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HomePod's Sound Continues to Receive Top Marks After Listening Demos in New York and London

lcseds said:
Free units often get good reviews. Don't want to cut the hand that feeds you right?
I'll wait for paying users to post some reviews.
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Guarantee you people will think it sounds great.

There just aren’t mass marketed speakers out there besides Bose, and people think those are outstanding. They are crap in reality.

Hardly anyone knows about audio. The masses listen to music through a $10 pair of headphones and think Bose/Beats are high quality audio. They think surround sound is a $200 sound bar.

I say this sitting in a room with $15,000 worth of audio equipment.
 
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CarlJ said:
Very much this. The original goal is to create a sound indistinguishable from what was heard at the original concert or in the studio (a modified goal would be to produce a sound that is perhaps less accurate, but somehow more pleasing - many arguments can be had about how wise this is). Stereo recording and playback are just one tool for attempting to create a more accurate (or more pleasing) listening experience. In the video realm, by comparison, the arrival of HDTV and 16:9 flat panel screens was a clear win over previous tech - getting you closer to movie theater experience - as was BluRay. 3D TV was definitely not a clear win. Stereo is a means to an end (more lifelike sound, where you can more clearly place the location of each instrument in your mind), but it's not the only way to achieve that. And when you get outside of classical music, most source material, most recordings have each person/instrument close-miked with the "stereo" image "created" by a sound engineer deciding how much of each track to direct to each each channel, so the "stereo imaging" is pretty artificial at that point.

One of the most amazing sound experiences I ever had was listening to a beautifully set up and properly driven set of Apogee Duettas, playing parts of Dire Straits' then-new Brothers in Arms album - say what you want about the music, but it's fantastically recorded - and the sound was unbelievable in terms of just how believable it was: you could easily point to where each musician was in the room, individual notes had weight and presence... as close to having the band actually in the room as you could get. It's stuck with me for a very long time. Anyway, that was stereo imaging and sound reproduction at its finest. But the goal isn't stereo, the goal is having the result sound real (or pleasing, if you prefer that), by whatever means. Apple says they've put remarkable sound reproduction into the HomePod; I'm inclined to go listen and see if I think it's remarkable. In the meantime, it's been amusing watching folks debate (not just in this thread) about whether or not it sounds good - without having ever heard it themselves.
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The method for true sound reproduction is simple: the more speakers the better. Two speakers is not a lot but it is two time more than HomePod. The beamforming is an attempt to compensate for lack of speakers. As any simulation it's inferior to the real thing.
 
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CarlJ said:
Very much this. The original goal is to create a sound indistinguishable from what was heard at the original concert or in the studio (a modified goal would be to produce a sound that is perhaps less accurate, but somehow more pleasing - many arguments can be had about how wise this is). Stereo recording and playback are just one tool for attempting to create a more accurate (or more pleasing) listening experience. In the video realm, by comparison, the arrival of HDTV and 16:9 flat panel screens was a clear win over previous tech - getting you closer to movie theater experience - as was BluRay. 3D TV was definitely not a clear win. Stereo is a means to an end (more lifelike sound, where you can more clearly place the location of each instrument in your mind), but it's not the only way to achieve that. And when you get outside of classical music, most source material, most recordings have each person/instrument close-miked with the "stereo" image "created" by a sound engineer deciding how much of each track to direct to each each channel, so the "stereo imaging" is pretty artificial at that point.

One of the most amazing sound experiences I ever had was listening to a beautifully set up and properly driven set of Apogee Duettas, playing parts of Dire Straits' then-new Brothers in Arms album - say what you want about the music, but it's fantastically recorded - and the sound was unbelievable in terms of just how believable it was: you could easily point to where each musician was in the room, individual notes had weight and presence... as close to having the band actually in the room as you could get. It's stuck with me for a very long time. Anyway, that was stereo imaging and sound reproduction at its finest. But the goal isn't stereo, the goal is having the result sound real (or pleasing, if you prefer that), by whatever means. Apple says they've put remarkable sound reproduction into the HomePod; I'm inclined to go listen and see if I think it's remarkable. In the meantime, it's been amusing watching folks debate (not just in this thread) about whether or not it sounds good - without having ever heard it themselves.
Click to expand...

Kinda makes you wonder why these “reviewers” were so excited to hear two Homepods, in stereo, doesn’t it? Either it obviates the need for stereo,or it doesn’t. Initial impressions seem to indicate that it doesn’t.
 
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I think it’s not aimed and ture audio files, it’s more convenience based users, rather than ha d core listeners.
I had expensive speakers 20 years ago, and now it’s more convenient to have something within reach.
I’ve ordered one and hoping it’s fits in to my TV, radio, and podcast usage
I got an echo dot to play around with and I’m enjoying that
 
I’ve read all the reviews of reviews on this thread and the other 450+...

I have two thoughts at the top of my mind:
1. I’m definitely ordering one now and eventually 2 when stereo capability is updated
2. Never realized how hated Bose was until last night. I have the old desktop speakers Apple sold in store like 10 years ago and they still sound awesome (to my ears.)
 
FunnelDog said:
I’ve read all the reviews of reviews on this thread and the other 450+...

I have two thoughts at the top of my mind:
1. I’m definitely ordering one now and eventually 2 when stereo capability is updated
2. Never realized how hated Bose was until last night. I have the old desktop speakers Apple sold in store like 10 years ago and they still sound awesome (to my ears.)
Click to expand...

I used to be a die-hard Harman/Kardon fan, until I got a pair of B&O earbuds. I haven’t used my HKs since. Similarly, when I got the HK Esquire 2 for my mother, I thought it was fantastic. But then I got the B&O A1 for myself, we compared the two, the HK doesn’t sound the same anymore.

