If this HomePod will be 100% open to 3rd parties (Spotify, Google), I will consider a couple. I'm also interested how it will work together with Apple TV...
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HomePod First Listen Impressions: 'Incredible' Audio With Bass-Heavy Sound That Easily Beats Echo
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For sure. I have a Play 1 in the kitchen, another on the upstairs landing and 2 in a stereo pair in my lounge. Before and after TruePlay is night and day.
It's safe to assume that 5 HomePods will still not compare to a 5.1 Martin Logan Electro Stat system.
Everyone loves the sound of the HomePod - I wonder if the perceptions would change if it ships in a box with a tag line of "Audio by Beats". I mean lets face it - why would Apple design this completely on their own when they already own and are heavily integrated with Beats? It doesn't make much sense. The box may never say it and Apple may never admit it, but it would be baffling if Apple didn't tap its in-house audio/speaker experts in the design of the device.
Agreed. I'm putting together a turntable-centric system later this summer. But, this could be great for having music in an additional room, etc.
In other news, "Hello from Leesburg!" I grew up in Ocala.
Wouldn't it be great if they play nicely together with AirPlay 2? As simple as just adding a HomePod to an existing Sonos system.
Since they are pushing both Airplay 2 and HomeKit, I am pretty sure you can do other things than play Apple Music on it.
You can play music from another source via AirPlay 2 but it will only play Apple Music direct from the HomePod.
I don't imagine a real stereo effect is possible since it disperses sound in 360 degrees. I believe the multiple-devices per room is simply for larger rooms where you may encounter uneven sound levels (particularly at parties, etc.).
Yes? After the introduction I was expecting $599.
This is also a HomeKit hub, remember. Or, better, the HomeKit hub.
Hence one reviewer saying the bass was very noticeable....
Here's a thought: Apple uses the powerful processor from an iPhone 6 to improve the sound by adapting it exactly to your room. And hopefully that will help to get much better sound than the hardware would suggest.
Now imagine your five channel Martin Logan Electro Static System plus a subwoofer using the same technology. I would think that should again improve the sound quality quite a bit. Maybe that is the sound revolution that Apple is really starting.
yeap for the space it takes, they should sound better..but here is about the best with minimalistic product, homepod is part of your furniture and is not making your living room into a cinema theatre
This is exactly what I've done. I get great sound, in stereo, and the flexibility of using iTunes, Pandora, etc. as well as a nice volume ring that I can physically turn instead of having to pick up my phone or use voice commands to change the volume.
And yes, there is no such thing as a 4" sub-woofer. I would say it is a 4" mid-bass driver, but for most people that will be fine (especially if the acoustics of the chamber it is in helps amplify its effect).
For the price, you can get a 2.1 speaker set...and listen to music in stereo, with a dedicated sub!
Just like AirPods, not at all interested.
I can use my phone in any room to control my house.
I already have a plethora of ways to listen to music, at high quality.
I used Siri this morning and wanted to throw my phone against the wall.
Next innovation please.
I can use my phone in any room to control my house.
I already have a plethora of ways to listen to music, at high quality.
I used Siri this morning and wanted to throw my phone against the wall.
Next innovation please.
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1. Locked into HomeKit --> Deal breaker. Apple's Home Automation is pitiful, they need to allow integration of 3rd party hubs like Wink, SmartThings, Iris and services like Nest and others.
2. Locked into Apple Music --> Not a deal breaker, but definitely adds to TCO. Right now I already have Amazon's music library with my Prime subscription. Echo also allows other services like Pandora & Spotify.
3. Cost --> Not a deal breaker for the quality of the audio, but a tough sell with a frugal wife who already loves the Echo.
4. Siri --> Deal breaker. She sucks compared to other services. Rarely gets things right.
With an A8 chip, Apple could allow for much more functionality.
2. Locked into Apple Music --> Not a deal breaker, but definitely adds to TCO. Right now I already have Amazon's music library with my Prime subscription. Echo also allows other services like Pandora & Spotify.
3. Cost --> Not a deal breaker for the quality of the audio, but a tough sell with a frugal wife who already loves the Echo.
4. Siri --> Deal breaker. She sucks compared to other services. Rarely gets things right.
With an A8 chip, Apple could allow for much more functionality.
I tweaked this section to clarify, the HomePod will support AirPlay 2 to stream music from elsewhere, it's just that Apple Music will be baked into the speaker.
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It makes sense to compare against the Play 3 seeing as how Play 3 + Echo dot is just about the same price at $350, whereas the Play 5 alone would cost 500 dollars.
I think that for being this late to the game, being this much more expensive and this much less functional than others is silly. I already invested in Sonos all over my house, and even if I wanted to switch, Apple has no solution for the primary thing most people do in their living room: watching TV. I would imagine there may be a jerky workaround if you only use Apple TV, to Airplay to this thing, but I don't think anyone other than Tim Cook or the rest of the Apple execs watch 100% of their video content through an Apple TV. And even then, honestly, who wants to pull up the settings and tell the thing to Airplay to HomePod every single time the TV comes on?
Also no mention was made of any integration. I have no doubt it will be able to control HomeKit stuff, but Alexa has thousands of integrations. At the very least, with the AirPods, you could say they were less expensive than other comparable units with cases that can charge them, and had a neat trick with the easy pairing and iCloud device share.
Also no mention was made of any integration. I have no doubt it will be able to control HomeKit stuff, but Alexa has thousands of integrations. At the very least, with the AirPods, you could say they were less expensive than other comparable units with cases that can charge them, and had a neat trick with the easy pairing and iCloud device share.
I think the price is.. Not necessarily high at all. Depends entirely on the audio quality. You can pay up to almost any amount for audio equipment and if they're genuinely good good, and not just "well it sounds better than my Sonos/Bose" good then they're potentially very well priced. Certainly the circular tweeter array looks... interesting.
My current speakers (i inherited them, or i'd feel pretty silly.) cost more than my iMac.
My current speakers (i inherited them, or i'd feel pretty silly.) cost more than my iMac.