Wow - my main complaint is that Siri is too loud.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
HomePod HomePod first impressions
- Thread starter ApeBot
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
For a number of years I've used a UE Boom bluetooth speaker in my room. On Friday I picked up a Home Pod from Best Buy. The sound quality is amazing for such a small speaker. Siri successfully recognized all the playlists that I asked for over the weekend. I was really impressed by how softly I could say Hey Siri within my room and the Home Pod picked up my voice. I will be using the Home Pod for years to come!
Got mine today.
Wow.
The sound quality. It is most impressive when playing live recordings - the detail from the crowd, etc. is just incredible.
The bass is great for a speaker of its size. It doesn't go quite as loud as i might expect, but it goes "loud enough" for a typical size living room on say 80% volume and it doesn't seem to distort (to my non-audiophile ears).
I'm using mine as an appletv output and for general music and it works fine so far.
If you're into the apple ecosystem and want a great steaming music speaker, go for it.
That's what i bought it for. I really don't care about the "smart" features personally, i just wanted a great airplay speaker. This is it.
I'm buying some more of these as budget permits. another for the living room, one for the bedroom and maybe two more for the kitchen/dining area.
[doublepost=1518443950][/doublepost]
I've been using mine exclusively via airplay from my appletv (4k model) this evening and my quality statements above are doing that.
I have not noticed any quality issues at all. It sounds amazing.
Wow.
The sound quality. It is most impressive when playing live recordings - the detail from the crowd, etc. is just incredible.
The bass is great for a speaker of its size. It doesn't go quite as loud as i might expect, but it goes "loud enough" for a typical size living room on say 80% volume and it doesn't seem to distort (to my non-audiophile ears).
I'm using mine as an appletv output and for general music and it works fine so far.
If you're into the apple ecosystem and want a great steaming music speaker, go for it.
That's what i bought it for. I really don't care about the "smart" features personally, i just wanted a great airplay speaker. This is it.
I'm buying some more of these as budget permits. another for the living room, one for the bedroom and maybe two more for the kitchen/dining area.
[doublepost=1518443950][/doublepost]
I've been using mine exclusively via airplay from my appletv (4k model) this evening and my quality statements above are doing that.
I have not noticed any quality issues at all. It sounds amazing.
Siri is definitely tooo loud. I wanted to check the news and forecast today but I didn't want to wake up my boyfriend.
From more testing with another three tracks: ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ by Queen, ‘Sorry’ by Nothing But Thieves, and ‘Closer’ by Chainsmokers, I prefer the Play:1 sound. The HomePod seems to separate the vocals too much from the rest of the instruments/song and so I feel it’s going for a more spacious sound and thus it’s over processing the sound a bit and making it almost seem a bit tinny, especially on ‘Closer’. The Play:1 despite the high’s not being as crisp or clear, plays all the components of these songs closer together and so the vocals aren’t as isolated sounding. I’m far from an audiophile and don’t know all the technical terms either.
That said, I feel the processing of the HomePod is what makes the difference when playing Live recordings of songs, as it sounds so much closer and richer vs Play:1.
I know HomePod has an automatic equaliser but I feel an option for manually doing it would be nice.
So far, feeling like I’m gonna return the HomePod.
Last edited:
LADS I’VE FOUND A WAY TO REDUCE THE SIRI VOLUME...
...Or at least I thought I had. I tried hitting volume down as Siri was talking and it reduced, but then it’s back to normal on next use. I’m wondering if this is just shutting her up and fading out thought...
...Or at least I thought I had. I tried hitting volume down as Siri was talking and it reduced, but then it’s back to normal on next use. I’m wondering if this is just shutting her up and fading out thought...
I'm keeping my UE Boom for outside by the pool, hot tub, and bonfires. I really don't want to take a Home Pod outside and have to worry about extension cords.
I really want to hear a HomePod I got a Sonos One on the weekend returned it and got 2 for the special offer price. Thought one was good, two have literally blown me away . Alexa integration sucks ha but wow the sound is amazing and I’m really anal about audio,
Maybe I don’t want to hear the HomePod if what I’m reading is true ha
Maybe I don’t want to hear the HomePod if what I’m reading is true ha
I just picked one up and set it up. Comparing the same Coldplay song side by side, albeit with the speakers on a different side of my room, but I find the Homepod to have a more pronounced bass and slightly brighter mids and highs. I can't imagine what a pair in stereo would sound like.
I am very pleased so far! My Echo is going to stay in the room to control my tv and Fire TV.
I am very pleased so far! My Echo is going to stay in the room to control my tv and Fire TV.
after 4 days of use I've gotten the hand of using the Homepod and am really liking it.
I'm now remembering to say "volume XX%" before telling it what to play because I like it quiet or loud depending the time of day.
My use of Apple Music has increased a lot.
I'm now remembering to say "volume XX%" before telling it what to play because I like it quiet or loud depending the time of day.
My use of Apple Music has increased a lot.
I'd love to see both subscriber and usage analytics for Apple Music. I'm sure the increase in both are quite impressive.
I've had mine since launch day. So now that I got to spend a weekend using it, here's my two cents:
It sounds and looks great. I definitely do not think it's muffled or bass-heavy and don't understand where those comments are coming from. The bass is surprisingly powerful for such a small speaker, but it is adequate when mids and highs are taken into consideration.
I have a Bose SoundLink in the bathroom and it's the only other speaker I have used that does not produce any distortion at max volume. I've used Creative Speakers, Beats Pill and the bigger boombox, Jawbone Jambox - all of them lacked something. I genuinely enjoy music when it's coming out of the HomePod. Siri, while limited in her skills compared to Alexa, is much more responsive and "human-like". Alexa's voice annoys me (personal thing) and she often times sets alarms and messes with thermostats when I'm asking her to play a song or something (I enunciate and project very well). Interacting with Siri feels more organic and I know she's only going to improve.