Try a higher end brand (B&O, Bowers and Wilkins, etc). Perhaps you’ll see why there is hate for Bose, and maybe you might feel the same too. Afterwards, you can always cop something used on Amazon or eBay. =)
 
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FasterQuieter said:
If it had native Spotify support I’d get one. I have tried Apple Music twice and really don’t like it.
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Pretty sure Spotify will be supported in the future, if not at least through AirPlay if it’s allowed at launch. The trouble with Siri is if you ask it to play music it will default use Apple Music. Honestly don’t know how this is allowed in terms of antitrust monopoly? Having tried Apple Music over 6 months I find Spotify the better product. The music interviews are alright but feel kinda average and not really anything better than what BBC music does. Carpool Karaoke was pretty terrible apart from a couple of episodes when it appears spontaneous and the celebrities not trying too hard.
 
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prasand said:
I used to be a die-hard Harman/Kardon fan, until I got a pair of B&O earbuds. I haven’t used my HKs since. Similarly, when I got the HK Esquire 2 for my mother, I thought it was fantastic. But then I got the B&O A1 for myself, we compared the two, the HK doesn’t sound the same anymore.

Try a higher end brand (B&O, Bowers and Wilkins, etc). Perhaps you’ll see why there is hate for Bose, and maybe you might feel the same too. Afterwards, you can always cop something used on Amazon or eBay. =)
Click to expand...

I will - thanks for pointed direction.
 
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tkermit said:
The great thing about lossless music is that you can convert your files to another format without incurring a quality loss. ALAC is just as good if not better than FLAC and has been supported by iTunes for almost 14 years now, so it's not like users don't already have the option of listening to lossless files in iTunes.
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Wait. So I can buy music on iTunes in ALAC? And that is a bit for bit format? That is big news!!!
 
I think its funny how people who has $10K + speakers are joking about the Homepods. Sure they will be better, they better be due the cost and size, that's a given. But for $350 if the HomePod can actually give a really good sound that's what it matters for people who don't want to spend thousands on speakers.
 
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bernuli said:
Wait. So I can buy music on iTunes in ALAC? And that is a bit for bit format? That is big news!!!
Click to expand...
No. I don't think I mentioned anything about buying music from the iTunes Store ?! All the music I buy nowadays is lossless and ends up being managed and played back by iTunes. Yet none of it comes from the iTunes Store.
 
It will be VERY interesting to see if Amazon will produce an Echo with truly high quality speaker drivers to take on the HomePod. Full Alexa support plus near audiophile quality sound? That's something I would very seriously consider.
cool0005.gif
 
FunnelDog said:
I’ve read all the reviews of reviews on this thread and the other 450+...

I have two thoughts at the top of my mind:
1. I’m definitely ordering one now and eventually 2 when stereo capability is updated
2. Never realized how hated Bose was until last night. I have the old desktop speakers Apple sold in store like 10 years ago and they still sound awesome (to my ears.)
Click to expand...
Bose makes some of the most overpriced and below average products you can buy. People think Apple is overpriced, but at least it’s good quality. Bose is utterly junk and hated in the audio community. No one even talks about them seriously or considers their products.
 
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I also wish these had some sort of input, even if it was a USB-C and required more adapters (since Apple loves those).

I was excited when they were first announced, if they lived up to the hype I would have considered buying two and using them as computer speakers (left/right) as the majority of my audio comes from my computer. Being able to switch between wired and wireless modes would have justified the cost. Then I found out there is no input and I think that's too limiting for the cost. Yes, many things can take advantage of Airplay, but not everything.
 
SactoGuy18 said:
It will be VERY interesting to see if Amazon will produce an Echo with truly high quality speaker drivers to take on the HomePod. Full Alexa support plus near audiophile quality sound? That's something I would very seriously consider.
cool0005.gif
Click to expand...

It seems inevitable that they will up their game, either that or do it through partnerships on products. Harman/Kardon Allure is powered by Alexa, and their HK Invoke has Cortana. Similarly, B&O will be releasing Google Assistant updates. Which for me will be interesting to weigh against / compare to the HomePod. Personally I don’t think Sonos comes close to B&O or B&W, but I think everyone in general will up the ante.
 
I would love a homepod, or two.
I had hopes that speaker manufacturers would add Airplay support, but that didn't pan out. Bluetooth is annoying when you want to have seamless sound across rooms with different speakers. I was using Airport Express + speaker, but Apple changed the last Airport Express' form factor, making it "less ideal."

Good bluetooth home speakers already cost a few hundred dollars. Imo the HomePod is priced competitively.
 
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I really just want this without the high end speaker. Google calls it a home mini. Amazon calls it a dot I think? I want to talk to my homekit devices. I want to make handsfree calls while Im cooking. I have a surround sound system and h/k Bluetooth speakers. I get along great with siri; I don’t have the problems others do with her.
 
Baymowe335 said:
Guarantee you people will think it sounds great.

There just aren’t mass marketed speakers out there besides Bose, and people think those are outstanding. They are crap in reality.

Hardly anyone knows about audio. The masses listen to music through a $10 pair of headphones and think Bose/Beats are high quality audio. They think surround sound is a $200 sound bar.

I say this sitting in a room with $15,000 worth of audio equipment.
Click to expand...

No one knows about audio *except* those in the audio business that deal with sound perfection ob speakers all day, every day..

These are the ones who should be testing stuff from Apple as well. not just limited to these companies. Since their impressions will only be good for them, since they may not b be able to hear what experts hear.

However Homepod is not really designed to be that perfect either as far as sound goes, so it probably balances it out,
 
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