For this audiophile, I'm expecting the HomePod to be more than adequate for the kitchen and garage ... the good stuff can stay in its room for critical listening.
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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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For this audiophile, I'm expecting the HomePod to be more than adequate for the kitchen and garage ... the good stuff can stay in its room for critical listening.
The reviews by the Verge or Digital Trends shouldn't be taken into consideration when it comes to audio quality review. All these blogging sites think they can do true review. If Apple really thinks HomePod is what they say, send it does review to The reputable audio equipment reviewers. Those people don't drool behind a 350$ speaker, nor they hyperventilate when they get an invitation from apple to see a product.
Well, I guess you'll have to wait until reviewers can receive their orders on Feb 9, and have time to put it through its paces to decide whether you want one or not. Then, if you do want it, you take your chances on availability.
That's not a bad way to make purchasing decisions, but I've not been disappointed by any of the Day 1 products I got from Apple, so I'll start enjoying mine on the same day your reviewer gets hers.
You were going good until you mentioned Bose. If Bose is your benachmark for good sound, I am sorry.. your opinion can't be a serious one when it comes to audio. But nevertheless I respect your opinion.
Waiting for two things: #1 connect with TV , and support multiple users through their accounts.
its is confirmed by many that multi users are allowed...but only the owner (icloud account) will can ask for messages,reminders
Technically yes. But here's why the HomePod might not fit well into everyone's system with it's current limitations on what you can natively use via siri and built in control
I for example am not 100% in Apple ecosystem. I have an iPad and a MacBook Air. A windows PC and an Android phone and I use multiple services (And yes, I use iTunes, despite hating it)
I don't always walk around the house carrying my Apple devices. the Laptop will usually just stayin in the office (unless i'm sitting on the couch watching TV) and the iPad ... tends to get left in random places leaving me scrambling to find it. The Android doesn't support Airplay.
This is why SIRI and voice assistant integration is hugely important for home speakers that are trying to be like this. Allowing you to control audio and home automation without needing the device on hand. "SIRI, Play Blind Guardian album Beyond the red Mirror" should be able to automatically play Blind Guardian, Regardless of where I purchased it from, as long as it was purchased and available to it.
this is functionality that the competition currently offers as they offer multiple different services. you do not actually need the device in hand to fully use many of those other devices. With the limitations of AM, iTunes purchased only, being controlled by SIRI, it's very VERY lacking in functionality for mixed ecosystems.
That’s great but keep in mind everyone is not an audiophile and you don’t necessarily have to have 1200 speakers to enjoy music.
Personally I’m getting a HomePod and I really think it’s sad that someone is attempting to look down on others just because they aren’t audiophiles.
i just want a device with siri that actually hears me and reacts 100% of the time. My watch has been **** at that since watch os 4
I’ve ordered two. We always watch TV and listen to music through the Apple TV and, frankly, as lovely as my fancy amp and speakers have been all this time - I’m all for the simplicity of HomePod. (Not having to re-wire speakers every time we move is a bonus).
In fact, one HomePod probably costs as much as I’ve spent just on cabling during my ‘audiophile’ phase.
As usual with Apple stuff, for most people - and me, now I’m older with shifted priorities (child) - simplicity and convenience wins.
They’ll sell loads of them.
In fact, one HomePod probably costs as much as I’ve spent just on cabling during my ‘audiophile’ phase.
As usual with Apple stuff, for most people - and me, now I’m older with shifted priorities (child) - simplicity and convenience wins.
They’ll sell loads of them.
Depending on availability (since you've already ordered 2 of each), you'll be able to see how both colors match your decor.......Then possibly exchange the other 2 for the color you prefer the most.
Well, I assume that I can still stream whatever I want from my iPhone, iPad or Mac to the HomePod using Airplay. The limitations mentioned only encounter if I have no Apple device around.
Correct. Even though I prefer to use Apple services over others. I still envy Sonos for their direct streaming to the speakers, it’s stimillar to Spotify connect that streams directly to supported speakers. I’m really surprised that Apple haven’t embraced this direct streaming yet and they have the largest music store in the world.
You can stream music from your Mac, just not via Siri.
From Apple tech specs:
"Peer-to-peer AirPlay requires a Mac (2012 or later) with OS X Yosemite or later, or an iOS device (late 2012 or later) with iOS 8 or later."
Bose offers competitive sound. NOT audiophile, NOR studio. I make no allusions that BOSE is providing that sort of audio experience.
However, BOSE is known for well defined sound seperation, even if they do tend to lean towards mid-range colour to their audio. Also, They have a significant different sound profile between different products. THeir Over ear wired headsets sound completely different from their noise cancelling and again completely different from their bluetooth.
Also, Sound profiles are going to be different depending on the audio and music you are listening to. the Colour of a speaker and it's enjoyability is going to depend wholly on the music you are listening to. For music that's very bass heavy, yeah, My bose headphones tend to sound quite ridiculous. However for symphonic Metal where there's about 100 layers of sounds to it, They provide a very good sound. Plus their sound separation is good for gaming when you're trying to pinpoint where your enemy is based on audio.
agian, I by no means say that Bose is audiophile or even studio quality. They're not. They're still mainstream consumer technology with their own emphasis on certain sound profile. Don't be elitist by taking your attitude. Because I bet you'd be Offended fi I told you that Beats or Apple's audio quality also sucks **** for many types of music too
HobeSoundDarryl
macrumors G5
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
TV. I can buy 2 TVs for the price of 1 HomePod... and get all of the other TV benefits- including Siri voice controls with the very same Siri "can't see my own ripped content" limitations.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
TV if I like. Can I do that with HomePod? Apparently yes, via airplay, but is that the same? If the "smarts" are actually outsourced to other devices (the airplay source), does it become only a speaker at that point?
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So why is it not mentioned in their HomePod spec requirements? They only mention iPad, iPhone and iPod as requirements. Not a word about OSX. Very weird...
Apple already stated that it is designed for more than one user.
“HomePod will not be limited to a single user, as suggested and confirmed in the HomePod documentation. Once the HomePod is set up, anyone in the home will be able to listen to music using the Apple Music account installed on the device, and anyone will be able to ask Siri questions.”
