Kuo: Apple to Release New HomePod in Late 2022 or Early 2023

[ralphthemagi]

I have 4 HomePods spread across two installations—both in stereo pairs attached to an Apple TV in home theater setups. The OG HomePod is amazing but the problem was always that it is too small. They work for me only because I have very small rooms.

The quality of the HomePod falls apart really fast as soon as you put it in a big room. In a small room, with the correct stand or table and at the correct distance it sounds amazing. Doubly so when they are in a stereo pair. They easily sound as good as speakers or setups 2-3x their cost. The problem is that once the room gets to even a moderate size, or if you can't get them close to the listener, or if you don't have the right kind of stand or table… they end up sounding just okay. The range of quality relative to your specific setup is just massive. They are not nearly as adaptable as they claimed them to be. Sure, you can stick it anywhere and in any size room… but it may sound like trash. With the wrong setup it sounds like any other $200 smart speaker, or maybe worse in some cases.

It seems to me like the design of the HomePod scales. If they just scaled it up to maybe 2-3x, and created a proper stand for it, it would be more usable. I feel like that's essentially what the Syng is and it works wonderfully, but it's 8x the price. Feels like there some room between $300 and $2400.

 

[lostPod]

I have 2 OG HomePods an 2 Mini HomePods, but would really would like to see a new larger HomePod to succeed the mini.

 

[JunBringer]

Homepod Sub plz

 

[turbineseaplane]

The quality of the HomePod falls apart really fast as soon as you put it in a big room. In a small room, with the correct stand or table and at the correct distance it sounds amazing.

A really great point. I really enjoyed my HomePod stereo pair in my office but in the main living room we have really high ceilings and they just didn’t have nearly enough presence

 

[minivini]

I hope it is portable, so it can be used in the yard

I would be all over a selection of more “integrative” pods. I’d like surround capability, outdoor specific pods, sub woofer pods, et al.

When I set up two HomePod Minis along with an older HomePod outside around the pool, people are amazed by the sound quality.

 

[Shanghaichica]

Take a look at the official page and tell me with a straight face that Siri isn't front and center :
https://www.apple.com/homepod-mini/
There's 30 instances of "Siri" on this page.

How they marketed it originally a few years ago is irrelevant if this is what you mean. They marketed the Apple Watch as a productivity device and we all know today it's a health device first and foremost and this is now how they pitch it.

It was marketed as a speaker (music) with smart features. The speaker part was forefront and the smart features were secondary. This is in contrast to devices like echos and google nest products which are marketed as smart assistants first and speakers second.

 

[Shanghaichica]

I see quite a few members mentioning that they use the HomePod/Mini for their home surround set up, I don’t think that would suffice for me, as I do have a more serious ‘JBL’ set up that’s pretty explosive. I think where the HomePod really serves for me, is portable sound wherever I need it, rather be in the garage detailing cars, living room, basement, etc. that’s what I like about it, whereas; with my twin JBL set-up, that’s made for more of a ‘permanent placement’ for my entertainment/gaming set up.

But with the HomePod, I want the portability, where it’s small enough, but it also is more than adequate with the sound dynamics with the acoustics, that’s what I’m sold on.

It’s interesting that we all use devices differently. I use my OG stereo pair as speakers for my Apple TV. However I did concede that there are better, more dedicated solutions out there. The thing that stands out to me is the portability of the HomePods. For me the beauty of the HomePods is that I can have one in evey room and not have to worry about moving them around to whatever room I happen to be in. I just interact with the device that is in the specific room.

 

[andreiru]

I really wish they would make some sort of surround setup. I have 2 original homepods hooked up to my apple tv 4k. Would be amazing if I could add 2 homepods (minis) in the back for surround sound.

hmm, can you not now? i've got 4 and it feels pretty surround to me.