HomePod Sound quality: OG Homepod vs Homepod 2nd Gen

[senttoschool]

For those with an OG Homepod or pair and who have upgraded to Homepod 2nd gen, please note the sound quality difference between the two.

Some reviewers say the sound quality is the same or even better. Others say it's definitely worse than 1st gen.

 

[TwoBytes]

I read the sensor in the 2nd gen is quicker when you place the unit in a different environment so when doing testing, you may need to play a music for longer on both units (hopefully in the same place) for the homepod to react and adjust it's eq curve

 

[bilibug]

Wired just posted a negative review that was biased, disparaging and non-technical. No credibility whatsoever.

 

[pup]

Well, few of the original reviews were very technical or unbiased either. Someone will publish a frequency response curve sooner or later, hopefully with a comparison to the original and some of the competition under the same conditions.

That said, it seems from the posts here that maybe there’s a software glitch (surprise) that Apple could fix with an update. I’d wait and see before declaring the 2nd Gen a dud, even if the initial reviews are bad.

But I don’t expect the new one to sound as good as the original, what with fewer speakers and all. Clearly this is a value engineered version. I mean, even the original suffered a big quality drop when apple reconfigured the EQ in the first update. I don’t think those first reviews would have been as positive had it shipped with that ‘update’. (I think it was purposeful, but that’s my private little conspiracy theory).

 

[darthbane2k]

Wired just posted a negative review that was biased, disparaging and non-technical. No credibility whatsoever.

This review was trash but hopefully reviews like this encourage Apple to just allow us to
control the EQs on this thing.

 

[Ethosik]

It's personal preference I think. I don't have the old one but knew someone that did and borrowed theirs. The new ones expose more of the sound stage and expose the mids and highs more than the OG does. I am able to hear more instruments and hear singers more clearly with the new one. I think the new one is much better. But there are those people that want more of the lows and immense bass and think anything else sounds horrible. Like people that put in a giant stereo system in their car and I can't hear anything but rumbling.

 

[darthbane2k]

I mean, even the original suffered a big quality drop when apple reconfigured the EQ in the first update. I don’t think those first reviews would have been as positive had it shipped with that ‘update’. (I think it was purposeful, but that’s my private little conspiracy theory).

I noticed this too with the OG after it’s first update.
Others called me mad at the time, claiming I was imagining it. What’s your theory as to why it happened?

 

[pup]

I noticed this too with the OG after it’s first update.
Others called me mad at the time, claiming I was imagining it. What’s your theory as to why it happened?

Well, first I think it was odd that they did the upgrade right after the reviews came out, and changed the very thing that the reviewers had praised about the HomePod vs the competition; i.e., stronger bass. And if I remember, Apple said it was because users preferred less bass. I guess reviewers all like heavy bass but no one else does. Weird.

Second, I think it’s clear now that the HomePod’s main hardware weakness is that the amp has a difficult time driving all the speakers - it gets too hot and eventually fails. Now, I suspect that Apple knew they were on the edge with cooling. Sounds like Apple. Maybe they thought that between the announcement and release that they could solve it - they have a history of doing just that. And maybe even that was what forced them to make the bonkers decision to delay the release until after Christmas.

So my theory is that they ultimately couldn’t rework the hardware in reasonable time, but thought instead that they could get the speakers to last by reducing the bass load. The problem being that it didn’t sound as good and they needed the initial reviews to be glowing. So, they released it with the EQ that sounded best but they knew wouldn’t last, got their reviews, and then promptly reset the EQ to something that would at least last through the warranty period. Then, with good sales, they figured they could release an upgrade in a year or two with a real hardware fix. But the sales didn’t happen, they swallowed two price drops, lost money, and scrapped the update since it would have been equally expensive to produce.

Instead, they went forward with the mini to fill the gap while they redesigned the HomePod to match the $300 price point they think will sell.

Pure conspiracy theory, but it’s mine and I like it. 🤣

 

[darthbane2k]

Well, first I think it was odd that they did the upgrade right after the reviews came out, and changed the very thing that the reviewers had praised about the HomePod vs the competition; i.e., stronger bass. And if I remember, Apple said it was because users preferred less bass. I guess reviewers all like heavy bass but no one else does. Weird.

Second, I think it’s clear now that the HomePod’s main hardware weakness is that the amp has a difficult time driving all the speakers - it gets too hot and eventually fails. Now, I suspect that Apple knew they were on the edge with cooling. Sounds like Apple. Maybe they thought that between the announcement and release that they could solve it - they have a history of doing just that. And maybe even that was what forced them to make the bonkers decision to delay the release until after Christmas.

So my theory is that they ultimately couldn’t rework the hardware in reasonable time, but thought instead that they could get the speakers to last by reducing the bass load. The problem being that it didn’t sound as good and they needed the initial reviews to be glowing. So, they released it with the EQ that sounded best but they knew wouldn’t last, got their reviews, and then promptly reset the EQ to something that would at least last through the warranty period. Then, with good sales, they figured they could release an upgrade in a year or two with a real hardware fix. But the sales didn’t happen, they swallowed two price drops, lost money, and scrapped the update since it would have been equally expensive to produce.

Instead, they went forward with the mini to fill the gap while they redesigned the HomePod to match the $300 price point they think will sell.

Pure conspiracy theory, but it’s mine and I like it. 🤣

This wouldn't surprise me in the slightest.

 

[kyemaloy]

I had an OG and got a new HomePod 2 and have actually returned the new HonePod 2 to apple and got a second OG for half the price (£150) second hand at a store in town.

The 2 sounds clearer and lyrics are easier to hear in music but the bass was way weaker and didn’t have that deep boom I enjoy as I listen to a lot of pop and dance music.

I had the two both set up in the same room and the OG sounded muddier but more bass heavy and the new one sounded clearer but brighter and less bass heavy. I guess it’ll come down to personal preference! The two OGs in stereo on Apple TV are great though

 

[Ethosik]

I had an OG and got a new HomePod 2 and have actually returned the new HonePod 2 to apple and got a second OG for half the price (£150) second hand at a store in town.

The 2 sounds clearer and lyrics are easier to hear in music but the bass was way weaker and didn’t have that deep boom I enjoy as I listen to a lot of pop and dance music.

I had the two both set up in the same room and the OG sounded muddier but more bass heavy and the new one sounded clearer but brighter and less bass heavy. I guess it’ll come down to personal preference! The two OGs in stereo on Apple TV are great though

See I just don’t like the too much bass. Even the bass on the HomePod 2 is a bit much at times. I’m not sure why people like bass so much. It makes things harder to hear for me.

 

[senttoschool]

Second, I think it’s clear now that the HomePod’s main hardware weakness is that the amp has a difficult time driving all the speakers - it gets too hot and eventually fails. Now, I suspect that Apple knew they were on the edge with cooling. Sounds like Apple. Maybe they thought that between the announcement and release that they could solve it - they have a history of doing just that. And maybe even that was what forced them to make the bonkers decision to delay the release until after Christmas.

My OG Homepod failed after 5 years of use. So there's that. I think you're onto something. Why would Apple discountinue the OG Homepod and then introduce a new one a year later? It's probably because they didn't want to keep selling defective hardware which will come back to bite them in the butt when the class action lawsuit start happening.

 

[senttoschool]

See I just don’t like the too much bass. Even the bass on the HomePod 2 is a bit much at times. I’m not sure why people like bass so much. It makes things harder to hear for me.

For me, I like to feel the music. That's how I enjoy it.

 

[Ethosik]

For me, I like to feel the music. That's how I enjoy it.

That’s where bass makes things worse. I’m able to hear more instruments in orchestral work with a little less bass. So the new one is definitely the better option.

 

[MajorFubar]

See I just don’t like the too much bass. Even the bass on the HomePod 2 is a bit much at times. I’m not sure why people like bass so much. It makes things harder to hear for me.

What you've got to realise is most people don't know, like, or want 'hifi'. These are exactly the same people who 30 years ago would have set the EQ on their Technics MIDI system to a 'smiley curve' so it's all all bass and treble with the mids scooped out. They're exactly the same audience that Beats and Skullcandy Crusher headphones are aimed at.

None of that makes them hellbound, their preference is a valid personal choice, but from the perspective of those of us like me who prefer natural-sounding speakers and headphones, mostly none of the smart-speakers are actually aimed at us.

 

[pup]

These are exactly the same people who 30 years ago would have set the EQ on their Technics MIDI system to a 'smiley curve' so it's all all bass and treble with the mids scooped out.

Those settings and some 8 way kabuki speakers will make your 80’s hits sing!

Personally, I didn’t find the old HomePod to have enormous bass or anything. Its frequency response curve was pretty flat as I recall. I think it just didn’t fall off as much in the low range as some of its competitors - and when the press picked up on that in their initial reviews every apple fan suddenly thought their HomePod was a bass monster.

I suspect that if the original HomePod sounded bass *heavy* for anyone that it was more a factor of the room than the speaker. It could adjust to a certain extent but in my experience if the room was difficult, it didn’t really do much for it.

I have a pair of old Advents (the small ones) that *should* be quite well behaved and perfect for classical. But placed in the same room that my HomePod wouldn’t work in, they were awful and boomy.

Interestingly a pair of Sonos ones work quite well in that room, I suspect because their room compensation is able to account for more than the HomePod could.

 

[KindJamz]

See I just don’t like the too much bass. Even the bass on the HomePod 2 is a bit much at times. I’m not sure why people like bass so much. It makes things harder to hear for me.

All depends on the music style.

 

[KindJamz]

See I just don’t like the too much bass. Even the bass on the HomePod 2 is a bit much at times. I’m not sure why people like bass so much. It makes things harder to hear for me.

I have my OG HP set to reduce bass. In fact all my HP are. Minis too. Condo life requires compromise. No more cranking music.

Just picked up a yellow mini at Best Buy on clearance for $50. Brand new. Bathroom speaker.

 

[cookiemonster89]

I put my OG HomePod back in the living room. The highs are way to dominant in the HP 2. I think I will return both HP 2 I bought back to Apple.

 

[pup]

It’s odd that bass on the HP2 seems to drop off relative to the original. After all, the bass speaker is the same size and it’s the tweeter count they reduced.

 

[perezr10]

I’ve been comparing the sound quality between the 1st and 2nd gens all weekend and I gotta say. I like the original HomePod slightly better. It has a warmer, richer sound to me. Everybody else thinks the highs are better on the 2nd. But the OG seems richer in the mid section.

But lets face it, there are about 50 people in the world who own the OG HomePod so this whole discussion is moot to the rest of the world😀

 

[Itinj24]

The bass on the OG startles me sometimes. Let me explain…

I have a stereo pair hooked up to my ATV in my Master Bedroom. I’d be watching late night when everyone is asleep. Volume turned way down, kids upstairs and the Master Bedroom is on its own level in between upstairs and the main floor.

There’d be a scene with a bass thump and I’d be running upstairs to make sure one of my kids didn’t fall out of the bed lol. Then I’d realize, when all’s quiet, that it was just the OG’s doing OG things.

 

[fishbert]

So many folks are saying the bass drops off with the HP2s relative HP1s… I disagree.

The HP1s are more blunt (in a muddy sort of way) down low, but I hear bass notes with my HP2s that I just don’t get at all with my HP1s. HP2 is more capable and shows more control; HP1 bass is kinda messy in comparison, but maybe that’s what some folks have learned to prefer.

Here are some tracks to A/B compare bass response:
• Bank On It by Burna Boy … starting around 1:34 there's a low bass note that that’s AWOL on HP1, but comes through clearly on HP2.
• Song of Sorrow by Elle King … the bass line is prominent and clear on HP2, gets a bit lost on HP1.
• Doin’ It Right by Daft Punk … a pretty good bass test track in general, and HP2 can go places HP1 just doesn’t.

 

[Baywatchboy]

I had an OG and got a new HomePod 2 and have actually returned the new HonePod 2 to apple and got a second OG for half the price (£150) second hand at a store in town.

The 2 sounds clearer and lyrics are easier to hear in music but the bass was way weaker and didn’t have that deep boom I enjoy as I listen to a lot of pop and dance music.

I had the two both set up in the same room and the OG sounded muddier but more bass heavy and the new one sounded clearer but brighter and less bass heavy. I guess it’ll come down to personal preference! The two OGs in stereo on Apple TV are great though

I didn't really care for two OGs in stereo on Apple TV as I prefer to have a center channel. Curious if two new ones are better for this.

 

[F23]

isn't it also true that on the HP2 the woofer needs to be worn in a bit & the bass may improve a bit with time? Since in the reviews they are all new units the woofer has not had the time to be worn it yet. So it may change