 90% of the listening time.

i am hopeful on the sound quality because they are bigger than you would think (size rivals the Play:3 when you count the volume, not sound volume, but size volume) and reviews indicate excellent sound in early controlled demo with descent bass.

 

[ATC]

Has anyone come across any (unofficial) sound quality comparison between the Homepod and a Bose Revolve+? I'm thinking of picking up the latter today after an impressive demo I had last week. I don't really care about siri integration into a speaker and, while it's not a deal breaker, I like the idea of having a mobile speaker to move from room to room.

 

[Newtons Apple]

Has anyone come across any (unofficial) sound quality comparison between the Homepod and a Bose Revolve+? I'm thinking of picking up the latter today after an impressive demo I had last week. I don't really care about siri integration into a speaker and, while it's not a deal breaker, I like the idea of having a mobile speaker to move from room to room.

I do not think we have seen any sound comparisons at this point.

 

[0014]

I’ve got two Sonos Play:5 Gen 2 and 3 Sonos Play:1’s at home. The play 5’s are in the lounge in stereo pair, the Play:1’s are a stereo pair in the kitchen and a single one in the bedroom.

At some point in the future I’ll get a Dolby Atmos System for the TV (Sonos current unwillingness to support Atmos is the reason I don’t have a Soundbar).

I may invest in a Sub to go with the Play:5’s but at the moment I’m not sure I’ll need it as the play:5’s are awesome.

Although I’m sure the HomePod is good. I can control my Sonos system with my Echo Dots (one in the kitchen and bedroom, although will get a spot for the bedroom and move a dot into the lounge). The other thing is the price. I have a fairly large lounge and before I got the Play:5’s I had 2 of the Play:1’s in a stereo pair. They did very good job of filling the room with sound.

So I’m not sure 1 HomePod could be as good as a stereo paired set of Play:1’s. But I’ll reserve judgement until I see some in-depth reviews once they’re out in the Wild.

The other thing though is that sound is so subjective. I’m sure that any number of audiophiles would come to my apartment and pick fault with my setup. But for my ears (using Spotify and iTunes Match) I’m really not sure much else will impress me.