When I got my 1st HomePod, I ranted on another post about the set-up being very un-Apple like (having to reset them to set them back up) & wasn’t convinced by the sound - it appears earlier that Apple gimped the EQ option.
A month or so later I bought another as price was cheap. On one hand I think the reason the EQ is gimped is so that all HomePods sound identical i.e same sound signature but on the other the bass these put out is way too much for my property & there is no way to adjust it, so they’re permanently on low. (I’m waiting for you’re placing them wrong kinda statements - when u lift them off the floor u get less bass etc.)
I’m not sure how much ‘value’ I get from them as half the time Siri doesn’t answer / internet drops on both (way more than any other Apple device I have) & as mentioned Apple Music is a must (until no doubt Spotify etc. is allowed)
At first I wasn’t too bothered by the lack of Jack & Bluetooth, I knew what I was buying. OTOH, I’d tried unsuccessfully to let a friend play music thru it - with a Bluetooth/Jack not a problem, HomePod said I had to sign into my Apple a/c to grant them access. Now I understand that this is prob because of my “personal requests” being there & maybe security, but WTF seriously “it just works”? I think not!😬
As a stereo pair I’m not convinced & it was mentioned earlier about the iPod Hi-Fi. Funnily enough I’ve also got that plugged into the TV & (IMO) I still get a great sound from it, better than HP? Maybe not soundstage wise, but every day listening & zero hassle, it can’t be beat.
I guess that when it comes to HomePod mini, I’ll maybe hold back unless the hardware & software is seriously given a major overhaul, if not I won’t be buying them & may even be tempted to eBay the current ones, as with everything YMMV.