So, analog to a stereo. Stereo set up in old fashion way... That's pretty far off from what happen claims the Homepod can do. Many here would think its merely a speaker... With an A8 processor inside (same as Iphone6) and seemingly running IOS... Are kind of funny.
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How is that different from now. If anything, the better calibration to the room means you don't have to use it as loud to get the same volume.
There is nothing new about stand alone speakers that you can’t plug anything into. Many cheap radios have had that “new fashioned” capability for years. The problem is that these stand alone setups are extremely limited compared to new receivers that have tons of flexibility that you lose with a product that has zero inputs and zero outputs.
The thing that the Echo Dot provides is the ability to connect it to better audio systems for $50 (typically less). It still has new-fangled features like controlling lights, thermostats, playing music from several sources, controlling Plex/J River, setting timers, giving you the weather, etc...
As I said, I am more interested in how the HomePod works with AirPlay because it could allow it to work with my better setups when I want something that sounds better than a 7 inch speaker for music. The Echo can connect to my receivers via Bluetooth, if that makes it feel more “new” to your sensibilities, but the analog connection will sound better.
Not sure if you are familiar with receivers made in the past 5 years or so. They have room correction, DSP modes, can have AirPlay, Spotify Connect, Bluetooth, internet connections, high resolution capabilities for music and movies, etc. built in. Outside of the “assistant” features, which can be added on with a Dot, they can blow away a stand alone 7 inch speaker in every other way possible. I still think stand alone speakers can be convenient, but if the HomePod didn’t have AirPlay capabilities I wouldn’t have any interest in it.