Setup was almost instant (can't say the same for when I first got my echo from amazon). Integration with HomeKit is seamless (all my smart devices switched over from Alexa easily).
As everyone else has pointed out so far - Siri's ability to hear you from everywhere and at any volume is very, very impressive. It's so sensitive that you cannot watch any HomePod related videos on YouTube for example without putting earbuds in.
My advice is to pick an off day when the Apple store won't be so busy (if that concept even exists in your area) and go test it out. You will still be able to get an understanding for what the HomePod is capable of even if it's not your home setup.
Sound will always be subjective so I can't make a verdict on that. I think all the components of good audio are there. I've listened to music on it, hooked it up to Apple TV and watched shows and movies, even used it as a speakerphone for a few calls - I am very happy with it. Most likely will get s couple more and replace Alexa throughout the house.
It sounds and looks great. I definitely do not think it's muffled or bass-heavy and don't understand where those comments are coming from. The bass is surprisingly powerful for such a small speaker, but it is adequate when mids and highs are taken into consideration.
I have a Bose SoundLink in the bathroom and it's the only other speaker I have used that does not produce any distortion at max volume. I've used Creative Speakers, Beats Pill and the bigger boombox, Jawbone Jambox - all of them lacked something. I genuinely enjoy music when it's coming out of the HomePod. Siri, while limited in her skills compared to Alexa, is much more responsive and "human-like". Alexa's voice annoys me (personal thing) and she often times sets alarms and messes with thermostats when I'm asking her to play a song or something (I enunciate and project very well). Interacting with Siri feels more organic and I know she's only going to improve.
Setup was almost instant (can't say the same for when I first got my echo from amazon). Integration with HomeKit is seamless (all my smart devices switched over from Alexa easily).
As everyone else has pointed out so far - Siri's ability to hear you from everywhere and at any volume is very, very impressive. It's so sensitive that you cannot watch any HomePod related videos on YouTube for example without putting earbuds in.
My advice is to pick an off day when the Apple store won't be so busy (if that concept even exists in your area) and go test it out. You will still be able to get an understanding for what the HomePod is capable of even if it's not your home setup.
Sound will always be subjective so I can't make a verdict on that. I think all the components of good audio are there. I've listened to music on it, hooked it up to Apple TV and watched shows and movies, even used it as a speakerphone for a few calls - I am very happy with it. Most likely will get s couple more and replace Alexa throughout the house.
After reading all the pre-HP reviews, good and bad, I drove to BB at 1PM on Friday and purchased a space gray HP.
Before unboxing, I signed up for my 3 free months of Apple Music. Five minutes later I was impressed and hooked. My wife was amazed. Probably get the yearly service in 3 months.
I will be selling my AM/FM receiver and Bose speakers and buying another HomePod.
Come on Apple, get the stereo pairing finished.
Before unboxing, I signed up for my 3 free months of Apple Music. Five minutes later I was impressed and hooked. My wife was amazed. Probably get the yearly service in 3 months.
I will be selling my AM/FM receiver and Bose speakers and buying another HomePod.
Come on Apple, get the stereo pairing finished.
What happens if you have two HomePod?
For example - our kitchen HomePod can hear me from my bedroom...but I really want to add another HomePod in our bedroom.
If I add a second HomePod to our setup and ask a question in my bedroom, will the closest one take my request or will both respond?
Thanks!
For example - our kitchen HomePod can hear me from my bedroom...but I really want to add another HomePod in our bedroom.
If I add a second HomePod to our setup and ask a question in my bedroom, will the closest one take my request or will both respond?
Thanks!
The one that hears you the best should be the one that responds. Siri devices use Bluetooth to quickly talk to each other and pick the correct device.
I have had this fail with iOS devices on occasion though so I image their could be times it’s not perfect on the HomePod.
I haven't done a direct side by side comparison yet.
I brought the HomePod to work with me today just so I can listen to it a little more.
I'm going try to do a side by side Airplay comparison tonight and give those opinions.
Right away, I don't get the heavy bass some have mentioned, or at least I don't get. From what I remember, the Zeppelin has a little more punch (sitting in the exact same spot) but I will hold further thoughts until I can do a side by side.
My zeppelin is the Zeppelin Air Wireless that came with the lightning dock, I picked it up in 2014.
My second day with the Homepod and here is what I notice: My HomePod is positioned next to my TV and soundbar. When the TV audio is playing through the soundbar, the HomePod has a hard time picking up my voice because it appears to be deciphering between my command and the voices coming out of the soundbar at the same time. Either I get a delayed response from Siri, or I get no response at all. When I do get a response, it’s because I’m putting more effort into projecting and enunciating. The results vary.
It seems like Siri can decipher between audio coming from the HomePod and my voice, but not if there are other competing sources, like my soundbar.
I might try moving the HP far from the soundbar to see if Siri works better in this type of situation.
It seems like Siri can decipher between audio coming from the HomePod and my voice, but not if there are other competing sources, like my soundbar.
I might try moving the HP far from the soundbar to see if Siri works better in this type of situation.
You have to open the app and then select the HomePod from the audio sources list in control center.
[doublepost=1518490744][/doublepost]Day 4 of using HomePod: still blown away by what I’m hearing. “Live in concert” recordings are the absolute best material to use when demoing HP to new listeners. It feels like the artist/band is standing right in front of you.
I’m buying at least two more HomePods as soon as stereo pairing is officially launched.
Did that but still having the same issue. I'll try again when I get home. I left them unplugged.
Last edited: