HomePod HomePod first impressions

[ocrane]

This thing really is something else.

Wanna impressive someone or yourself? Play the remastered “Blue Spanish Sky” by Chris Issak. Such incredible soundstage for something this tiny.

 

[Macdude2010]

I got to test stereo mode using iTunes today because I ordered white originally and changed my mind because I heard the white got dirty, so I ended up with one of each color. Stereo mode is insane, like it almost beats my 4 speaker setup of Klipsch floorstanders and Polk bookshelf speakers. I almost kept the second one but I can't justify $800 for these right now.

 

[ErikGrim]

Anyone putting their HomePod near a tv? If so mind posting some photos for comparisons?

65”. Going to pick a second up today as it’s far to directional for a tv of this size. Placement doesn’t help either.

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I got to test stereo mode using iTunes today because I ordered white originally and changed my mind because I heard the white got dirty, so I ended up with one of each color. Stereo mode is insane, like it almost beats my 4 speaker setup of Klipsch floorstanders and Polk bookshelf speakers. I almost kept the second one but I can't justify $800 for these right now.

Was this set up as a stereo pair using the beta or did you just airplay to both at once?

 

[The Game 161]

65”. Going to pick a second up today as it’s far to directional for a tv of this size. Placement doesn’t help either.

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Was this set up as a stereo pair using the beta or did you just airplay to both at once?

What colour you getting? same?

 

[DarwinOSX]

Pro-tip for those that don't know... this applies to iPhone, as well... Don't pause after "Hey, Siri." Just say, "Hey, Siri what is the temperature outside?" It will hear it all.
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If your wrist is down it won't use the Watch, if the iPhone is not in your hand, it won't use the iPhone - it'll default to Homepod. Slick.

It has used my iPad when it was sitting next to me but not in my hands,

 

[ErikGrim]

What colour you getting? same?

Yeah. Thought white might look weird, but after trying it it goes well with the metal mesh. So I’ll get another white.

 

[DarwinOSX]

I’ve been buying speakers for a long, long time, back when you actually used copper to connect them and debates waged on about what guage you needed... heck back when people talked about 4ohm versus 8. I have spent more than 40k total on speakers. McIntosh, Klispch, Bose, Cambridge Soundworks, Sonos...yes SONOS.

I have NEVER been this impressed that I was experiencing something totally new. HP is not a speaker. Not in the conventional sense. Its more like a computer. You don’t expect it to be one size fits all. You pick the HP based on your needs, the same way you chose a computer, laptop, desktop, gaming, whatever.

Siri (iPhone) Alexa, Google home, have them all, and pat myself on the back when I can enunciate clearly enough and loud enough in a quiet environment for them to understand me. HP Siri? Its finally to the point I don’t have to be careful, or controlled, it just hears me and complies. Quickly, efficiently. For the first time I am a beliver in voice control. I sat in the bathroom, door closed, off the kitchen, and said to my HP in the living room which was playing music, about as loud as I would to my echo dot 5 feet away, “Hey Siri, set volume to 100%’. And it did. I don’t care about how smart or dumb, voice control that doesn’t hear you is stupid. Siri on HP is mind blowing.

As for sound, I hear vocals that i have never heard on many of my speakers, sonos 5 included. Sure, it doesn’t break the laws of physics.. some amplitudes and frequencies are beyond it.. .but for the most part, it sounds great in small to modest size rooms placed near a wall.

I am lucky, I have choices. And thats how I will pick the speaker I want to use. For general listening in the bedroom, office, kitchen, I chose HP. For my 4th of July barbecue I will move my play5s outside. For my Apple TV, well, probably will keep my playbar, sub, side speakers.

You will pick the HP if you value voice control that really works, great sound in a modest space, appreciate vocals, and like to move around, oh and you like being in Apples ecosystem. you will pick other speakers to fill different niches.

HP is a game changer. I wont be buying any more sonos’s unless they find a way to match the convenience, quality, and ease of the HP.

That was really well put and I totally agree. My Sonos Play 5 and stereo paired Sonos One's are going on Craigslist.

 

[The Game 161]

Yeah. Thought white might look weird, but after trying it it goes well with the metal mesh. So I’ll get another white.

I'm planning on moving mine to near the TV so that way the sound is more central. Thinking maybe putting my current homepod in the middle of the TV. Got a 55 inch LG so hopefully it will ok there and not in the way of the TV.

When a get a 2nd one I will put them either side of the TV.

 

[DarwinOSX]

About what? The sound quality? Not in the least.

If that’s the case and you think it sounds amazing like many I have bad news for you, the audio processing part of your brain just isn’t that good, not having a go, just the way it is, some people have a hard time with faces, or doing two different things with each hand, having faster reflexes, etc, I just have the ability like some to notice stuff about sound, not bad with faces either, though not names.

