What makes you think that he haven't? And yes, his head better explode considering they cost several $ thousands.
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HomePod Early Hands-On Reviews: 'Seamless' Siri Commands and Audio Quality 'Feels Like You're at a Live Performance'
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What makes you think that he haven't? And yes, his head better explode considering they cost several $ thousands.
Reviews from Apple homers. Can’t fully embrace. This is their latest marketing plan like with IPX. Bring couple people in that will say what Apple wants to hear.
Not to mention this was at 65% volume. 100% volume, it will probably knock all the pictures off my wall, and knock all of the china out of the china cabinet, haha.
Electrostatic speakers are another world. Fabulous fidelity. Very expensive and delicate.
I think the point is that if we allow the "but you can airplay" argument to apply so readily- which, by the way is jettisoning the "smart" half of a smart speaker- then it's just an airplay speaker. Airplay is available in all kinds of setups. My receiver has airplay. So let that be "good enough" and I definitely do NOT need HomePod as I can just airplay to what is very likely to be much better speakers via airplay.
I perceive the point of this thing is the "smart" piece. I don't think it can "win" on quality of sound for much beyond maybe a launch window because all of the competing players can always put a better speaker (hardware) into their cut of this kind of thing, just like you or I can quickly upgrade the speakers in our car by swapping out some hardware. The magic in all Apple products is the software. Strip iOS or macOS and you have mostly commodity hardware left over. Siri is the bulk of the brains in this smart speaker. Strip Siri because we're applying the airplay "solution" and what's left?
If we try to make this a "do everything" device via airplay, there are LOTS of alternatives for airplay, including many probably already in place in our homes... for far less than $349. For example, along with that receiver, I can airplay to my
None of that is meant to put the product down, just point out how trying to make it much more appealing because- conceptually- we can airplay everything- is not the same as making up to everything work inside it. I can opt for Pandora on the
I agree that not being able to use HomePod's integrated Siri to call up ripped music from a Mac (without an Apple Music subscription) is a limitation, but this isn't really "jettisoning the 'smart' half of the smart speaker" because all the other 'smart' Siri functionality (timers, reminders, messages, weather etc) still works.
The main point I have been trying to make is that, contrary to what a lot of people are saying, you CAN use a HomePod to play more than just purchased iTunes tracks without a Apple Music subscription, albeit by having to use AirPlay. A constraint, yes, but not a big enough constraint to stop me cancelling my pre-order. YMMV.
I'll have to try them someday. With a subwoofer as I understand that bass isn't brilliant. This is what I think will be the main limitation of the Homepod, (and other small speakers). If they have bass, I suspect it'll be boomy one note bass.
Once you've listened to extended low bass, on any genre of music, it's hard to go back.
Agreed, but $2000 you mention is probably closer to the cost of shipping and installing the speakers than to the price of the speakers themselves: Martin Logan electrostatic loudspeakers. Audiophile prices can get into luxury automobile territory pretty easily. (Note that you'd need similar outlay on the necessary amplifiers to drive such speakers properly, as well.)
Ideally. I'm mainly just concerned about the downward-facing aspect of the subwoofer.
To all of you who are so critical of the HomePod's sound; have you even heard it, personally? Most who have, in fact, heard it, are raving about the sound. If I take their words for it, it seems like a great speaker for its price - plus you get siri aspect of it on top of it.
Right, in the same thread people are having an argument about 10K speakers they own.
What does this mean - in an Apple designed, acoustically optimized room? Of course its going to sound good.
I'm not suggesting it does or does not sound good, but without some context, these reviews mean very, very little regarding sound quality.
I laughed at the "upwards of five songs" - why not just say, "only half a dozen songs". The "upwards" sounds like the "reviewer" was really reaching.
Most are equipped with a woofer in the base, depending on the model. It’s difficult to truly, “test drive,” them unless you experience them in a treated room or actual home environment. Like anything, at any showroom setting there is little justice with lots of empty space.
I'd like to see some opposite reviews, if only for balance.
Also, what's with the 'two first name' brands? Is that what it takes to sound elite? If I create a brand named something like 'Bill Peter' or 'Terry Phil' for in-home theater speakers, can I astronomically mark them up under the guise of exclusivity?
Also, what's with the 'two first name' brands? Is that what it takes to sound elite? If I create a brand named something like 'Bill Peter' or 'Terry Phil' for in-home theater speakers, can I astronomically mark them up under the guise of exclusivity?
The 9to5Mac article states that the HomePod has AirPlay: "it will still be possible to AirPlay the Spotify app using a nearby iOS device to the HomePod".
Not compared to the Sonos. The single bass driver in the HomePod will outputmore than the two dinky mid-bass drivers in the Sonos One.
I said good. I didn’t say amazing, incredible or outstanding. No offense, but I think your understanding of the English language needs improvement.
HobeSoundDarryl
macrumors G5
Hopefully, you didn't read anything I wrote like a call to cancel an order (or buy one). That's not the point of posting- at least IMO. A lack of any one desirable feature to any of us shouldn't make it useless for all of us... just as keying on some discrete & unique feature within shouldn't make it the ONLY smart speaker option for all of us too.
That particular feature is VERY important to me. The vast majority of my iTunes music is ripped from my CDs. I don't have an AM subscription, nor want one. As soon as "but you can airplay" comes into the equation, I've already got airplay options in relative abundance, already hooked to what I'm personally confident are far superior speakers.
Your points about the rest of the smarts have merit. However, from whatever one is airplaying, does that thing NOT already have Siri such that we can already do all that? Again, not trying to get you or anyone to cancel an order (nor go buy one either)- just pointing out that it's mostly a matter of wanting one, not needing one (and nothing wrong or right about that either) and individual circumstances. For example, while I'm already well equipped with airplay and great speakers including
TV with voice-command Siri already in place, not everyone is set up that way. For those that may want a great speaker in a room with none... or those with no good airplay + speaker option in place now... or those wanting an Echo or Google smart speaker made by Apple, this can fit their wants as close to (their view of) perfectly as they choose to see it.Sorry if you read something I wrote like I was encouraging a cancel. I'm just asking questions, trying to correct or challenge sometimes wild, well-beyond-anything-Apple-has-said spin, and/or see what else I can learn about this new product myself. Personally, I'm very excited about HomePod... not so much for the product itself (my bases there are probably already covered), but for the hope that Apple has significantly upgraded Siri's brains, and that those brains will be dispersed to the rest of the Apple product line ASAP.
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The HomePod does not have a bass driver. Just a midrange.
Have a good day. People like you are unable to have a polite discussion. Someone disagrees with you. You insult them.
I have seen lots of reports that say you can use it as an airplay speaker (even Apple talked briefly about this when they announced it). But for me that isn't enough, I already have Speakers/AMPS/Airport Expresses all round the house. To be worth while to me it needs to be able to play stuff on youtube and Spotify without having my phone to hand.
Well... that’s a deal-breaker. Most of my music is ripped, and I don’t have AM.