But then maybe it’s good news for you, as your brain is making crap sound reasonable, and no as I said I’m not calling the HomePod crap, if it was it would be going back for sure, but many speakers and headphones have this issue where the sound just seems to be coming from very deep within the device wrapped in a couple of blankets, I just expect a bit more. I’m just used to better and hoped with it’s price tag that this muffled sound wouldn’t effect this speaker.

Thats a lot of nonsense.

 

[ErikGrim]

I'm planning on moving mine to near the TV so that way the sound is more central. Thinking maybe putting my current homepod in the middle of the TV. Got a 55 inch LG so hopefully it will ok there and not in the way of the TV.

When a get a 2nd one I will put them either side of the TV.

Yeah. Not sure if it’s clear from the picture, but that’s a very slim shelf that houses the tv and HP. No way I can place one in front that’s not on the floor.

 

[The Game 161]

Yeah. Not sure if it’s clear from the picture, but that’s a very slim shelf that houses the tv and HP. No way I can place one in front that’s not on the floor.

Big reason I'm thinking of moving it so the cable of the homepod isn't on show as where I have it currently the cables are very notable.

 

[Macdude2010]

65”. Going to pick a second up today as it’s far to directional for a tv of this size. Placement doesn’t help either.

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Was this set up as a stereo pair using the beta or did you just airplay to both at once?

I just used airplay on iTunes, Im willing to bet when stereo comes out there will be more processing going on to make it sound better, but 2 sounds insane regardless. I already sent back the white one because even if I do end up with a second one (really trying not to buy one but it's hard to resist) it would be space gray.

 

[WhiteHawk]

Thats a lot of nonsense.

Then you don’t know much about how the brain can work, you think we all perceive things exactly the same way? Now that’s nonsense.

 

[DarwinOSX]

I just returned from the Apple store, ready to buy one of these bad boys. I'm very glad I went and listened to it first. The sound is good, no doubt; but it isn't great. I'm no audiophile, by the way. While the bass sounded very clear and not muddy at all, it was the most prominent thing coming out of this speaker. I listened through a few tracks. Mids and highs also very clear, along with vocals, but they get lost very, very easily behind that bass. Considering where Siri is, the sound of this thing, and the cost, I'm a solid 'no' for the HomePod. Obviously, everyone's ears and use case is different, but if you can listen before you buy, it might be worth it. If bass is your thing, you will like it. It is impressive how much they are pumping out from such a small package.

You could not have heard it well in a store.

 

[chiffchaff]

The more I listen the more impressed I am. Have been playing various genres, trying out commands, listening from different parts of the room, and it’s all good. Then I asked Siri to play Antoine Dufour and I was blown away by the sound quality. Just sitting here loving it.

 

[Xprmntr]

danced for a few hours with it blasting lol

could be louder but pretty good- will probably get a second down the road- would love to apply eq presets- maybe in the future- sounds good even w youtube- connection hiccups while airplaying yt or just airplaying in general- brings new life to my music library- first hi quality speaker i own- looking forward to more listening and dancing!

 

[thatJohann]

danced for a few hours with it blasting lol

could be louder but pretty good- will probably get a second down the road- would love to apply eq presets- maybe in the future- sounds good even w youtube- connection hiccups while airplaying yt or just airplaying in general- brings new life to my music library- first hi quality speaker i own- looking forward to more listening and dancing!

I'm having Airplay streaming issues from iPhone X to HomePod. Audio cuts out sometimes or randomly stops playing. Not sure if it's the iOS 11.3 beta 2 or just buggy HomePod software.

 

[miatadan]

I think they're consumer mid-range, not low end, I said they sound signature is crap, not cheap. Bose make £1000 corner hi-fi units that sound woeful.

As an audio engineer I'm used to a detailed, true, revealing sound though. I prefer Adam, Elac and Sennheiser for headphones.

Based on from your experience, most likely I would not be happy with the sound of the HomePod. Been using Magnepan and Martin Logan speakers to be happy with consumer midrange stuff.
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Well yes it's a new Apple gadget at least i'm going to try it out - I didn't know the B&W guy was on board until after I ordered it, I feared all along it was going to have that sound type but just hoped with all the noise about how they tried to make it sound good they'd have made it sound open and detailed - but alas, no, it's just like all the others - and size has no bearing on it - You can buy an Adam A3X that is smaller and sounds much better - it's this weird smeary consumer sound they go for in portable speakers and sound bars. I don't get it.

and of course you can get a refund that's why it's risk free to try and play around with.
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I moved rooms with it and it sounds better in another room - but I just can't see me enjoying listening to stuff on this in the background. The bass is over bearing - id be conscious with other people at home that you could hear it from four rooms away even at a low level.

But listen to speed on it - that's what grates me most - it sounds like you're listening to someone stuck in a box, or with something in front of their mouth...backed up with a subwoofer.

A massive boost from 6k and above would hugely help this thing out - I think the hardware is there to tweak to sound acceptable. I could accept the hefty bottom end if only I could balance the rest of it - at least the bass is punchy and surprisingly large for a small speaker. But play something at a low volume and instead of it sparkling away in the background there, you'll hear the bass reverberating around the room and the rest of it sounds like it's got a high pass filter on it

So I am guessing my current computer desktop speakers ( Magnepan Mini Maggies ) also used for watching tv shows from Bell Fibe on computer monitor will out perform a pair of HomePods ?

Magnepan Mini Maggie desktop panels:

•Mini Maggie desktop panels feature planar magnetic midrange drivers and true ribbon tweeters whose design is a miniature version of the tweeter used in the firm’s top tier 3.7 and 20.1 floorstanding loudspeakers.
•Desktop panels are each a bit larger than a typical notebook in frontal area (14” high x 9.5” wide), but are—as mentioned above—just 1.25” in depth or thickness.
•The panels come with elliptical pedestal-like desktop stands and are offered with either natural or black-finished solid oak or dark cherry trim and fabric grilles produced in black, grey, or off-white.

These were $695.00 US for the pair but you still need integrated amplifier to power them.

Dan

 

[eXoenDo]

I picked mine up at an Apple Store tonight. There were TONS of people buying HomePod - I saw at least 5 other people purchasing it at the same time I was. Came home and played with it...I'm VERY impressed by the microphone accuracy, love Siris news and weather functionality and being able to walk into the house and have scenes trigger. I'm not a huge fan of the bass being so strong on the unit though - I actually worried about disturbing my neighbors while playing with it because the bass is SO powerful! I wish there were a way to adjust that but - I'm thinking it's a keeper and hoping Apple adds some more functionality/optional adjustments with software updates.

 

[MacPantaloons]

I preordered one and there was an issue with UPS delivery - 1 day delay. Being the impatient dude I am, I ordered another one for instore pickup today and picked one up. I “plan” on returning the one that arrives tomorrow.

This little thing sounds amazing! I consider myself to have a very to “ear”, however I don’t have audiophile class equipment. I have two Sonos PLAY:1’s in stereo on my desk, a Play One in our bedroom, and just this weekend I purchased a PLAYBASE and two Play One’s for a 5.0 setup for our living room.

To me, the HomePod alone sounds 95% as good as two PLAY:1’s in stereo, in terms of being “covered” in sound. This could be because of where the HomePod is placed (Next to two walls, corner of my desk). The quality of the sound is a heck of a lot better than my Sonos speakers. Tomorrow I will test out the HomePods in stereo, and I’m sure they will sound incredible.

I’m also considering getting two more for my living room, and returning the Sonos 5.0 setup. When we watch movies, its all through the Apple TV...which the HomePod on my desk has been playing beautifully. The Sonos 5.0 setup sounds amazing watching movies, but leaves something to be desired when listening to music. I also put my bedrooms Sonos One on Craigslist tonight...I plan on replacing it with a HomePod.

As for Siri, she works great, just as good as Alexa (I have two Echo’s and an Echo Show). Siri is just missing “skills” that integrate with 3rd party hardware/software.

Love my HomePod!

 

[Rogifan]

So after listening to HomePod for several hours I’m finding what I’m really enjoying the most is live music. I have yet to listen to a live track or soundboard recording that didn’t sound amazing. App,e should really highlight live music with HomePod.

 

[x302]

Can’t wait for the ability to use these in stereo for Apple TV! One sounds amazing at the moment in the center of the tv, 2 will be even better!

 

[BananaX]

Just got my HomePods. I think is much better than my Bose Solo 5 as a Apple TV speaker. It takes 10 secs to select Audio source from Apple TV. And the bounds to be a smart speaker as well for me!

Can wait for the stereo mod!

 

[falainber]

Just got my HomePods. I think is much better than my Bose Solo 5 as a Apple TV speaker. It takes 10 secs to select Audio source from Apple TV. And the bounds to be a smart speaker as well for me!

Can wait for the stereo mod!

That sounds a little bit sad. Stereo equipment was available since 1930s (it took a little longer for consumer electronics).

 

[certen]

I picked mine up at an Apple Store tonight. There were TONS of people buying HomePod - I saw at least 5 other people purchasing it at the same time I was. Came home and played with it...I'm VERY impressed by the microphone accuracy, love Siris news and weather functionality and being able to walk into the house and have scenes trigger. I'm not a huge fan of the bass being so strong on the unit though - I actually worried about disturbing my neighbors while playing with it because the bass is SO powerful! I wish there were a way to adjust that but - I'm thinking it's a keeper and hoping Apple adds some more functionality/optional adjustments with software updates.

That would be wonderful to put the bass setting on the HomePod
I’m still indecisive on keeper or not though, shall see. It really sounds amazing on some genres
Maybe needs to run for 100 hours to show it’s true colour, for the capacitors to be worn and maybe more balanced output